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Poverty

Overview

The poverty rate is the standard measure of economic distress used in the United States. Since the methodology for calculating it hasn’t been updated since the 1970s, it is often regarded as an imprecise indicator, but the poverty rate (or measures based on multiples of it, such as 185% of the poverty level) are still used in determining who qualifies for many policies. The poverty rate is still critical in understanding where residents may most benefit from various programs and supports.

Take Action!

Is this an issue you care about? Connect with one of the organizations below to find resources and support on this topic.

Wayne Metro Community Action Agency

In their pursuit to eliminate poverty, Wayne Metro empowers people and communities to be strong, healthy, and thriving. Connect with them now to take action and/or get help!

United Way

United Way works to advance equitable communities where households are stable and children thrive. Connect with them now to take action and/or get help!

All data sources are from the American Community Survey unless otherwise noted.

Indicators on the Profile Page

Why It's Important

Child Poverty
  • Children below poverty line
  • Households with children receiving SSI, cash or food/SNAP assistance
  • Children living below the poverty line by age
  • Poverty can strongly affect children throughout their development, meaning that it is important to understand the child poverty rate in addition to the poverty rate overall. Children living in poverty face greater barriers to accessing opportunity, so understanding areas where child poverty is greatest is helpful in understanding where to allocate resources to provide opportunities that may not otherwise be easily accessed. Differences between the percent of children living below the poverty line and households with children receiving SSI or other assistance can also identify places where increased support through application processes can make an impact.

Poverty
  • Family poverty rate by educational attainment of householder
  • Persons below poverty line
  • Community poverty rate can have an impact on children for a variety of reasons, including access to opportunity, access to supportive networks, funding eligibility for communities, etc.

Methodologies

American Community Survey Data

The American Community Survey has many different tables that address the topic of poverty. Note that, while conversationally, people refer to the poverty level, there is no single number. The Census Bureau computes 48 different poverty income levels, based mostly on family size, and, for 1-2 person households, separate numbers for senior citizens. For more details, including links to the specific poverty levels, see How the Census Bureau Measures Poverty.

Some people call out the official poverty income levels as being very low, pointing out that many people who are not officially living in poverty still have a hard time making ends meet. Tables referring to "ratio of income to poverty level" can help to get a broader count of people experiencing economic hardship. (See also housing tables presenting housing costs as a percentage of household income.)

Some table names have been simplified. References to poverty status/level or receipt of food stamps/SNAP are always for the last 12 months.

From the Census: Why We Ask: Income

From the Census: Why We Ask: Food Stamps/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Sample Survey Questions on this Topic

Code Title
B17001†‡ Poverty Status by Sex by Age
B17002‡ Ratio of Income to Poverty Level
B17003‡ Poverty Status of Individuals by Sex by Educational Attainment
B17004‡ Poverty Status of Individuals by Sex by Work Experience
B17005 Poverty Status of Individuals by Sex by Employment Status
B17006‡ Poverty Status of Related Children Under 18 Years by Family Type by Age of Related Children Under 18 Years
B17007‡ Poverty Status of Unrelated Individuals 15 Years and Over by Sex by Age
B17008 Aggregate Income Deficit (Dollars) of Unrelated Individuals by Sex
B17009‡ Poverty Status by Work Experience of Unrelated Individuals by Householder Status
B17010†‡ Poverty Status of Families by Family Type by Presence of Related Children Under 18 Years by Age of Related Children
B17011 Aggregate Income Deficit (Dollars) for Families by Family Type
B17012‡ Poverty Status of Families by Household Type by Number of Related Children
B17013‡ Poverty Status of Families by Household Type by Number of Persons in Family
B17014‡ Poverty Status of Families by Household Type by Number of Workers in Family
B17015‡ Poverty Status of Families by Family Type by Social Security Income by Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Cash Public Assistance Income
B17016‡ Poverty Status of Families by Family Type by Work Experience of Householder and Spouse
B17017‡ Poverty Status by Household Type by Age of Householder
B17018‡ Poverty Status of Families by Household Type by Educational Attainment of Householder
B17019‡ Poverty Status of Families by Household Type by Tenure
B17020ª Poverty Status by Age (racial iterations)
B17021‡ Poverty Status of Individuals by Living Arrangement
B17022‡ Ratio of Income to Poverty Level of Families by Family Type by Presence of Related Children Under 18 Years by Age of Related Children
B17023‡ Poverty Status of Families by Household Type by Number of Own Children Under 18 Years
B17024‡ Age by Ratio of Income to Poverty Level
B17025‡ Poverty Status by Nativity
B17026‡ Ratio of Income to Poverty Level of Families
B17101 Poverty Status of People in Housing Units
‡Table also available in "collapsed" version: change "B" to "C" for table code.
†Also available in racial iterations.
ªNo basic table is offered–only racial iteration tables.

Other ACS Tables Referencing Poverty

Some table names below have been simplified. References to poverty status/level or receipt of food stamps/SNAP are always for the last 12 months.

Code Title
B05010 Ratio of Income to Poverty Level by Nativity of Children Under 18 Years in Families and Subfamilies by Living Arrangements and Nativity of Parents
B06012 Place of Birth by Poverty Status in the United States
B07012 Geographical Mobility in the Past Year by Poverty Status for Current Residence in the United States
B07412 Geographical Mobility in the Past Year by Poverty Status for Residence 1 Year Ago in the United States
B08122 Means of Transportation to Work by Poverty Status
B08522 Means of Transportation to Work by Poverty Status for Workplace Geography
B10059 Poverty Status of Grandparents Living With Own Grandchildren Under 18 Years by Responsibility for Own Grandchildren and Age of Grandparent
B13010 Women 15 to 50 Years Who Had a Birth in the Past 12 Months by Marital Status and Poverty Status
B14006 Poverty Status by School Enrollment by Level of School for the Population 3 Years and Over
B16009 Poverty Status by Age by Language Spoken at Home for the Population 5 Years and Over
B18130 Age by Disability Status by Poverty Status
B18131 Age by Ratio of Income to Poverty Level by Disability Status and Type
B21007 Age by Veteran Status by Poverty Status by Disability Status for the Civilian Population 18 Years and Over
B22003 Receipt of Food Stamps/SNAP by Poverty Status for Households
B22005ª Receipt of Food Stamps/SNAP by Race of Householder
B23024 Poverty Status by Disability Status by Employment Status for the Population 20 to 64 Years
B27016 Health Insurance Coverage Status and Type by Ratio of Income to Poverty Level by Age
B27017 Private Health Insurance by Ratio of Income to Poverty Level by Age
B27018 Public Health Insurance by Ratio of Income to Poverty Level by Age
†Also available in racial iterations.
ªNo basic table is offered–only racial iteration tables.