Census Reporter
Poverty
Poverty data and how it is used within the ACS.
Overview
These tables 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.
| 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 by Family Type by Age of Related Children |
| 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 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 |
| B17020† | Poverty Status by Age |
| 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 by Age of Related Children |
| B17023‡ | Poverty Status of Families by Household Type by Number of Own Children |
| 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 |
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‡Table also available in "collapsed" version: change "B" to "C" for table code. †Also available in racial iterations. |
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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 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 |
| B10059 | Poverty Status of Grandparents Living With Own Grandchildren by Responsibility for Own Grandchildren and Age of Grandparent |
| B13010 | Women Who Had a Birth by Marital Status and Poverty Status |
| B14006 | Poverty Status by School Enrollment by Level of School |
| B16009‡ | Poverty Status by Age by Language Spoken at Home |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| B29003 | Citizen, Voting-age Population by Poverty Status |
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‡Table also available in "collapsed" version: change "B" to "C" for table code. §Tabulated for Puerto Rico. Add 'PR' to the table code. Column names may vary slightly from non-PR version. |
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