The Census Bureau provides poverty data from several household surveys and programs. Here you can find poverty estimates, learn about these surveys and programs, and get guidance on how to choose the right estimate for your needs.
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Census Bureau Releases New American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
For the first time, data from the 2015-2019 ACS will allow users to compare three nonoverlapping sets of 5-year data: 2005-2009, 2010-2014 and 2015-2019.
La Encuesta sobre la Comunidad Estadounidense: 2015-2019
For the first time, data from the 2015-2019 ACS will allow users to compare three nonoverlapping sets of 5-year data: 2005-2009, 2010-2014 and 2015-2019.
Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates
In 2019, the median estimated poverty rate for school-age children was 13.9% for all school districts.
Publications
Household Income by Race and Hispanic Origin: 2005–2009 and 2015–2019
This brief uses the 2005-2009 and 2015-2019 American Community Surveys (ACS) 5-year estimates to report changes in median household income by race and Hispanic
Changes in Poverty Rates and Poverty Areas Over Time: 2005 to 2019
This brief uses the first instance of three non-overlapping ACS 5-year estimates to analyze poverty rates and poverty areas for the nation, states and counties.
Poverty: 2018 and 2019
This brief uses the 2018 and 2019 American Community Surveys (ACS) 1-year estimates to analyze poverty rates for the nation, states, and the largest metro areas
Data
White Persons by Poverty Status in 1969, 1979, 1989, and 1999
Sources: 1970 Census, 1980 Census, 1990 Census and Census 2000
1990 Census: Detailed Cross-tabulations for Puerto Rico
These 1990 Census: Detailed Cross-tabulations for Puerto Rico tables are from the 1990 Census.
1990 Census: Detailed Cross-tabulations for the U.S. Virgin Islands
These 1990 Census: Detailed Cross-tabulations for the U.S. Virgin Islands tables are from the 1990 Census.
Working Papers
The SPM in the Survey of Income and Program Participation
This paper proposes a methodology for estimating the SPM in the 2014 Survey of Income and Program Participation Panel and subsequent panels.
Benchmarking the Redesigned Survey of Income and Program Participation
This poster compares estimates of social insurance and pension income in SIPP, National Income and Product Accounts, and administrative records.
Capping Nutritional Assistance in the Supplemental Poverty Measure
This paper develops a methodology and investigates the potential impact of capping nutritional assistance benefits in the estimation of the SPM.