U.S. Department of Commerce
Current Population Survey (CPS)
A joint effort between the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau

Annual Social and Economic (ASEC) Supplement


There is also additional background information for this table group.

Contents for Table

Table 3. Percent of Families in Poverty, by Definition of Income and Selected Characteristics: 2009

    Percent Below Poverty Level
  Before taxes
  Money income  
Population Total
(thousands)		 Excluding capital gains (current measure)
Definition 1		 Definition 1 less government transfers
Definition 2		 Definition 2 plus capital gains (4)
Definition 3		 Definition 3 plus health insurance supplements to wage or salary income
Definition 4
Black alone or in combination
All families 9660 22.7 32.9 32.9 31.6

Age of Householder
15 to 24 years 696 49.5 55.4 55.4 53.7
25 to 44 years 4334 27.2 32.4 32.4 30.8
45 to 54 years 2127 15.5 22.8 22.8 21.9
55 to 64 years 1377 14.2 26.1 26.1 24.7
65 years and over 1126 12.7 48.5 48.5 48.0

Type of Family
Married-couple families 4429 8.6 18.9 18.9 17.9
  With related children
    under 18 		2264 11.4 15.9 15.9 14.5
  With related children
    under 6 		1051 14.2 17.7 17.7 16.2
Male householder,
    no wife present 		968 24.9 34.6 34.6 33.9
Female householder,
    no husband present 		4264 36.8 47.1 47.1 45.4
  With related children
    under 18 		3079 44.3 52.1 52.1 50.1
  With related children
    under 6 		1382 55.4 61.6 61.6 60.0

Region
Northeast 1612 21.4 30.7 30.7 29.2
Midwest 1743 28.8 41.4 41.4 39.5
South 5393 21.4 31.1 31.1 30.0
West 912 21.2 31.6 31.6 30.3

Educational Attainment
Less than 12th grade, no diploma 1497 41.1 58.3 58.3 57.3
High school graduate, no college 3188 27.5 38.2 38.2 36.4
College: Less than bachelor's degree 3139 19.5 29.2 29.2 27.8
Bachelor's degree or more 1836 4.8 9.3 9.3 9.0

Work Experience in 2009
Total, 15 to 64 years 8534 24.0 30.9 30.9 29.5
Worked at full-time jobs 5380 10.8 13.6 13.6 12.3
  50 to 52 weeks 4401 6.9 8.1 8.1 7.0
Worked at part-time jobs 991 37.2 47.0 47.0 44.9
Did not work 2164 50.8 66.3 66.3 65.2

Number of Year-Round Full-Time Workers in the Family
No workers 3663 49.0 72.7 72.7 71.3
  Householder 15 to 64 years 2897 57.6 74.1 74.1 72.4
  Householder 65 years and over 765 16.7 67.7 67.7 67.3
One worker 4094 9.5 12.4 12.4 10.7
Two workers or more 1903 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4

Program Participation Status of Family Members
One or more members received:
  Cash assistance 1156 49.4 72.5 72.5 71.3
      Public assistance or welfare non-SSI 515 67.5 82.9 82.9 82.0
      SSI 740 38.0 67.6 67.6 66.3
  Food stamps 2256 60.1 74.1 74.1 73.0
  Housing assistance 1092 61.1 73.8 73.8 71.9
  Energy assistance 610 60.3 79.6 79.6 77.5
  Free or reduced-price school lunches 2334 49.9 59.8 59.8 57.4
Family received
  both food stamps and cash assistance 730 64.1 85.8 85.8 85.4

Health Insurance Coverage
One or more members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan 5708 7.2 11.8 11.8 9.7
  Medicare 2043 19.1 49.5 49.5 48.6
  Medicaid 3684 43.2 56.6 56.6 55.4
No members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan or Medicare or
      Medicaid 		990 29.5 37.3 37.3 37.3
  Health insurance 691 35.1 43.5 43.5 43.5
Family received
  Medicare and Medicaid 797 31.5 64.2 64.2 63.7

 

  Percent Below Poverty Level
After taxes
Definition 4 less Social Security payroll taxes
Definition 5		 Definition 5 less Federal income taxes
Definition 6		 Definition 6 plus Earned Income Tax Credit
Definition 7		 Definition 7 less state income taxes
Definition 8		 Definition 8 plus nonmeans- tested government cash transfers (5)
Definition 9
Black alone or in combination
All families 33.2 31.9 29.1 29.1 20.6

Age of Householder
15 to 24 years 55.6 53.4 46.1 45.8 42.4
25 to 44 years 32.7 30.6 26.8 26.7 23.1
45 to 54 years 23.1 22.1 20.7 20.8 15.2
55 to 64 years 25.8 25.6 24.8 25.1 15.3
65 years and over 49.0 49.4 48.2 48.3 14.2

Type of Family
Married-couple families 18.8 18.0 16.9 16.9 7.6
  With related children
    under 18 		15.9 14.4 12.2 12.1 8.5
  With related children
    under 6 		18.1 16.0 13.9 13.7 10.2
Male householder,
    no wife present 		35.2 34.2 31.9 31.9 23.8
Female householder,
    no husband present 		47.7 45.7 41.1 41.1 33.3
  With related children
    under 18 		52.4 49.8 43.7 43.7 38.3
  With related children
    under 6 		62.5 59.3 50.8 50.7 47.3

Region
Northeast 30.5 29.6 27.5 27.5 20.2
Midwest 40.8 39.4 36.7 36.8 27.2
South 31.9 30.4 27.3 27.3 18.8
West 30.7 30.3 27.5 27.6 19.5

Educational Attainment
Less than 12th grade, no diploma 58.8 57.6 54.7 54.8 40.6
High school graduate, no college 38.5 36.8 33.2 33.3 24.0
College: Less than bachelor's degree 29.6 27.9 24.8 24.7 17.2
Bachelor's degree or more 9.2 9.1 8.2 8.2 4.2

Work Experience in 2009
Total, 15 to 64 years 31.1 29.6 26.5 26.5 21.4
Worked at full-time jobs 13.8 12.1 8.9 8.9 6.8
  50 to 52 weeks 8.5 6.7 4.0 4.0 3.5
Worked at part-time jobs 48.4 45.8 38.6 38.2 29.5
Did not work 66.1 65.6 64.9 64.9 54.3

Number of Year-Round Full-Time Workers in the Family
No workers 72.9 72.0 68.6 68.4 47.8
  Householder 15 to 64 years 74.2 72.9 68.7 68.6 55.4
  Householder 65 years and over 68.1 68.4 68.0 68.0 19.1
One worker 12.8 10.6 7.1 7.2 5.7
Two workers or more 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3

Program Participation Status of Family Members
One or more members received:
  Cash assistance 72.6 71.4 68.5 68.6 59.2
      Public assistance or welfare non-SSI 82.9 82.0 77.2 77.1 70.1
      SSI 67.7 66.4 65.2 65.4 54.0
  Food stamps 75.7 72.7 67.2 67.3 56.8
  Housing assistance 74.2 71.6 66.6 66.7 57.7
  Energy assistance 80.4 76.6 73.4 73.4 57.8
  Free or reduced-price school lunches 60.3 57.0 50.1 50.0 42.5
Family received
  both food stamps and cash assistance 86.9 85.6 82.6 82.6 73.8

Health Insurance Coverage
One or more members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan 10.7 10.1 8.5 8.4 4.8
  Medicare 49.5 49.4 48.2 48.3 20.9
  Medicaid 57.7 55.2 50.2 50.0 40.7
No members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan or Medicare or
      Medicaid 		39.1 37.7 33.4 33.8 26.6
  Health insurance 45.9 44.0 39.2 39.4 32.7
Family received
  Medicare and Medicaid 64.3 64.0 61.6 61.6 37.1

 

  Percent Below Poverty Level
After taxes
Definition 9 plus Medicare
Definition 10		 Definition 10 plus regular-price school lunches
Definition 11		 Definition 11 plus means-tested government cash transfers
Definition 12		 Definition 12 plus Medicaid
Definition 13		 Definition 13 plus other means-tested government noncash transfers
Definition 14
Black alone or in combination
All families 20.1 20.1 18.8 17.7 14.7

Age of Householder
15 to 24 years 42.2 42.2 40.4 38.9 32.6
25 to 44 years 22.8 22.8 21.4 19.9 16.0
45 to 54 years 14.9 14.9 13.6 12.8 10.8
55 to 64 years 14.8 14.8 13.2 12.9 11.1
65 years and over 12.4 12.4 11.7 11.4 10.2

Type of Family
Married-couple families 7.2 7.2 6.6 6.4 5.4
  With related children
    under 18 		8.1 8.1 7.9 7.5 5.8
  With related children
    under 6 		10.0 10.0 9.6 9.4 6.3
Male householder,
    no wife present 		23.3 23.3 21.7 21.3 18.9
Female householder,
    no husband present 		32.8 32.8 30.7 28.7 23.3
  With related children
    under 18 		38.0 38.0 36.1 33.6 26.9
  With related children
    under 6 		47.0 47.0 44.8 41.6 33.7

Region
Northeast 19.9 19.9 18.5 17.1 14.0
Midwest 26.6 26.6 24.7 23.6 19.4
South 18.2 18.2 17.1 16.2 13.7
West 19.5 19.5 17.8 16.6 12.7

Educational Attainment
Less than 12th grade, no diploma 39.8 39.8 36.8 34.8 28.9
High school graduate, no college 23.5 23.5 22.4 21.1 17.5
College: Less than bachelor's degree 16.8 16.8 15.5 14.5 11.7
Bachelor's degree or more 4.0 4.0 3.4 3.3 3.1

Work Experience in 2009
Total, 15 to 64 years 21.2 21.2 19.7 18.6 15.3
Worked at full-time jobs 6.7 6.7 6.3 5.7 4.1
  50 to 52 weeks 3.5 3.5 3.3 2.9 2.0
Worked at part-time jobs 29.4 29.4 27.7 25.9 18.4
Did not work 53.3 53.3 49.3 47.2 41.5

Number of Year-Round Full-Time Workers in the Family
No workers 46.8 46.8 43.7 41.7 35.1
  Householder 15 to 64 years 54.6 54.6 51.0 48.5 40.6
  Householder 65 years and over 17.1 17.1 15.9 15.6 14.2
One worker 5.6 5.6 5.1 4.4 3.1
Two workers or more 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3

Program Participation Status of Family Members
One or more members received:
  Cash assistance 56.8 56.8 45.6 42.2 33.2
      Public assistance or welfare non-SSI 69.6 69.6 61.7 57.2 42.6
      SSI 50.6 50.6 36.1 32.4 25.9
  Food stamps 55.4 55.4 51.7 47.7 35.6
  Housing assistance 56.0 56.0 53.0 49.9 34.9
  Energy assistance 56.4 56.4 52.3 48.6 37.4
  Free or reduced-price school lunches 41.9 41.9 40.2 37.1 28.6
Family received
  both food stamps and cash assistance 71.3 71.3 60.3 55.6 41.5

Health Insurance Coverage
One or more members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan 4.8 4.8 4.3 4.1 3.7
  Medicare 18.8 18.8 17.2 16.6 13.5
  Medicaid 39.8 39.8 36.2 33.5 26.3
No members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan or Medicare or
      Medicaid 		26.6 26.6 26.6 26.6 24.8
  Health insurance 32.7 32.7 32.7 32.7 30.3
Family received
  Medicare and Medicaid 32.9 32.9 28.7 27.3 20.5

 

  Percent Below Poverty Level
After taxes
Definition 14 plus net imputed return on equity in own home
Definition 15		 Definition 14 less medical programs
Definition 14a		 Money Income after Taxes Without EIC
Definition 1a		 Money Income after Taxes With EIC
Definition 1b		 Money Income after Taxes With EIC plus Economic Recovery Payment (6)
Definition 1c
Black alone or in combination
All families 14.2 15.0 22.4 19.6 19.6

Age of Householder
15 to 24 years 32.0 34.3 48.9 42.1 42.1
25 to 44 years 16.1 16.3 26.4 22.4 22.4
45 to 54 years 10.6 10.9 15.6 14.1 14.1
55 to 64 years 10.1 11.4 14.5 14.0 14.0
65 years and over 7.9 10.3 13.2 12.4 12.4

Type of Family
Married-couple families 5.3 5.6 8.5 7.2 7.2
  With related children
    under 18 		6.1 6.1 10.9 8.5 8.5
  With related children
    under 6 		6.5 6.8 13.5 10.5 10.5
Male householder,
    no wife present 		17.5 18.9 24.3 22.1 22.1
Female householder,
    no husband present 		22.8 23.9 36.5 32.0 32.0
  With related children
    under 18 		26.8 27.6 43.4 37.6 37.6
  With related children
    under 6 		34.1 34.9 53.8 46.6 46.6

Region
Northeast 13.9 14.1 21.2 19.4 19.4
Midwest 19.2 19.9 28.6 25.6 25.6
South 13.1 13.9 21.1 18.0 18.0
West 12.4 13.7 20.3 18.2 18.2

Educational Attainment
Less than 12th grade, no diploma 28.1 29.5 40.7 37.9 37.9
High school graduate, no college 17.1 17.8 27.5 23.5 23.5
College: Less than bachelor's degree 11.6 12.2 18.8 16.3 16.3
Bachelor's degree or more 2.7 3.1 4.8 3.8 3.8

Work Experience in 2009
Total, 15 to 64 years 15.1 15.6 23.6 20.6 20.6
Worked at full-time jobs 4.3 4.2 10.2 7.1 7.1
  50 to 52 weeks 2.0 2.0 6.4 3.8 3.8
Worked at part-time jobs 18.3 19.1 37.0 29.2 29.2
Did not work 40.6 42.3 50.9 50.2 50.2

Number of Year-Round Full-Time Workers in the Family
No workers 34.1 35.8 48.6 45.0 45.0
  Householder 15 to 64 years 40.1 41.5 57.1 52.5 52.5
  Householder 65 years and over 11.3 14.4 16.7 16.4 16.4
One worker 2.9 3.3 9.2 6.0 6.0
Two workers or more 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3

Program Participation Status of Family Members
One or more members received:
  Cash assistance 32.4 34.6 48.9 46.1 46.1
      Public assistance or welfare non-SSI 42.5 45.2 66.8 62.4 62.4
      SSI 24.8 26.3 38.0 36.5 36.5
  Food stamps 34.8 36.6 59.0 53.6 53.6
  Housing assistance 34.9 36.4 59.4 54.1 54.1
  Energy assistance 35.9 38.8 57.9 53.8 53.8
  Free or reduced-price school lunches 28.3 29.3 48.6 41.8 41.8
Family received
  both food stamps and cash assistance 40.5 42.8 63.3 60.5 60.5

Health Insurance Coverage
One or more members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan 3.4 3.7 7.0 5.5 5.5
  Medicare 11.8 14.0 19.0 18.4 18.4
  Medicaid 25.7 27.2 42.3 37.3 37.3
No members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan or Medicare or
      Medicaid 		24.8 24.8 30.1 26.6 26.6
  Health insurance 29.7 30.3 36.0 32.7 32.7
Family received
  Medicare and Medicaid 18.4 21.9 31.2 30.2 30.2

 

  Number Below Poverty Level
Definition 1 Definition 2 Definition 3 Definition 4 Definition 5 Definition 6 Definition 7
Black alone or in combination
All families 2193 3179 3179 3056 3205 3078 2808

Age of Householder
15 to 24 years 345 386 386 374 387 372 321
25 to 44 years 1179 1402 1402 1334 1419 1326 1161
45 to 54 years 330 485 485 466 492 471 440
55 to 64 years 196 359 359 340 355 353 342
65 years and over 143 546 546 541 552 556 543

Type of Family
Married-couple families 383 836 836 791 831 799 747
  With related children
    under 18 		259 360 360 329 361 325 276
  With related children
    under 6 		149 186 186 171 190 168 146
Male householder,
    no wife present 		241 335 335 328 340 331 308
Female householder,
    no husband present 		1569 2008 2008 1937 2033 1948 1752
  With related children
    under 18 		1365 1604 1604 1542 1615 1534 1347
  With related children
    under 6 		765 851 851 829 863 820 703

Region
Northeast 345 494 494 471 491 478 443
Midwest 501 721 721 689 711 686 640
South 1152 1676 1676 1620 1723 1638 1474
West 194 288 288 276 280 276 250

Educational Attainment
Less than 12th grade, no diploma 614 873 873 858 880 862 819
High school graduate, no college 877 1217 1217 1161 1226 1172 1059
College: Less than bachelor's degree 613 918 918 872 929 877 779
Bachelor's degree or more 89 171 171 165 169 167 150

Work Experience in 2009
Total, 15 to 64 years 2050 2633 2633 2515 2653 2522 2264
Worked at full-time jobs 582 733 733 660 744 649 478
  50 to 52 weeks 305 356 356 307 373 295 174
Worked at part-time jobs 368 466 466 445 479 454 382
Did not work 1099 1434 1434 1410 1430 1419 1404

Number of Year-Round Full-Time Workers in the Family
No workers 1795 2664 2664 2611 2671 2637 2511
  Householder 15 to 64 years 1668 2146 2146 2097 2150 2113 1990
  Householder 65 years and over 128 518 518 515 521 523 521
One worker 389 507 507 437 525 434 292
Two workers or more 8 8 8 7 9 7 5

Program Participation Status of Family Members
One or more members received:
  Cash assistance 571 838 838 825 839 825 792
      Public assistance or welfare non-SSI 348 427 427 423 427 422 398
      SSI 281 500 500 491 501 492 482
  Food stamps 1356 1673 1673 1646 1707 1640 1517
  Housing assistance 668 806 806 785 810 782 727
  Energy assistance 368 485 485 473 490 467 448
  Free or reduced-price school lunches 1164 1395 1395 1340 1408 1331 1169
Family received
  both food stamps and cash assistance 468 627 627 624 635 625 603

Health Insurance Coverage
One or more members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan 409 676 676 554 610 576 483
  Medicare 390 1012 1012 993 1011 1009 985
  Medicaid 1590 2084 2084 2042 2124 2035 1849
No members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan or Medicare or
      Medicaid 		292 369 369 369 387 373 331
  Health insurance 243 300 300 300 318 304 271
Family received
  Medicare and Medicaid 251 512 512 508 513 510 491

 

  Number Below Poverty Level
Definition 8 Definition 9 Definition 10 Definition 11 Definition 12 Definition 13
Black alone or in combination
All families 2807 1990 1946 1946 1811 1712

Age of Householder
15 to 24 years 319 295 294 294 281 271
25 to 44 years 1157 1002 990 990 928 862
45 to 54 years 442 323 318 318 289 273
55 to 64 years 345 211 204 204 182 178
65 years and over 544 160 140 140 131 128

Type of Family
Married-couple families 747 339 320 320 292 282
  With related children
    under 18 		275 192 184 184 178 169
  With related children
    under 6 		144 107 105 105 101 99
Male householder,
    no wife present 		308 230 226 226 210 206
Female householder,
    no husband present 		1751 1421 1400 1400 1310 1224
  With related children
    under 18 		1345 1180 1169 1169 1112 1035
  With related children
    under 6 		701 654 650 650 620 576

Region
Northeast 443 326 320 320 298 275
Midwest 642 474 464 464 431 411
South 1471 1012 984 984 920 874
West 251 178 178 178 162 152

Educational Attainment
Less than 12th grade, no diploma 820 608 596 596 551 521
High school graduate, no college 1063 767 750 750 713 673
College: Less than bachelor's degree 775 539 526 526 486 457
Bachelor's degree or more 150 76 74 74 62 61

Work Experience in 2009
Total, 15 to 64 years 2263 1830 1806 1806 1680 1584
Worked at full-time jobs 479 364 362 362 339 306
  50 to 52 weeks 177 154 153 153 144 126
Worked at part-time jobs 379 293 291 291 275 257
Did not work 1405 1174 1153 1153 1066 1021

Number of Year-Round Full-Time Workers in the Family
No workers 2507 1752 1713 1713 1599 1526
  Householder 15 to 64 years 1987 1606 1582 1582 1477 1407
  Householder 65 years and over 520 146 131 131 122 119
One worker 295 233 228 228 208 182
Two workers or more 5 5 5 5 5 5

Program Participation Status of Family Members
One or more members received:
  Cash assistance 794 684 656 656 527 488
      Public assistance or welfare non-SSI 398 361 359 359 318 295
      SSI 484 400 375 375 267 240
  Food stamps 1519 1281 1250 1250 1167 1076
  Housing assistance 728 630 611 611 578 545
  Energy assistance 448 352 344 344 319 296
  Free or reduced-price school lunches 1168 991 978 978 938 865
Family received
  both food stamps and cash assistance 603 539 521 521 440 406

Health Insurance Coverage
One or more members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan 481 276 271 271 243 236
  Medicare 986 428 384 384 350 339
  Medicaid 1844 1499 1466 1466 1335 1236
No members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan or Medicare or
      Medicaid 		334 263 263 263 263 263
  Health insurance 272 226 226 226 226 226
Family received
  Medicare and Medicaid 491 295 262 262 228 217

 

  Number Below Poverty Level
Definition 14 Definition 15 Definition 14a Definition 1a Definition 1b Definition 1c
Black alone or in combination
All families 1417 1376 1449 2166 1897 1897

Age of Householder
15 to 24 years 227 223 239 341 293 293
25 to 44 years 692 700 706 1145 971 971
45 to 54 years 230 226 232 332 300 300
55 to 64 years 152 139 156 200 193 193
65 years and over 115 89 116 148 140 140

Type of Family
Married-couple families 241 233 248 376 320 320
  With related children
    under 18 		132 137 138 247 192 192
  With related children
    under 6 		67 69 72 142 110 110
Male householder,
    no wife present 		183 170 183 235 214 214
Female householder,
    no husband present 		993 974 1018 1554 1363 1363
  With related children
    under 18 		828 825 851 1336 1157 1157
  With related children
    under 6 		465 471 483 744 644 644

Region
Northeast 225 224 228 341 313 313
Midwest 338 335 346 499 447 447
South 737 705 751 1140 971 971
West 116 113 125 185 166 166

Educational Attainment
Less than 12th grade, no diploma 433 420 442 610 568 568
High school graduate, no college 559 544 567 878 748 748
College: Less than bachelor's degree 367 363 383 589 511 511
Bachelor's degree or more 57 49 57 89 71 71

Work Experience in 2009
Total, 15 to 64 years 1302 1287 1333 2017 1757 1757
Worked at full-time jobs 223 229 228 549 381 381
  50 to 52 weeks 88 88 88 282 168 168
Worked at part-time jobs 182 181 189 366 289 289
Did not work 897 877 915 1102 1087 1087

Number of Year-Round Full-Time Workers in the Family
No workers 1286 1250 1311 1782 1647 1647
  Householder 15 to 64 years 1177 1163 1201 1654 1521 1521
  Householder 65 years and over 108 87 110 128 126 126
One worker 126 118 133 376 246 246
Two workers or more 5 8 5 8 5 5

Program Participation Status of Family Members
One or more members received:
  Cash assistance 383 375 400 566 534 534
      Public assistance or welfare non-SSI 220 219 233 344 321 321
      SSI 192 183 195 281 270 270
  Food stamps 804 786 826 1332 1209 1209
  Housing assistance 381 381 398 649 591 591
  Energy assistance 228 219 236 353 328 328
  Free or reduced-price school lunches 667 660 684 1134 976 976
Family received
  both food stamps and cash assistance 303 296 312 462 442 442

Health Insurance Coverage
One or more members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan 212 196 214 399 312 312
  Medicare 276 241 287 389 375 375
  Medicaid 970 947 1003 1560 1372 1372
No members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan or Medicare or
      Medicaid 		246 246 246 298 263 263
  Health insurance 209 206 209 249 226 226
Family received
  Medicare and Medicaid 164 147 174 249 240 240

Race Footnotes

Income Definition Footnotes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Contact: Demographic Call Center Staff at 301-763-2422 or 1-866-758-1060 (toll free)
[an error occurred while processing this directive]