Introduction
Poverty is defined as not having enough income to meet one’s basic needs. This is for items such as food, clothing, housing, and the like. Poverty can be caused by various social, economic, and political elements such as unemployment, limited access to education, systematic discrimination and marginalization to name a few.
In the United States, the poverty guidelines are determined by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and are updated every year in the Federal Register; the poverty guidelines will change depending on the size of the household. These guidelines are used for administrative purposes, as they help to determine someone’s poverty status. In 2021, the poverty guidelines for the mainland United States were $12,880 for a single person over a year and $17,420 for two people, increasing to $44,660 for a house of eight and then an additional $4,540 for every person above that. Therefore, if a single individual were to have less than $12,880 a year, they would be considered to be in a state of poverty, and would possibly be eligible for certain federal and local programs.
The Census Bureau found that 13.15% of the total population (or 42.31 million Americans) lived below the poverty line in 2020. However, this population is not distributed equally over the country; poverty rates differ greatly from one state to another.
Learn for yourself how poverty rates can change by state by browsing the data in the charts.
| # | State | Poverty Rate | Median Household Income | Minimum Wage | Personal Income per Capita |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | 18.7% | $46,637 | $7.25 | $44,796 |
| 2 | Louisiana | 17.8% | $57,206 | $7.25 | $54,074 |
| 3 | New Mexico | 16.8% | $53,463 | $11.5 | $49,396 |
| 4 | West Virginia | 15.8% | $46,836 | $8.75 | $48,192 |
| 5 | Arkansas | 15.2% | $50,784 | $11 | $50,943 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | 15% | $90,640 | $10.5 | $98,317 |
| 7 | Alabama | 14.9% | $56,929 | $7.25 | $48,540 |
| 8 | Kentucky | 14.9% | $55,629 | $7.25 | $50,713 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 14.3% | $60,096 | $7.25 | $53,579 |
| 10 | Georgia | 14% | $61,497 | $7.25 | $55,366 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 13.8% | $62,542 | $7.25 | $52,047 |
| 12 | Tennessee | 13.6% | $62,166 | $7.25 | $55,315 |
| 13 | Texas | 13.4% | $67,404 | $7.25 | $60,427 |
| 14 | North Carolina | 12.9% | $62,891 | $7.25 | $55,654 |
| 15 | Arizona | 12.8% | $70,821 | $12.8 | $54,422 |
| 16 | New York | 12.7% | $72,920 | $13.2 | $77,029 |
| 17 | Michigan | 12.6% | $64,488 | $9.87 | $54,684 |
| 18 | Ohio | 12.6% | $62,689 | $9.3 | $56,548 |
| 19 | Nevada | 12.5% | $64,340 | $10.5 | $58,451 |
| 20 | Florida | 12.4% | $59,734 | $10 | $61,529 |
| 21 | Montana | 12.4% | $64,999 | $9.2 | $56,936 |
| 22 | Missouri | 12.1% | $63,594 | $11.15 | $55,141 |
| 23 | Indiana | 11.6% | $70,190 | $7.25 | $56,644 |
| 24 | South Dakota | 11.6% | $73,893 | $9.95 | $65,647 |
| 25 | California | 11.5% | $81,575 | $14 | $77,211 |
| 26 | Illinois | 11% | $79,253 | $12 | $67,767 |
| 27 | Oregon | 11% | $81,855 | $13.5 | $60,990 |
| 28 | Delaware | 10.9% | $68,687 | $15.2 | $59,998 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | 10.9% | $72,627 | $7.25 | $64,370 |
| 30 | Kansas | 10.6% | $75,979 | $7.25 | $59,660 |
| 31 | Maine | 10.6% | $71,139 | $12.75 | $57,319 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | 10.6% | $74,982 | $12.25 | $61,726 |
| 33 | Iowa | 10.2% | $72,429 | $7.25 | $57,012 |
| 34 | North Dakota | 10.2% | $68,882 | $7.25 | $65,324 |
| 35 | Idaho | 10.1% | $76,918 | $7.25 | $52,021 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | 10% | $69,943 | $7.25 | $59,064 |
| 37 | Connecticut | 9.7% | $80,958 | $14 | $82,918 |
| 38 | Alaska | 9.6% | $81,133 | $10.34 | $67,742 |
| 39 | Washington | 9.5% | $87,648 | $14.49 | $72,163 |
| 40 | Massachusetts | 9.4% | $86,566 | $14.25 | $83,229 |
| 41 | New Jersey | 9.4% | $88,559 | $13 | $75,086 |
| 42 | Vermont | 9.4% | $76,079 | $12.55 | $59,652 |
| 43 | Nebraska | 9.2% | $78,109 | $9 | $62,776 |
| 44 | Virginia | 9.2% | $80,268 | $11 | $66,396 |
| 45 | Wyoming | 9.2% | $71,052 | $7.25 | $66,337 |
| 46 | Colorado | 9% | $84,954 | $12.56 | $70,764 |
| 47 | Maryland | 9% | $97,332 | $12.5 | $69,694 |
| 48 | Hawaii | 8.9% | $82,199 | $10.1 | $58,967 |
| 49 | Minnesota | 8.3% | $80,441 | $10.33 | $65,579 |
| 50 | Utah | 7.3% | $87,649 | $7.25 | $56,268 |
| 51 | New Hampshire | 7% | $88,841 | $7.25 | $74,229 |
Poverty Rate by State
Alabama
14.9%
Ranked in the US
#7
$56,929
Ranked in the US
#46
$7.25
Ranked in the US
#32
Personal Income per Capita
$48,540
Ranked in the US
#49
Alaska
9.6%
Ranked in the US
#38
$81,133
Ranked in the US
#12
$10.34
Ranked in the US
#22
Personal Income per Capita
$67,742
Ranked in the US
#12
Arizona
12.8%
Ranked in the US
#15
$70,821
Ranked in the US
#28
$12.8
Ranked in the US
#9
Personal Income per Capita
$54,422
Ranked in the US
#41
Arkansas
15.2%
Ranked in the US
#5
$50,784
Ranked in the US
#49
$11
Ranked in the US
#18
Personal Income per Capita
$50,943
Ranked in the US
#46
California
11.5%
Ranked in the US
#25
$81,575
Ranked in the US
#11
$14
Ranked in the US
#4
Personal Income per Capita
$77,211
Ranked in the US
#4
Colorado
Ranked in the US
#46
$84,954
Ranked in the US
#8
$12.56
Ranked in the US
#11
Personal Income per Capita
$70,764
Ranked in the US
#9
Connecticut
9.7%
Ranked in the US
#37
$80,958
Ranked in the US
#13
$14
Ranked in the US
#5
Personal Income per Capita
$82,918
Ranked in the US
#3
Delaware
10.9%
Ranked in the US
#28
$68,687
Ranked in the US
#32
$15.2
Ranked in the US
#1
Personal Income per Capita
$59,998
Ranked in the US
#24
District of Columbia
15%
Ranked in the US
#6
$90,640
Ranked in the US
#2
$10.5
Ranked in the US
#20
Personal Income per Capita
$98,317
Ranked in the US
#1
Florida
12.4%
Ranked in the US
#20
$59,734
Ranked in the US
#44
$10
Ranked in the US
#25
Personal Income per Capita
$61,529
Ranked in the US
#21
Georgia
14%
Ranked in the US
#10
$61,497
Ranked in the US
#42
$7.25
Ranked in the US
#33
Personal Income per Capita
$55,366
Ranked in the US
#37
Hawaii
8.9%
Ranked in the US
#48
$82,199
Ranked in the US
#9
$10.1
Ranked in the US
#24
Personal Income per Capita
$58,967
Ranked in the US
#28
Idaho
10.1%
Ranked in the US
#35
$76,918
Ranked in the US
#18
$7.25
Ranked in the US
#34
Personal Income per Capita
$52,021
Ranked in the US
#45
Illinois
11%
Ranked in the US
#26
$79,253
Ranked in the US
#16
$12
Ranked in the US
#15
Personal Income per Capita
$67,767
Ranked in the US
#11
Indiana
11.6%
Ranked in the US
#23
$70,190
Ranked in the US
#29
$7.25
Ranked in the US
#35
Personal Income per Capita
$56,644
Ranked in the US
#33
Iowa
10.2%
Ranked in the US
#33
$72,429
Ranked in the US
#25
$7.25
Ranked in the US
#36
Personal Income per Capita
$57,012
Ranked in the US
#31
Kansas
10.6%
Ranked in the US
#30
$75,979
Ranked in the US
#20
$7.25
Ranked in the US
#37
Personal Income per Capita
$59,660
Ranked in the US
#25
Kentucky
14.9%
Ranked in the US
#8
$55,629
Ranked in the US
#47
$7.25
Ranked in the US
#38
Personal Income per Capita
$50,713
Ranked in the US
#47
Louisiana
17.8%
Ranked in the US
#2
$57,206
Ranked in the US
#45
$7.25
Ranked in the US
#39
Personal Income per Capita
$54,074
Ranked in the US
#42
Maine
10.6%
Ranked in the US
#31
$71,139
Ranked in the US
#26
$12.75
Ranked in the US
#10
Personal Income per Capita
$57,319
Ranked in the US
#30
Maryland
Ranked in the US
#47
$97,332
Ranked in the US
#1
$12.5
Ranked in the US
#13
Personal Income per Capita
$69,694
Ranked in the US
#10
Massachusetts
9.4%
Ranked in the US
#40
$86,566
Ranked in the US
#7
$14.25
Ranked in the US
#3
Personal Income per Capita
$83,229
Ranked in the US
#2
Michigan
12.6%
Ranked in the US
#17
$64,488
Ranked in the US
#35
$9.87
Ranked in the US
#27
Personal Income per Capita
$54,684
Ranked in the US
#40
Minnesota
8.3%
Ranked in the US
#49
$80,441
Ranked in the US
#14
$10.33
Ranked in the US
#23
Personal Income per Capita
$65,579
Ranked in the US
#16
Mississippi
18.7%
Ranked in the US
#1
$46,637
Ranked in the US
#51
$7.25
Ranked in the US
#40
Personal Income per Capita
$44,796
Ranked in the US
#51
Missouri
12.1%
Ranked in the US
#22
$63,594
Ranked in the US
#37
$11.15
Ranked in the US
#17
Personal Income per Capita
$55,141
Ranked in the US
#39
Montana
12.4%
Ranked in the US
#21
$64,999
Ranked in the US
#34
$9.2
Ranked in the US
#29
Personal Income per Capita
$56,936
Ranked in the US
#32
Nebraska
9.2%
Ranked in the US
#43
$78,109
Ranked in the US
#17
Ranked in the US
#30
Personal Income per Capita
$62,776
Ranked in the US
#19
Nevada
12.5%
Ranked in the US
#19
$64,340
Ranked in the US
#36
$10.5
Ranked in the US
#21
Personal Income per Capita
$58,451
Ranked in the US
#29
New Hampshire
Ranked in the US
#51
$88,841
Ranked in the US
#3
$7.25
Ranked in the US
#41
Personal Income per Capita
$74,229
Ranked in the US
#7
New Jersey
9.4%
Ranked in the US
#41
$88,559
Ranked in the US
#4
$13
Ranked in the US
#8
Personal Income per Capita
$75,086
Ranked in the US
#6
New Mexico
16.8%
Ranked in the US
#3
$53,463
Ranked in the US
#48
$11.5
Ranked in the US
#16
Personal Income per Capita
$49,396
Ranked in the US
#48
New York
12.7%
Ranked in the US
#16
$72,920
Ranked in the US
#23
$13.2
Ranked in the US
#7
Personal Income per Capita
$77,029
Ranked in the US
#5
North Carolina
12.9%
Ranked in the US
#14
$62,891
Ranked in the US
#38
$7.25
Ranked in the US
#42
Personal Income per Capita
$55,654
Ranked in the US
#36
North Dakota
10.2%
Ranked in the US
#34
$68,882
Ranked in the US
#31
$7.25
Ranked in the US
#43
Personal Income per Capita
$65,324
Ranked in the US
#17
Ohio
12.6%
Ranked in the US
#18
$62,689
Ranked in the US
#39
$9.3
Ranked in the US
#28
Personal Income per Capita
$56,548
Ranked in the US
#34
Oklahoma
14.3%
Ranked in the US
#9
$60,096
Ranked in the US
#43
$7.25
Ranked in the US
#44
Personal Income per Capita
$53,579
Ranked in the US
#43
Oregon
11%
Ranked in the US
#27
$81,855
Ranked in the US
#10
$13.5
Ranked in the US
#6
Personal Income per Capita
$60,990
Ranked in the US
#22
Pennsylvania
10.9%
Ranked in the US
#29
$72,627
Ranked in the US
#24
$7.25
Ranked in the US
#45
Personal Income per Capita
$64,370
Ranked in the US
#18
Rhode Island
10.6%
Ranked in the US
#32
$74,982
Ranked in the US
#21
$12.25
Ranked in the US
#14
Personal Income per Capita
$61,726
Ranked in the US
#20
South Carolina
13.8%
Ranked in the US
#11
$62,542
Ranked in the US
#40
$7.25
Ranked in the US
#46
Personal Income per Capita
$52,047
Ranked in the US
#44
South Dakota
11.6%
Ranked in the US
#24
$73,893
Ranked in the US
#22
$9.95
Ranked in the US
#26
Personal Income per Capita
$65,647
Ranked in the US
#15
Tennessee
13.6%
Ranked in the US
#12
$62,166
Ranked in the US
#41
$7.25
Ranked in the US
#47
Personal Income per Capita
$55,315
Ranked in the US
#38
Texas
13.4%
Ranked in the US
#13
$67,404
Ranked in the US
#33
$7.25
Ranked in the US
#48
Personal Income per Capita
$60,427
Ranked in the US
#23
Utah
7.3%
Ranked in the US
#50
$87,649
Ranked in the US
#5
$7.25
Ranked in the US
#49
Personal Income per Capita
$56,268
Ranked in the US
#35
Vermont
9.4%
Ranked in the US
#42
$76,079
Ranked in the US
#19
$12.55
Ranked in the US
#12
Personal Income per Capita
$59,652
Ranked in the US
#26
Virginia
9.2%
Ranked in the US
#44
$80,268
Ranked in the US
#15
$11
Ranked in the US
#19
Personal Income per Capita
$66,396
Ranked in the US
#13
Washington
9.5%
Ranked in the US
#39
$87,648
Ranked in the US
#6
$14.49
Ranked in the US
#2
Personal Income per Capita
$72,163
Ranked in the US
#8
West Virginia
15.8%
Ranked in the US
#4
$46,836
Ranked in the US
#50
$8.75
Ranked in the US
#31
Personal Income per Capita
$48,192
Ranked in the US
#50
Wisconsin
10%
Ranked in the US
#36
$69,943
Ranked in the US
#30
$7.25
Ranked in the US
#50
Personal Income per Capita
$59,064
Ranked in the US
#27
Wyoming
9.2%
Ranked in the US
#45
$71,052
Ranked in the US
#27
$7.25
Ranked in the US
#51
Personal Income per Capita
$66,337
Ranked in the US
#14