Poverty Rate
Definition
The percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold, which varies by household size and composition. For a family of four, the poverty threshold is approximately $31,000 per year.
Why It Matters
The poverty rate directly affects demand for public assistance programs (SNAP, Medicaid, housing subsidies), federal funding allocations, and is a key indicator of economic distress in a community.
How It's Measured
The Census Bureau compares each household's total income to the appropriate poverty threshold based on household size and age of members. Those below the threshold are counted as "in poverty."
Current Value
US rate: approximately 11.5%
Related Ranking
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Frequently Asked Questions
The percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold, which varies by household size and composition. For a family of four, the poverty threshold is approximately $31,000 per year.
The poverty rate directly affects demand for public assistance programs (SNAP, Medicaid, housing subsidies), federal funding allocations, and is a key indicator of economic distress in a community.
The Census Bureau compares each household's total income to the appropriate poverty threshold based on household size and age of members. Those below the threshold are counted as "in poverty."
this entity is one of the U.S. population demographics concepts that recurs across this site. The definition above is the technical answer; the paragraphs below add the practical context for how the concept connects to the the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files data behind every per-entity page on the site.
In the the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files data, this concept shapes one or more of the fields that drive the per-entity grades and rankings on this site. The methodology page describes which fields feed into which output; this glossary entry documents the underlying term.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.