There is also additional background information for this table group.

Contents for Table

Table 2. Percent of Persons in Poverty, by Definition of Income and Selected Characteristics: 2007

    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
Definition 3		 Definition 3 plus health insurance supplements to wage or salary income
Definition 4

All Races
Total 298699 12.5 20.1 20.0 19.3

Age
Under 18 years 73996 18.0 20.4 20.4 19.3
  Related children 72792 17.6 20.1 20.0 19.0
      Under 6 years 24543 20.8 22.7 22.6 21.6
18 to 24 years 28398 17.3 20.1 20.0 19.4
25 to 44 years 82278 10.8 13.1 13.1 12.4
45 to 64 years 77237 8.5 14.4 14.3 13.9
65 years and over 36790 9.7 47.3 46.5 46.3
  65 to 74 years 19588 8.8 39.4 38.8 38.6
  75 years and over 17202 10.6 56.2 55.3 55.1

Family Relationship
In families 245443 10.8 17.1 17.0 16.3
  Married-couple families 186835 5.8 11.9 11.8 11.3
      With related children under 18 112436 7.5 9.2 9.2 8.5
  Female hhlder, no husband present 43961 30.7 38.5 38.4 36.9
      With related children under 18 32005 38.3 44.0 43.9 42.1
Unrelated individuals 51740 19.7 33.9 33.6 33.3
  Living alone 32212 17.0 37.5 37.0 36.8
      65 years and over 11226 17.8 65.5 64.6 64.5

Region
Northeast 53952 11.4 19.3 19.2 18.6
Midwest 65403 11.1 18.9 18.7 18.1
South 109545 14.2 22.2 22.0 21.4
West 69799 12.0 18.6 18.5 17.8

Educational Attainment
Total, 18 years and over 224703 10.7 20.0 19.8 19.3
18 to 24 years old 28398 17.3 20.1 20.0 19.4
  Less than 12th grade, no diploma 5669 28.2 31.8 31.8 30.8
25 years old and over 196305 9.7 20.0 19.8 19.3
  Less than 12th grade, no diploma 26340 25.0 45.8 45.4 44.4
  High school graduate, no college 61183 11.1 24.8 24.6 24.0
  College: Less than bachelor's degree 50994 7.2 15.6 15.4 15.0
  Bachelor's degree or more 57787 3.5 7.0 7.0 6.8

Work Experience in 2007
Total, 20 to 64 years 180044 10.6 14.4 14.4 13.8
  Worked at full-time jobs 122312 4.1 5.0 5.0 4.6
      50 to 52 weeks 104505 2.6 3.1 3.1 2.7
  Worked at part-time jobs 21778 14.9 19.2 19.1 18.3
  Did not work 35953 30.1 43.7 43.3 42.6

Program Participation Status of Household Members
One or more members received:
Cash assistance 15670 44.0 65.3 65.0 63.4
    Public assistance or
 welfare non-SSI 		5510 62.1 74.9 74.5 73.3
    SSI 11084 36.4 62.0 61.7 60.1
  Food stamps 22770 62.7 74.5 74.4 72.6
  Housing assistance 10111 59.3 76.0 75.8 74.1
  Energy assistance 6652 55.6 75.4 75.2 73.3
  Free or reduced-price sch. lunch 32638 43.2 50.0 50.0 47.8
Household received both food stamps
  and cash assistance 		7833 66.7 85.9 85.8 84.5

Health Insurance Coverage
Covered by:
  Plan related to employment
    of self or relative 		177330 2.9 5.4 5.3 4.5
  Medicare 41365 12.3 51.3 50.6 50.2
      Also Medicaid 5558 32.4 70.9 70.2 69.7
  Medicaid 39327 41.3 54.0 53.8 52.7
Not covered 45577 25.3 29.4 29.3 29.0

 

  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
Definition 9

All Races
Total 20.3 20.2 18.8 18.8 11.9

Age
Under 18 years 20.9 20.0 17.1 17.1 15.3
  Related children 20.5 19.6 16.7 16.7 14.9
      Under 6 years 23.3 22.4 19.0 18.9 17.7
18 to 24 years 20.6 21.0 19.6 19.7 17.3
25 to 44 years 13.4 13.2 11.8 11.9 10.2
45 to 64 years 14.4 14.6 14.0 14.1 9.2
65 years and over 46.9 47.1 46.9 47.0 10.8
  65 to 74 years 39.2 39.3 39.2 39.2 9.9
  75 years and over 55.6 55.9 55.8 55.9 11.8

Family Relationship
In families 17.3 17.0 15.4 15.4 9.8
  Married-couple families 12.0 11.7 10.6 10.6 5.1
      With related children under 18 9.6 8.9 7.2 7.2 6.0
  Female hhlder, no husband present 38.9 38.5 34.4 34.4 28.6
      With related children under 18 44.3 43.5 38.1 38.0 34.4
Unrelated individuals 34.0 34.8 34.4 34.7 21.3
  Living alone 37.2 37.8 37.5 37.7 18.4
      65 years and over 64.9 65.2 65.2 65.3 19.3

Region
Northeast 19.4 19.3 18.1 18.1 11.1
Midwest 18.8 18.7 17.6 17.6 10.5
South 22.5 22.3 20.7 20.8 13.4
West 19.0 18.8 17.3 17.3 11.7

Educational Attainment
Total, 18 years and over 20.2 20.2 19.3 19.4 10.8
18 to 24 years old 20.6 21.0 19.6 19.7 17.3
  Less than 12th grade, no diploma 32.3 32.4 29.8 29.9 27.3
25 years old and over 20.1 20.1 19.2 19.3 9.9
  Less than 12th grade, no diploma 46.0 45.8 43.5 43.8 25.6
  High school graduate, no college 24.9 25.0 24.0 24.1 11.4
  College: Less than bachelor's degree 15.6 15.6 14.9 15.0 7.2
  Bachelor's degree or more 7.1 7.2 7.0 7.0 3.6

Work Experience in 2007
Total, 20 to 64 years 14.7 14.7 13.6 13.7 10.6
  Worked at full-time jobs 5.2 5.2 4.3 4.4 3.6
      50 to 52 weeks 3.3 3.3 2.5 2.5 2.1
  Worked at part-time jobs 19.7 20.1 18.5 18.7 15.2
  Did not work 43.7 43.6 42.4 42.5 31.4

Program Participation Status of Household Members
One or more members received:
Cash assistance 65.5 65.0 62.6 62.7 54.8
    Public assistance or
 welfare non-SSI 		75.8 75.3 71.4 71.3 66.4
    SSI 62.0 61.6 60.0 60.1 50.9
  Food stamps 75.5 74.3 68.2 68.0 60.1
  Housing assistance 75.8 75.0 70.9 70.6 58.0
  Energy assistance 75.7 74.5 68.9 68.9 55.6
  Free or reduced-price sch. lunch 51.4 49.3 42.3 42.0 37.1
Household received both food stamps
  and cash assistance 		86.6 86.1 82.8 82.8 75.9

Health Insurance Coverage
Covered by:
  Plan related to employment
    of self or relative 		4.8 4.8 4.3 4.3 2.1
  Medicare 50.8 51.1 50.8 50.9 14.0
      Also Medicaid 70.4 70.4 69.8 69.8 42.7
  Medicaid 55.0 53.8 49.3 49.2 40.7
Not covered 31.5 31.3 28.0 28.3 24.6

 

  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

All Races
Total 11.5 11.5 10.9 10.4 9.5

Age
Under 18 years 15.1 15.1 14.6 13.7 12.0
  Related children 14.7 14.7 14.2 13.2 11.6
      Under 6 years 17.5 17.5 17.0 15.9 14.4
18 to 24 years 17.1 17.1 16.6 15.9 15.1
25 to 44 years 10.0 10.0 9.5 9.0 8.3
45 to 64 years 8.7 8.7 7.9 7.6 7.0
65 years and over 9.6 9.6 8.6 8.5 7.9
  65 to 74 years 8.6 8.6 7.8 7.6 7.1
  75 years and over 10.6 10.6 9.6 9.5 8.8

Family Relationship
In families 9.6 9.6 9.0 8.5 7.6
  Married-couple families 4.9 4.9 4.6 4.2 3.9
      With related children under 18 5.9 5.9 5.6 5.0 4.5
  Female hhlder, no husband present 27.9 27.9 26.4 25.1 22.0
      With related children under 18 33.7 33.7 32.3 30.6 26.6
Unrelated individuals 20.2 20.2 19.3 18.7 17.6
  Living alone 17.4 17.4 16.1 15.7 14.3
      65 years and over 17.5 17.5 16.1 15.8 14.3

Region
Northeast 10.7 10.7 9.9 9.4 8.4
Midwest 10.2 10.2 9.7 9.2 8.3
South 12.9 12.9 12.4 11.9 11.0
West 11.3 11.2 10.5 10.0 9.1

Educational Attainment
Total, 18 years and over 10.4 10.4 9.7 9.3 8.6
18 to 24 years old 17.1 17.1 16.6 15.9 15.1
  Less than 12th grade, no diploma 26.8 26.8 26.0 24.4 22.5
25 years old and over 9.4 9.4 8.7 8.4 7.7
  Less than 12th grade, no diploma 24.2 24.2 22.2 21.1 19.0
  High school graduate, no college 10.8 10.8 10.0 9.6 8.9
  College: Less than bachelor's degree 6.9 6.9 6.4 6.1 5.7
  Bachelor's degree or more 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.2 3.1

Work Experience in 2007
Total, 20 to 64 years 10.3 10.3 9.7 9.2 8.6
  Worked at full-time jobs 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.3 3.0
      50 to 52 weeks 2.1 2.1 2.0 1.9 1.7
  Worked at part-time jobs 14.9 14.9 14.2 13.7 12.6
  Did not work 30.2 30.2 28.1 26.8 25.2

Program Participation Status of Household Members
One or more members received:
Cash assistance 51.4 51.4 40.5 37.1 30.5
    Public assistance or
 welfare non-SSI 		64.2 64.2 57.7 53.2 42.8
    SSI 46.5 46.4 33.2 30.0 24.5
  Food stamps 58.1 58.1 54.2 49.2 39.7
  Housing assistance 55.0 55.0 50.6 46.1 32.0
  Energy assistance 53.2 53.2 48.5 44.4 36.0
  Free or reduced-price sch. lunch 36.5 36.5 34.9 32.2 27.0
Household received both food stamps
  and cash assistance 		72.8 72.8 61.4 56.4 44.4

Health Insurance Coverage
Covered by:
  Plan related to employment
    of self or relative 		2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.8
  Medicare 12.0 12.0 10.5 10.3 9.3
      Also Medicaid 35.4 35.4 25.7 24.2 19.4
  Medicaid 39.3 39.3 35.6 32.1 27.5
Not covered 24.2 24.1 23.8 23.3 22.1

 

  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 16		 Money Income after Taxes Without EIC
Definition 17		 Money Income after Taxes With EIC
Definition 18

All Races
Total 9.1 9.9 13.1 11.7

Age
Under 18 years 11.9 12.5 18.6 15.5
  Related children 11.5 12.1 18.1 15.0
      Under 6 years 14.3 15.0 21.3 17.8
18 to 24 years 15.0 15.7 18.8 17.5
25 to 44 years 8.1 8.6 11.6 10.1
45 to 64 years 6.5 7.5 9.1 8.6
65 years and over 6.3 8.3 9.8 9.7
  65 to 74 years 5.9 7.6 9.0 8.9
  75 years and over 6.9 9.1 10.7 10.6

Family Relationship
In families 7.4 8.0 11.3 9.6
  Married-couple families 3.7 4.2 6.1 5.1
      With related children under 18 4.5 4.9 7.9 6.1
  Female hhlder, no husband present 21.5 22.6 31.8 27.7
      With related children under 18 26.2 27.4 39.5 34.0
Unrelated individuals 16.3 18.5 21.0 20.8
  Living alone 12.3 14.6 17.7 17.5
      65 years and over 10.4 14.3 18.0 18.0

Region
Northeast 8.2 8.9 11.8 10.8
Midwest 7.9 8.7 11.6 10.4
South 10.5 11.4 14.9 13.2
West 8.5 9.6 12.8 11.2

Educational Attainment
Total, 18 years and over 8.1 9.1 11.3 10.5
18 to 24 years old 15.0 15.7 18.8 17.5
  Less than 12th grade, no diploma 22.2 24.0 30.1 27.5
25 years old and over 7.1 8.1 10.3 9.4
  Less than 12th grade, no diploma 17.4 20.2 26.1 23.9
  High school graduate, no college 8.2 9.4 11.8 10.9
  College: Less than bachelor's degree 5.3 5.9 7.6 6.9
  Bachelor's degree or more 3.0 3.2 3.7 3.5

Work Experience in 2007
Total, 20 to 64 years 8.2 9.0 11.3 10.3
  Worked at full-time jobs 2.9 3.1 4.7 3.9
      50 to 52 weeks 1.7 1.8 3.1 2.4
  Worked at part-time jobs 12.2 13.0 16.4 15.0
  Did not work 24.1 26.7 30.7 29.6

Program Participation Status of Household Members
One or more members received:
Cash assistance 29.5 33.8 44.9 42.5
    Public assistance or
 welfare non-SSI 		42.0 47.6 63.7 58.8
    SSI 23.3 27.7 36.9 35.6
  Food stamps 38.4 42.3 64.3 57.5
  Housing assistance 32.0 33.5 60.7 55.2
  Energy assistance 33.3 38.2 57.0 52.0
  Free or reduced-price sch. lunch 26.4 28.4 44.6 36.9
Household received both food stamps
  and cash assistance 		43.5 49.1 68.1 64.2

Health Insurance Coverage
Covered by:
  Plan related to employment
    of self or relative 		1.8 1.9 3.1 2.6
  Medicare 7.8 10.2 12.5 12.3
      Also Medicaid 17.3 22.0 32.6 31.9
  Medicaid 26.5 29.7 42.1 37.3
Not covered 21.5 22.6 27.4 24.3

 

  Number Below Poverty Level
Definition 1 Definition 2 Definition 3 Definition 4 Definition 5 Definition 6 Definition 7 Definition 8 Definition 9

All Races
Total 37276 60083 59651 57765 60730 60228 56020 56161 35679

Age
Under 18 years 13324 15126 15094 14311 15437 14797 12662 12618 11338
  Related children 12802 14598 14569 13808 14899 14267 12174 12128 10856
      Under 6 years 5101 5560 5542 5301 5709 5494 4656 4644 4337
18 to 24 years 4901 5696 5685 5501 5863 5967 5573 5592 4923
25 to 44 years 8901 10760 10741 10207 11019 10869 9669 9755 8379
45 to 64 years 6595 11106 11008 10705 11159 11275 10846 10906 7074
65 years and over 3556 17395 17122 17041 17252 17320 17269 17289 3965
  65 to 74 years 1726 7723 7603 7556 7683 7701 7674 7682 1936
  75 years and over 1829 9671 9519 9484 9569 9619 9595 9607 2029

Family Relationship
In families 26509 41957 41677 39968 42548 41650 37683 37680 24172
  Married-couple families 10908 22185 21986 21019 22501 21804 19841 19849 9527
      With related children under 18 8475 10374 10346 9595 10806 10041 8127 8103 6715
  Female hhlder, no husband present 13478 16928 16874 16241 17104 16924 15138 15131 12569
      With related children under 18 12250 14071 14043 13485 14167 13934 12193 12153 11009
Unrelated individuals 10189 17527 17379 17234 17587 18004 17809 17953 11001
  Living alone 5474 12069 11913 11846 11987 12168 12079 12147 5936
      65 years and over 2000 7353 7247 7236 7281 7315 7315 7329 2171

Region
Northeast 6166 10427 10382 10049 10476 10405 9791 9762 6010
Midwest 7237 12333 12223 11821 12321 12240 11489 11526 6885
South 15501 24336 24128 23482 24695 24477 22685 22806 14651
West 8372 12987 12917 12412 13237 13106 12055 12067 8134

Educational Attainment
Total, 18 years and over 23952 44957 44556 43454 45292 45431 43358 43543 24341
18 to 24 years old 4901 5696 5685 5501 5863 5967 5573 5592 4923
  Less than 12th grade, no diploma 1597 1803 1801 1745 1830 1839 1687 1693 1550
25 years old and over 19051 39261 38871 37953 39429 39463 37785 37951 19418
  Less than 12th grade, no diploma 6575 12053 11951 11702 12116 12072 11455 11528 6734
  High school graduate, no college 6778 15189 15026 14674 15225 15273 14696 14753 6953
  College: Less than bachelor's degree 3673 7947 7858 7632 7963 7944 7600 7625 3676
  Bachelor's degree or more 2025 4073 4036 3945 4126 4173 4034 4046 2055

Work Experience in 2007
Total, 20 to 64 years 19067 25971 25845 24868 26413 26457 24566 24733 19061
  Worked at full-time jobs 4990 6103 6100 5566 6408 6409 5298 5387 4451
      50 to 52 weeks 2676 3198 3206 2842 3428 3398 2589 2635 2228
  Worked at part-time jobs 3237 4175 4162 3992 4294 4380 4022 4079 3319
  Did not work 10839 15694 15583 15309 15711 15668 15246 15267 11291

Program Participation Status of Household Members
One or more members received:
Cash assistance 6897 10232 10186 9941 10269 10193 9810 9822 8590
    Public assistance or
 welfare non-SSI 		3421 4125 4106 4039 4175 4148 3933 3927 3658
    SSI 4032 6870 6840 6659 6875 6823 6646 6664 5646
  Food stamps 14278 16971 16943 16540 17195 16926 15521 15474 13677
  Housing assistance 5994 7685 7666 7490 7662 7588 7166 7134 5862
  Energy assistance 3699 5016 5001 4874 5034 4957 4580 4586 3701
  Free or reduced-price sch. lunch 14086 16318 16332 15609 16767 16107 13802 13724 12121
Household received both food stamps
  and cash assistance 		5223 6727 6717 6623 6784 6747 6488 6489 5946

Health Insurance Coverage
Covered by:
  Plan related to employment
    of self or relative 		5076 9512 9390 7912 8542 8470 7636 7657 3689
  Medicare 5106 21233 20911 20781 21028 21121 21022 21045 5807
      Also Medicaid 1801 3943 3901 3873 3913 3914 3878 3878 2375
  Medicaid 16247 21233 21155 20725 21631 21170 19389 19343 16022
Not covered 11535 13386 13367 13231 14369 14269 12756 12891 11193

 

  Number Below Poverty Level
Definition 10 Definition 11 Definition 12 Definition 13 Definition 14 Definition 15 Definition 16 Definition 17 Definition 18

All Races
Total 34485 34464 32662 31027 28318 27046 29689 39178 34943

Age
Under 18 years 11195 11180 10810 10104 8908 8793 9277 13732 11441
  Related children 10719 10704 10335 9641 8461 8346 8817 13190 10946
      Under 6 years 4306 4302 4177 3894 3546 3519 3691 5237 4376
18 to 24 years 4851 4851 4719 4517 4287 4248 4465 5325 4959
25 to 44 years 8220 8217 7825 7416 6799 6643 7105 9505 8330
45 to 64 years 6701 6698 6137 5870 5429 5030 5799 7018 6646
65 years and over 3518 3518 3171 3120 2895 2332 3044 3599 3567
  65 to 74 years 1691 1691 1526 1488 1386 1153 1480 1761 1743
  75 years and over 1827 1827 1645 1632 1509 1179 1564 1838 1825

Family Relationship
In families 23506 23485 22170 20854 18727 18127 19625 27730 23664
  Married-couple families 9225 9216 8632 7926 7291 7002 7864 11475 9452
      With related children under 18 6606 6597 6290 5654 5070 5016 5465 8858 6863
  Female hhlder, no husband present 12262 12251 11589 11021 9660 9454 9941 13980 12193
      With related children under 18 10794 10783 10332 9796 8502 8384 8772 12633 10878
Unrelated individuals 10477 10477 9992 9691 9125 8454 9589 10868 10752
  Living alone 5599 5599 5201 5072 4604 3976 4706 5696 5652
      65 years and over 1968 1968 1803 1779 1603 1164 1611 2015 2015

Region
Northeast 5766 5764 5356 5061 4542 4436 4789 6354 5846
Midwest 6686 6679 6340 5991 5421 5148 5670 7575 6798
South 14176 14176 13618 13011 12014 11503 12503 16299 14481
West 7857 7846 7347 6963 6341 5960 6728 8950 7818

Educational Attainment
Total, 18 years and over 23290 23284 21852 20923 19410 18253 20413 25447 23502
18 to 24 years old 4851 4851 4719 4517 4287 4248 4465 5325 4959
  Less than 12th grade, no diploma 1517 1517 1472 1386 1274 1260 1362 1705 1558
25 years old and over 18439 18433 17133 16406 15123 14005 15948 20122 18543
  Less than 12th grade, no diploma 6367 6365 5837 5561 5005 4570 5319 6865 6287
  High school graduate, no college 6581 6581 6147 5869 5424 5010 5729 7232 6688
  College: Less than bachelor's degree 3513 3512 3259 3131 2891 2698 3030 3860 3525
  Bachelor's degree or more 1978 1976 1889 1845 1803 1726 1870 2166 2042

Work Experience in 2007
Total, 20 to 64 years 18487 18482 17436 16620 15416 14837 16216 20427 18620
  Worked at full-time jobs 4384 4382 4237 3980 3616 3538 3779 5799 4731
      50 to 52 weeks 2186 2184 2114 1958 1761 1753 1844 3221 2458
  Worked at part-time jobs 3246 3245 3101 2989 2752 2648 2831 3578 3256
  Did not work 10857 10855 10098 9650 9049 8651 9606 11050 10633

Program Participation Status of Household Members
One or more members received:
Cash assistance 8059 8047 6340 5820 4778 4622 5295 7040 6652
    Public assistance or
 welfare non-SSI 		3539 3539 3178 2932 2356 2314 2621 3509 3240
    SSI 5156 5144 3676 3323 2715 2586 3065 4091 3949
  Food stamps 13231 13231 12331 11210 9043 8754 9622 14647 13094
  Housing assistance 5561 5561 5116 4659 3233 3233 3390 6136 5579
  Energy assistance 3538 3538 3225 2951 2398 2215 2542 3789 3456
  Free or reduced-price sch. lunch 11923 11923 11381 10504 8816 8622 9262 14563 12058
Household received both food stamps
  and cash assistance 		5700 5700 4808 4419 3482 3406 3845 5333 5029

Health Insurance Coverage
Covered by:
  Plan related to employment
    of self or relative 		3630 3628 3528 3469 3253 3114 3289 5523 4643
  Medicare 4969 4969 4351 4258 3834 3242 4206 5151 5079
      Also Medicaid 1967 1967 1430 1347 1077 961 1223 1810 1773
  Medicaid 15467 15456 13990 12632 10802 10440 11675 16560 14687
Not covered 11011 11002 10840 10615 10082 9781 10318 12490 11069

Race Footnotes