The overlooked geography of American poverty
Summary
When costs like housing, taxes, medical bills, and government help are included, poverty rates in some U.S. states change a lot. For example, California’s poverty rate is much higher when these factors are counted, showing that income alone doesn't show the full picture of poverty.Key Facts
- Louisiana’s poverty rate was 19.6% using the traditional measure and stayed high at 19% with the broader measure.
- California’s poverty rate rose from 10.7% (traditional) to 17.8% (Supplemental Poverty Measure, SPM) when costs and benefits were included.
- The South has most states with poverty rates above the national average using the traditional measure.
- The SPM includes food aid (SNAP), housing help, taxes, work, and medical costs, and adjusts for how expensive housing is in different places.
- The official U.S. poverty rate fell to 10.2% in 2025, while child poverty hit a record low of 13.4%.
- The SPM rate stayed steady at 13.1%, higher than the official poverty rate.
- Median household income reached a record $87,460 in 2025.
- The SPM is a different way to look at poverty and does not replace the official poverty number.
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