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
Hispanic (of any race)
All families 10422 22.7 29.7 29.7 28.6

Age of Householder
15 to 24 years 837 35.2 38.7 38.7 37.2
25 to 44 years 5431 26.5 29.1 29.1 27.8
45 to 54 years 2101 17.6 22.5 22.5 21.7
55 to 64 years 1152 13.4 23.2 23.2 22.5
65 years and over 902 12.6 49.9 49.9 49.0

Type of Family
Married-couple families 6593 16.0 23.1 23.1 22.2
  With related children
    under 18 		4397 19.9 23.5 23.5 22.2
  With related children
    under 6 		2380 24.7 27.2 27.2 25.8
Male householder,
    no wife present 		1081 23.0 27.3 27.3 26.3
Female householder,
    no husband present 		2748 38.8 46.3 46.3 44.7
  With related children
    under 18 		2055 46.0 51.3 51.3 49.5
  With related children
    under 6 		981 54.4 59.0 59.0 56.8

Region
Northeast 1486 22.5 30.5 30.5 29.6
Midwest 807 25.7 32.5 32.5 30.7
South 3974 22.4 29.5 29.5 28.8
West 4155 22.5 28.9 28.9 27.5

Educational Attainment
Less than 12th grade, no diploma 3752 34.4 44.1 44.1 42.7
High school graduate, no college 2977 21.6 27.6 27.6 26.3
College: Less than bachelor's degree 2326 15.3 20.8 20.8 20.1
Bachelor's degree or more 1367 6.0 9.4 9.4 9.0

Work Experience in 2009
Total, 15 to 64 years 9520 23.7 27.8 27.8 26.6
Worked at full-time jobs 6161 13.3 15.0 15.0 13.9
  50 to 52 weeks 4905 9.4 10.2 10.2 9.3
Worked at part-time jobs 1265 36.4 40.9 40.9 39.7
Did not work 2094 46.5 57.4 57.4 56.0

Number of Year-Round Full-Time Workers in the Family
No workers 3316 50.1 68.4 68.4 67.2
  Householder 15 to 64 years 2741 56.7 67.6 67.6 66.3
  Householder 65 years and over 576 18.4 72.0 72.0 71.6
One worker 4596 14.2 16.6 16.6 15.0
Two workers or more 2509 2.2 2.5 2.5 2.4

Program Participation Status of Family Members
One or more members received:
  Cash assistance 793 45.7 69.0 69.0 67.8
      Public assistance or welfare non-SSI 371 62.7 77.6 77.6 77.3
      SSI 482 34.7 64.5 64.5 62.9
  Food stamps 1831 58.6 70.5 70.5 69.4
  Housing assistance 518 55.1 65.5 65.5 64.3
  Energy assistance 397 48.7 63.1 63.1 62.2
  Free or reduced-price school lunches 2878 46.6 52.0 52.0 50.1
Family received
  both food stamps and cash assistance 489 61.0 83.6 83.6 83.3

Health Insurance Coverage
One or more members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan 5263 6.1 8.9 8.9 6.7
  Medicare 1631 17.3 47.1 47.1 46.2
  Medicaid 4222 39.0 48.2 48.2 47.1
No members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan or Medicare or
      Medicaid 		1724 27.3 29.8 29.8 29.8
  Health insurance 1466 28.5 31.2 31.2 31.2
Family received
  Medicare and Medicaid 708 26.8 60.0 60.0 58.8

 

  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
Hispanic (of any race)
All families 30.6 28.5 24.3 24.3 18.5

Age of Householder
15 to 24 years 40.3 38.3 33.8 33.7 30.6
25 to 44 years 30.1 27.1 21.6 21.5 19.5
45 to 54 years 22.9 22.0 18.5 18.6 15.8
55 to 64 years 23.4 22.8 21.4 21.3 12.8
65 years and over 51.0 50.7 49.3 49.3 15.5

Type of Family
Married-couple families 23.9 21.9 18.2 18.1 12.1
  With related children
    under 18 		24.3 21.5 16.0 16.0 13.6
  With related children
    under 6 		28.2 25.1 19.2 19.1 16.5
Male householder,
    no wife present 		28.7 27.4 24.1 24.1 19.6
Female householder,
    no husband present 		47.3 44.9 39.3 39.1 33.6
  With related children
    under 18 		52.2 49.1 42.0 41.9 38.4
  With related children
    under 6 		59.4 56.7 49.3 49.2 45.8

Region
Northeast 31.7 29.6 26.0 25.7 20.0
Midwest 32.3 30.3 25.4 25.3 19.1
South 30.7 28.9 24.3 24.3 18.1
West 29.7 27.4 23.5 23.5 18.3

Educational Attainment
Less than 12th grade, no diploma 45.7 43.0 36.8 36.7 29.1
High school graduate, no college 28.4 26.0 21.4 21.4 16.2
College: Less than bachelor's degree 21.4 19.9 17.5 17.4 12.4
Bachelor's degree or more 9.5 8.9 8.3 8.3 4.9

Work Experience in 2009
Total, 15 to 64 years 28.6 26.4 22.0 21.9 18.8
Worked at full-time jobs 15.9 13.6 9.6 9.6 8.3
  50 to 52 weeks 11.1 8.8 5.3 5.3 4.8
Worked at part-time jobs 41.7 39.1 32.6 32.5 29.6
Did not work 58.0 56.6 51.8 51.8 43.3

Number of Year-Round Full-Time Workers in the Family
No workers 68.9 67.3 62.3 62.3 46.2
  Householder 15 to 64 years 68.2 66.3 60.3 60.2 51.4
  Householder 65 years and over 72.2 72.2 71.8 71.8 21.7
One worker 18.0 14.8 9.4 9.3 7.9
Two workers or more 2.8 2.4 1.5 1.5 1.5

Program Participation Status of Family Members
One or more members received:
  Cash assistance 70.2 69.0 66.8 66.8 55.4
      Public assistance or welfare non-SSI 79.9 78.0 75.5 75.3 69.7
      SSI 64.8 64.3 62.1 62.2 47.6
  Food stamps 72.8 68.6 61.3 61.2 51.9
  Housing assistance 66.9 64.8 59.8 59.6 52.7
  Energy assistance 65.6 63.0 56.5 56.0 45.8
  Free or reduced-price school lunches 53.8 49.0 38.9 38.8 35.1
Family received
  both food stamps and cash assistance 85.3 83.9 81.9 81.8 71.3

Health Insurance Coverage
One or more members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan 7.7 6.9 5.3 5.3 3.3
  Medicare 47.5 47.2 45.5 45.5 19.0
  Medicaid 50.3 46.7 39.5 39.4 32.4
No members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan or Medicare or
      Medicaid 		32.8 30.2 25.0 25.1 23.1
  Health insurance 34.4 31.5 25.6 25.7 23.7
Family received
  Medicare and Medicaid 60.5 59.4 57.0 57.0 31.3

 

  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
Hispanic (of any race)
All families 18.3 18.2 17.4 16.6 14.4

Age of Householder
15 to 24 years 30.6 30.6 29.6 28.7 24.6
25 to 44 years 19.4 19.4 18.8 17.9 15.6
45 to 54 years 15.6 15.5 14.2 13.4 11.7
55 to 64 years 12.7 12.7 11.8 11.1 10.0
65 years and over 13.4 13.4 12.0 11.9 10.2

Type of Family
Married-couple families 11.8 11.8 11.3 10.7 9.6
  With related children
    under 18 		13.5 13.4 12.9 12.2 10.7
  With related children
    under 6 		16.5 16.5 16.1 15.3 13.7
Male householder,
    no wife present 		19.6 19.6 18.8 18.3 17.0
Female householder,
    no husband present 		33.3 33.2 31.5 30.1 25.2
  With related children
    under 18 		38.3 38.1 36.6 34.9 28.9
  With related children
    under 6 		45.6 45.5 44.6 42.1 35.8

Region
Northeast 19.6 19.6 17.3 16.2 12.7
Midwest 18.9 18.9 18.6 18.0 16.6
South 17.9 17.9 17.3 16.5 14.5
West 18.1 18.0 17.3 16.6 14.6

Educational Attainment
Less than 12th grade, no diploma 28.6 28.5 26.8 25.6 22.3
High school graduate, no college 16.1 16.1 15.5 14.6 12.6
College: Less than bachelor's degree 12.2 12.2 12.0 11.7 10.1
Bachelor's degree or more 4.9 4.9 4.8 4.6 4.3

Work Experience in 2009
Total, 15 to 64 years 18.7 18.7 17.9 17.0 14.8
Worked at full-time jobs 8.3 8.2 8.0 7.6 6.2
  50 to 52 weeks 4.8 4.7 4.6 4.2 3.2
Worked at part-time jobs 29.6 29.5 28.0 26.8 22.7
Did not work 43.0 42.9 40.9 39.0 35.5

Number of Year-Round Full-Time Workers in the Family
No workers 45.5 45.5 43.6 42.3 37.7
  Householder 15 to 64 years 51.0 51.0 49.1 47.5 42.4
  Householder 65 years and over 19.3 19.3 17.6 17.5 14.9
One worker 7.8 7.8 7.2 6.4 5.1
Two workers or more 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.2 0.8

Program Participation Status of Family Members
One or more members received:
  Cash assistance 53.0 52.8 41.7 39.3 32.0
      Public assistance or welfare non-SSI 68.5 68.2 58.3 55.2 44.5
      SSI 44.1 44.1 31.0 28.5 23.3
  Food stamps 50.9 50.9 47.6 43.7 33.6
  Housing assistance 51.3 51.3 47.5 43.8 28.0
  Energy assistance 45.0 45.0 40.1 38.3 30.2
  Free or reduced-price school lunches 35.0 35.0 33.4 31.6 26.2
Family received
  both food stamps and cash assistance 68.1 68.1 55.6 51.9 40.3

Health Insurance Coverage
One or more members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan 3.3 3.3 3.1 3.0 2.5
  Medicare 17.3 17.3 15.9 15.3 13.4
  Medicaid 31.8 31.8 29.7 27.7 23.3
No members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan or Medicare or
      Medicaid 		23.1 23.0 23.0 23.0 22.0
  Health insurance 23.7 23.6 23.6 23.6 22.5
Family received
  Medicare and Medicaid 27.9 27.9 24.6 23.3 20.3

 

  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
Hispanic (of any race)
All families 14.2 14.7 22.2 18.0 18.0

Age of Householder
15 to 24 years 23.9 25.0 35.3 30.1 30.1
25 to 44 years 15.7 15.8 25.2 19.5 19.5
45 to 54 years 11.6 12.0 17.9 14.8 14.8
55 to 64 years 9.2 10.5 13.5 12.3 12.3
65 years and over 8.3 10.4 12.7 12.5 12.3

Type of Family
Married-couple families 9.4 9.7 15.4 11.8 11.8
  With related children
    under 18 		10.8 10.9 18.9 13.6 13.6
  With related children
    under 6 		13.9 14.0 23.2 16.8 16.8
Male householder,
    no wife present 		16.8 17.3 22.9 19.0 19.0
Female householder,
    no husband present 		24.6 25.6 38.2 32.4 32.4
  With related children
    under 18 		28.8 29.5 45.2 37.6 37.6
  With related children
    under 6 		35.8 36.7 53.3 45.8 45.8

Region
Northeast 12.6 13.2 21.2 17.5 17.5
Midwest 16.5 16.6 24.7 19.5 19.5
South 14.0 14.6 22.3 18.0 17.9
West 14.4 14.9 21.9 17.9 17.9

Educational Attainment
Less than 12th grade, no diploma 21.6 22.7 34.0 27.6 27.5
High school graduate, no college 12.5 12.8 20.4 16.2 16.2
College: Less than bachelor's degree 10.1 10.3 14.9 12.4 12.4
Bachelor's degree or more 4.2 4.3 5.9 5.1 5.1

Work Experience in 2009
Total, 15 to 64 years 14.7 15.1 23.1 18.5 18.5
Worked at full-time jobs 6.3 6.3 12.7 8.6 8.6
  50 to 52 weeks 3.4 3.3 8.7 5.2 5.2
Worked at part-time jobs 22.4 22.9 35.9 28.8 28.8
Did not work 34.8 36.3 46.0 41.4 41.4

Number of Year-Round Full-Time Workers in the Family
No workers 36.3 38.2 49.8 44.3 44.2
  Householder 15 to 64 years 41.5 43.0 56.4 49.7 49.7
  Householder 65 years and over 11.3 15.1 18.6 18.5 18.2
One worker 5.5 5.3 13.1 7.9 7.9
Two workers or more 0.9 0.9 2.3 1.7 1.7

Program Participation Status of Family Members
One or more members received:
  Cash assistance 32.3 33.1 45.3 42.1 42.1
      Public assistance or welfare non-SSI 44.2 45.6 62.2 58.6 58.6
      SSI 23.8 24.5 34.4 31.3 31.3
  Food stamps 33.1 34.4 57.0 48.6 48.6
  Housing assistance 28.0 29.4 54.4 48.0 48.0
  Energy assistance 28.6 31.2 47.7 40.4 40.4
  Free or reduced-price school lunches 26.4 26.7 44.9 34.6 34.6
Family received
  both food stamps and cash assistance 39.8 41.8 60.0 55.6 55.6

Health Insurance Coverage
One or more members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan 2.6 2.6 5.7 4.1 4.0
  Medicare 12.7 13.8 17.0 16.6 16.5
  Medicaid 23.1 23.9 37.8 30.4 30.4
No members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan or Medicare or
      Medicaid 		20.8 22.0 27.6 23.1 23.1
  Health insurance 21.7 22.5 28.8 23.7 23.7
Family received
  Medicare and Medicaid 20.6 21.1 26.0 25.4 25.4

 

  Number Below Poverty Level
Definition 1 Definition 2 Definition 3 Definition 4 Definition 5 Definition 6 Definition 7
Hispanic (of any race)
All families 2369 3092 3092 2976 3184 2972 2537

Age of Householder
15 to 24 years 295 324 324 311 337 320 282
25 to 44 years 1437 1579 1579 1508 1635 1471 1174
45 to 54 years 370 473 473 456 482 461 389
55 to 64 years 154 267 267 259 269 262 246
65 years and over 114 450 450 442 460 457 445

Type of Family
Married-couple families 1054 1526 1526 1462 1576 1442 1197
  With related children
    under 18 		876 1032 1032 977 1069 944 705
  With related children
    under 6 		587 647 647 614 671 598 456
Male householder,
    no wife present 		249 295 295 284 310 297 260
Female householder,
    no husband present 		1066 1271 1271 1230 1299 1233 1079
  With related children
    under 18 		945 1054 1054 1018 1073 1010 864
  With related children
    under 6 		533 578 578 557 583 557 483

Region
Northeast 335 454 454 440 471 441 386
Midwest 208 262 262 248 260 245 205
South 892 1174 1174 1146 1219 1147 967
West 935 1202 1202 1143 1234 1140 978

Educational Attainment
Less than 12th grade, no diploma 1289 1656 1656 1601 1713 1614 1381
High school graduate, no college 642 823 823 783 845 773 636
College: Less than bachelor's degree 356 485 485 468 497 463 406
Bachelor's degree or more 82 129 129 123 129 122 113

Work Experience in 2009
Total, 15 to 64 years 2255 2642 2642 2534 2724 2515 2091
Worked at full-time jobs 820 923 923 859 981 837 594
  50 to 52 weeks 463 502 502 455 543 433 260
Worked at part-time jobs 461 517 517 502 528 494 412
Did not work 974 1202 1202 1173 1215 1184 1086

Number of Year-Round Full-Time Workers in the Family
No workers 1660 2268 2268 2229 2286 2231 2067
  Householder 15 to 64 years 1554 1854 1854 1817 1870 1816 1654
  Householder 65 years and over 106 414 414 412 416 416 413
One worker 653 761 761 687 828 680 431
Two workers or more 56 63 63 59 70 60 39

Program Participation Status of Family Members
One or more members received:
  Cash assistance 363 547 547 538 557 547 530
      Public assistance or welfare non-SSI 233 288 288 287 296 289 280
      SSI 167 311 311 303 312 310 299
  Food stamps 1072 1290 1290 1270 1332 1255 1122
  Housing assistance 286 339 339 333 346 336 310
  Energy assistance 193 250 250 247 260 250 224
  Free or reduced-price school lunches 1342 1496 1496 1441 1549 1411 1119
Family received
  both food stamps and cash assistance 298 409 409 407 417 410 400

Health Insurance Coverage
One or more members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan 320 471 471 355 407 361 280
  Medicare 281 769 769 754 775 770 743
  Medicaid 1646 2036 2036 1990 2123 1971 1667
No members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan or Medicare or
      Medicaid 		470 513 513 513 566 520 432
  Health insurance 418 457 457 457 504 462 376
Family received
  Medicare and Medicaid 189 425 425 416 429 421 404

 

  Number Below Poverty Level
Definition 8 Definition 9 Definition 10 Definition 11 Definition 12 Definition 13
Hispanic (of any race)
All families 2532 1931 1904 1900 1812 1729

Age of Householder
15 to 24 years 282 256 256 256 248 240
25 to 44 years 1170 1057 1054 1051 1023 972
45 to 54 years 390 331 327 326 298 282
55 to 64 years 245 148 146 146 136 127
65 years and over 445 140 121 121 108 107

Type of Family
Married-couple families 1196 796 778 777 742 703
  With related children
    under 18 		703 597 592 591 568 537
  With related children
    under 6 		454 393 392 392 384 365
Male householder,
    no wife present 		260 211 211 211 203 198
Female householder,
    no husband present 		1076 924 914 912 867 828
  With related children
    under 18 		860 788 786 784 753 717
  With related children
    under 6 		482 449 447 446 438 413

Region
Northeast 382 297 291 291 258 240
Midwest 204 154 152 152 150 145
South 968 719 710 710 686 655
West 978 760 751 747 719 688

Educational Attainment
Less than 12th grade, no diploma 1378 1093 1073 1069 1006 960
High school graduate, no college 636 483 480 480 462 433
College: Less than bachelor's degree 404 288 284 284 279 273
Bachelor's degree or more 113 67 67 67 66 63

Work Experience in 2009
Total, 15 to 64 years 2087 1792 1783 1779 1705 1621
Worked at full-time jobs 591 511 509 507 493 466
  50 to 52 weeks 258 234 234 233 225 204
Worked at part-time jobs 411 374 374 373 355 339
Did not work 1085 906 900 899 856 816

Number of Year-Round Full-Time Workers in the Family
No workers 2065 1532 1510 1510 1446 1404
  Householder 15 to 64 years 1651 1407 1399 1399 1345 1303
  Householder 65 years and over 413 125 111 111 101 101
One worker 428 361 358 357 333 294
Two workers or more 39 38 36 34 34 31

Program Participation Status of Family Members
One or more members received:
  Cash assistance 529 440 420 419 331 312
      Public assistance or welfare non-SSI 279 258 254 253 216 205
      SSI 300 229 213 213 150 137
  Food stamps 1119 951 932 932 871 801
  Housing assistance 309 273 266 266 246 227
  Energy assistance 222 182 178 178 159 152
  Free or reduced-price school lunches 1115 1011 1009 1009 961 908
Family received
  both food stamps and cash assistance 400 348 333 333 272 253

Health Insurance Coverage
One or more members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan 280 176 176 176 162 159
  Medicare 743 310 283 283 259 250
  Medicaid 1662 1367 1343 1342 1254 1170
No members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan or Medicare or
      Medicaid 		433 398 398 396 396 396
  Health insurance 377 348 348 345 345 345
Family received
  Medicare and Medicaid 404 221 198 198 174 165

 

  Number Below Poverty Level
Definition 14 Definition 15 Definition 14a Definition 1a Definition 1b Definition 1c
Hispanic (of any race)
All families 1506 1476 1531 2312 1874 1872

Age of Householder
15 to 24 years 206 200 209 295 252 252
25 to 44 years 847 852 857 1370 1057 1057
45 to 54 years 246 243 251 376 310 310
55 to 64 years 115 106 121 156 141 141
65 years and over 92 75 94 115 113 111

Type of Family
Married-couple families 630 617 642 1016 777 775
  With related children
    under 18 		472 476 481 831 597 597
  With related children
    under 6 		327 331 333 552 401 401
Male householder,
    no wife present 		184 182 187 247 206 206
Female householder,
    no husband present 		691 677 703 1049 891 891
  With related children
    under 18 		594 591 606 928 773 773
  With related children
    under 6 		351 351 360 523 449 449

Region
Northeast 188 187 196 314 260 260
Midwest 134 133 134 199 158 158
South 575 558 582 887 713 712
West 608 598 619 911 742 742

Educational Attainment
Less than 12th grade, no diploma 837 811 853 1276 1034 1032
High school graduate, no college 377 374 381 608 482 482
College: Less than bachelor's degree 234 235 239 347 288 288
Bachelor's degree or more 58 57 58 81 69 69

Work Experience in 2009
Total, 15 to 64 years 1413 1401 1438 2197 1761 1761
Worked at full-time jobs 382 390 389 780 528 528
  50 to 52 weeks 158 166 162 425 253 253
Worked at part-time jobs 287 283 289 454 364 364
Did not work 744 729 759 963 868 868

Number of Year-Round Full-Time Workers in the Family
No workers 1249 1203 1266 1653 1468 1466
  Householder 15 to 64 years 1163 1138 1179 1546 1362 1362
  Householder 65 years and over 86 65 87 107 106 105
One worker 236 251 243 603 364 364
Two workers or more 21 22 22 57 42 42

Program Participation Status of Family Members
One or more members received:
  Cash assistance 254 256 262 359 334 334
      Public assistance or welfare non-SSI 165 164 169 231 217 217
      SSI 112 115 118 166 151 151
  Food stamps 616 606 630 1043 890 890
  Housing assistance 145 145 152 282 249 249
  Energy assistance 120 113 124 189 160 160
  Free or reduced-price school lunches 755 759 769 1292 996 996
Family received
  both food stamps and cash assistance 197 194 204 293 272 272

Health Insurance Coverage
One or more members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan 134 139 135 297 214 213
  Medicare 219 208 226 278 271 269
  Medicaid 983 977 1008 1598 1283 1283
No members covered by:
  Employer-provided plan or Medicare or
      Medicaid 		379 359 379 475 398 398
  Health insurance 330 318 330 422 348 348
Family received
  Medicare and Medicaid 144 146 149 184 180 180

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)
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