Data Sources:

• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2002-2010

For more information on sources

Definitions:

• Living in poverty: Having an income at or below the annual federal poverty guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Poverty rate: The percentage of the population (for whom poverty status is determined) living in poverty. Poverty status is not determined for populations living in group quarters like nursing homes, dormitories, correctional facilities, etc.

Explanations and Caveats:

• Poverty rate: The Census Bureau uses a set of income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who is poor. If a family’s total income is less than that family’s threshold, then that family, and every individual in it, is considered poor. For example, the 2010 average weighted poverty threshold for a three-person family was $17,374. If the total family income for 2010 was greater than this threshold, then the family and all members of it were considered to be above the poverty level.
• The term Hispanic is used to describe ethnicity and can include members of any race.

Update Status:

March 2012