What does this poverty rate ranking show?

It orders states by People below the federal poverty threshold. It is a comparison of this one published measure, not an overall ranking of where to live.

Where do these figures come from?

U.S. Census Bureau ACS Table B17001 supplies this measure. States without a comparable published value are shown as not ranked rather than estimated.

How should I use this ranking?

Use it to narrow a search, then open a state or county profile for the underlying figures, source dates and caveats. A statewide number may not describe every neighbourhood.

Rankings · Money

Lowest poverty rate by state

People below the federal poverty threshold.

Share of people for whom poverty status is determined whose household or family income falls below the Census poverty threshold. The threshold varies by family size and composition but not by local cost of living. County figures use ACS 5-year data; state figures use ACS 1-year data.

How to read this ranking

New Hampshire has the lowest published poverty rate in this comparison, at 7.2%. The next states shown are Utah (8.3%) and Vermont (9.0%).

The table orders 51 states by people below the federal poverty threshold. It describes one published measure, not an overall judgment about where to live.

Use the result as a starting point, then compare the underlying source, dates, and local county figures before making a decision. Share of people for whom poverty status is determined whose household or family income falls below the Census poverty threshold. The threshold varies by family size and composition but not by local cost of living. County figures use ACS 5-year data; state figures use ACS 1-year data.

1New Hampshire7.2%
2Utah8.3%
3Vermont9.0%
4Maryland9.1%
5New Jersey9.2%
6Minnesota9.3%
7Colorado9.6%
8Delaware9.6%
9Massachusetts9.7%
10Virginia9.7%
11Washington9.9%
12Hawaii10.0%
13Wyoming10.1%
14Alaska10.2%
15Connecticut10.2%
16Montana10.2%
17Wisconsin10.3%
18South Dakota10.4%
19Idaho10.5%
20Maine10.6%
21Kansas10.9%
22Nebraska10.9%
23North Dakota11.1%
24Iowa11.3%
25Illinois11.6%
26Nevada11.6%
27Pennsylvania11.6%
28Arizona11.7%
29California11.8%
30Oregon11.8%
31Florida12.0%
32Indiana12.2%
33Rhode Island12.2%
34Missouri12.3%
35North Carolina12.5%
36Georgia12.6%
37Ohio12.7%
38South Carolina13.3%
39Michigan13.4%
40Texas13.4%
41Tennessee13.5%
42New York14.0%
43Oklahoma14.9%
44Alabama15.2%
45Arkansas15.5%
46Kentucky15.6%
47New Mexico16.4%
48West Virginia16.7%
49District of Columbia17.3%
50Mississippi17.8%
51Louisiana18.7%

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Frequently asked questions

What does this ranking show?: It orders states by People below the federal poverty threshold. It is one measure, not an overall verdict on where to live.
Where do the figures come from?: U.S. Census Bureau ACS Table B17001. States without a comparable published figure are listed as not ranked rather than estimated.
How should I use it?: Use it to narrow your search, then open a state or county profile for the source date, caveats and local context.

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS Table B17001. · How this is built

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