Close to 13 million children residing in the United States live in families with incomes below the federal poverty line, a threshold shown to underestimate the financial needs of American households. Here are 25 facts of life the federal poverty rate completely ignores.
Even in countries that are not the world’s richest, high levels of child poverty are shameful and frequently lead to bad outcomes for a society. In the United States, although child poverty has dropped by half over the past 50 years, the current level remains a serious problem.
Certain factors and circumstances may help keep children out of poverty, while others may push them into poverty. For example, refundable tax credits helped prevent millions of families with children from falling into poverty, while medical care costs and health insurance premiums resulted in more families with children falling into poverty. Here at 15 states where poverty is worse than you think.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey. Childhood poverty refers to the share of children under the age of 18 living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold. The poverty threshold varies by family size and composition. In 2018, the Census Bureau poverty threshold for a family of three with one child under 18 years old was $20,212.
Click here to see how many children live in poverty in your state
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1. Alabama
> Children in poverty: 255,186 (16th most)
> Child poverty rate: 23.8 % (6th highest)
> State poverty rate: 16.8% (7th highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 5.1% (6th highest)
See all stories featuring: Alabama
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2. Alaska
> Children in poverty: 25,327 (4th least)
> Child poverty rate: 14.1 % (18th lowest)
> State poverty rate: 10.9% (13th lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 2.9% (21st lowest)
See all stories featuring: Alaska
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3. Arizona
> Children in poverty: 324,622 (12th most)
> Child poverty rate: 20.1 % (14th highest)
> State poverty rate: 14.0% (15th highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 3.9% (17th highest)
See all stories featuring: Arizona
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4. Arkansas
> Children in poverty: 170,769 (25th most)
> Child poverty rate: 24.7 % (4th highest)
> State poverty rate: 17.2% (5th highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 4.4% (10th highest)
See all stories featuring: Arkansas
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5. California
> Children in poverty: 1,541,067 (2nd most)
> Child poverty rate: 17.4 % (24th highest)
> State poverty rate: 12.8% (25th highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 3.4% (24th highest)
See all stories featuring: California
6. Colorado
> Children in poverty: 149,487 (22nd least)
> Child poverty rate: 11.9 % (7th lowest)
> State poverty rate: 9.6% (6th lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 2.6% (10th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Colorado
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7. Connecticut
> Children in poverty: 102,083 (17th least)
> Child poverty rate: 14.1 % (17th lowest)
> State poverty rate: 10.4% (10th lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 2.6% (10th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Connecticut
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8. Delaware
> Children in poverty: 37,283 (11th least)
> Child poverty rate: 18.7 % (18th highest)
> State poverty rate: 12.5% (24th lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 3% (22nd lowest)
See all stories featuring: Delaware
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9. Florida
> Children in poverty: 819,256 (3rd most)
> Child poverty rate: 19.7 % (15th highest)
> State poverty rate: 13.6% (18th highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 3.8% (18th highest)
See all stories featuring: Florida
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10. Georgia
> Children in poverty: 504,745 (5th most)
> Child poverty rate: 20.5 % (12th highest)
> State poverty rate: 14.3% (12th highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 4.5% (8th highest)
See all stories featuring: Georgia
11. Hawaii
> Children in poverty: 35,368 (8th least)
> Child poverty rate: 11.9 % (6th lowest)
> State poverty rate: 8.8% (2nd lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 2.7% (13th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Hawaii
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12. Idaho
> Children in poverty: 62,855 (13th least)
> Child poverty rate: 14.3 % (19th lowest)
> State poverty rate: 11.8% (20th lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 2.8% (18th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Idaho
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13. Illinois
> Children in poverty: 456,926 (7th most)
> Child poverty rate: 16.2 % (24th lowest)
> State poverty rate: 12.1% (22nd lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 3.3% (25th highest)
See all stories featuring: Illinois
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14. Indiana
> Children in poverty: 275,370 (14th most)
> Child poverty rate: 18.0 % (22nd highest)
> State poverty rate: 13.1% (20th highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 3.8% (18th highest)
See all stories featuring: Indiana
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15. Iowa
> Children in poverty: 97,222 (16th least)
> Child poverty rate: 13.5 % (12th lowest)
> State poverty rate: 11.2% (18th lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 2.7% (13th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Iowa
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16. Kansas
> Children in poverty: 103,210 (18th least)
> Child poverty rate: 14.9 % (21st lowest)
> State poverty rate: 12.0% (21st lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 2.8% (18th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Kansas
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17. Kentucky
> Children in poverty: 225,710 (20th most)
> Child poverty rate: 23.0 % (7th highest)
> State poverty rate: 16.9% (6th highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 5.5% (5th highest)
See all stories featuring: Kentucky
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18. Louisiana
> Children in poverty: 283,218 (13th most)
> Child poverty rate: 26.2 % (3rd highest)
> State poverty rate: 18.6% (3rd highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 5.6% (3rd highest)
See all stories featuring: Louisiana
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19. Maine
> Children in poverty: 34,878 (7th least)
> Child poverty rate: 14.5 % (20th lowest)
> State poverty rate: 11.6% (19th lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 3.1% (23rd lowest)
See all stories featuring: Maine
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20. Maryland
> Children in poverty: 152,237 (24th least)
> Child poverty rate: 11.6 % (4th lowest)
> State poverty rate: 9.0% (3rd lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 2.5% (7th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Maryland
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21. Massachusetts
> Children in poverty: 163,788 (25th least)
> Child poverty rate: 12.2 % (9th lowest)
> State poverty rate: 10.0% (8th lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 2.7% (13th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Massachusetts
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22. Michigan
> Children in poverty: 412,692 (10th most)
> Child poverty rate: 19.4 % (17th highest)
> State poverty rate: 14.1% (13th highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 4% (13th highest)
See all stories featuring: Michigan
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23. Minnesota
> Children in poverty: 149,502 (23rd least)
> Child poverty rate: 11.7 % (5th lowest)
> State poverty rate: 9.6% (7th lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 2.1% (the lowest)
See all stories featuring: Minnesota
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24. Mississippi
> Children in poverty: 192,952 (23rd most)
> Child poverty rate: 27.8 % (the highest)
> State poverty rate: 19.7% (the highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 6.5% (the highest)
See all stories featuring: Mississippi
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25. Missouri
> Children in poverty: 247,209 (18th most)
> Child poverty rate: 18.3 % (20th highest)
> State poverty rate: 13.2% (19th highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 3.5% (20th highest)
See all stories featuring: Missouri
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26. Montana
> Children in poverty: 35,999 (9th least)
> Child poverty rate: 16.0 % (23rd lowest)
> State poverty rate: 13.0% (22nd highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 2.9% (21st lowest)
See all stories featuring: Montana
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27. Nebraska
> Children in poverty: 60,110 (12th least)
> Child poverty rate: 12.9 % (11th lowest)
> State poverty rate: 11.0% (15th lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 2.5% (7th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Nebraska
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28. Nevada
> Children in poverty: 120,091 (19th least)
> Child poverty rate: 17.7 % (23rd highest)
> State poverty rate: 12.9% (23rd highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 3.5% (20th highest)
See all stories featuring: Nevada
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29. New Hampshire
> Children in poverty: 26,830 (5th least)
> Child poverty rate: 10.6 % (3rd lowest)
> State poverty rate: 7.6% (the lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 2.2% (2nd lowest)
See all stories featuring: New Hampshire
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30. New Jersey
> Children in poverty: 264,253 (15th most)
> Child poverty rate: 13.7 % (13th lowest)
> State poverty rate: 9.5% (5th lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 2.8% (18th lowest)
See all stories featuring: New Jersey
31. New Mexico
> Children in poverty: 124,024 (20th least)
> Child poverty rate: 26.3 % (2nd highest)
> State poverty rate: 19.5% (2nd highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 6.4% (2nd highest)
See all stories featuring: New Mexico
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32. New York
> Children in poverty: 743,024 (4th most)
> Child poverty rate: 18.6 % (19th highest)
> State poverty rate: 13.6% (17th highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 4% (13th highest)
See all stories featuring: New York
33. North Carolina
> Children in poverty: 455,971 (8th most)
> Child poverty rate: 20.2 % (13th highest)
> State poverty rate: 14.0% (14th highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 4% (13th highest)
See all stories featuring: North Carolina
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34. North Dakota
> Children in poverty: 17,145 (2nd least)
> Child poverty rate: 9.9 % (2nd lowest)
> State poverty rate: 10.7% (11th lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 2.4% (4th lowest)
See all stories featuring: North Dakota
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35. Ohio
> Children in poverty: 495,616 (6th most)
> Child poverty rate: 19.5 % (16th highest)
> State poverty rate: 13.9% (16th highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 4% (13th highest)
See all stories featuring: Ohio
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36. Oklahoma
> Children in poverty: 202,779 (22nd most)
> Child poverty rate: 21.7 % (10th highest)
> State poverty rate: 15.6% (8th highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 4.6% (7th highest)
See all stories featuring: Oklahoma
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37. Oregon
> Children in poverty: 134,383 (21st least)
> Child poverty rate: 15.7 % (22nd lowest)
> State poverty rate: 12.6% (25th lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 3.2% (24th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Oregon
38. Pennsylvania
> Children in poverty: 434,736 (9th most)
> Child poverty rate: 16.8 % (25th highest)
> State poverty rate: 12.2% (23rd lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 3.5% (20th highest)
See all stories featuring: Pennsylvania
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39. Rhode Island
> Children in poverty: 36,135 (10th least)
> Child poverty rate: 18.0 % (21st highest)
> State poverty rate: 12.9% (24th highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 3.5% (20th highest)
See all stories featuring: Rhode Island
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40. South Carolina
> Children in poverty: 245,821 (19th most)
> Child poverty rate: 22.6 % (8th highest)
> State poverty rate: 15.3% (10th highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 4.3% (11th highest)
See all stories featuring: South Carolina
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41. South Dakota
> Children in poverty: 34,201 (6th least)
> Child poverty rate: 16.4 % (25th lowest)
> State poverty rate: 13.1% (21st highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 3.3% (25th highest)
See all stories featuring: South Dakota
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42. Tennessee
> Children in poverty: 330,998 (11th most)
> Child poverty rate: 22.3 % (9th highest)
> State poverty rate: 15.3% (9th highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 4.5% (8th highest)
See all stories featuring: Tennessee
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43. Texas
> Children in poverty: 1,545,362 (the most)
> Child poverty rate: 21.1 % (11th highest)
> State poverty rate: 14.9% (11th highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 4.2% (12th highest)
See all stories featuring: Texas
44. Utah
> Children in poverty: 87,445 (15th least)
> Child poverty rate: 9.5 % (the lowest)
> State poverty rate: 9.0% (4th lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 2.3% (3rd lowest)
See all stories featuring: Utah
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45. Vermont
> Children in poverty: 13,712 (the least)
> Child poverty rate: 12.1 % (8th lowest)
> State poverty rate: 11.0% (14th lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 2.9% (21st lowest)
See all stories featuring: Vermont
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46. Virginia
> Children in poverty: 252,475 (17th most)
> Child poverty rate: 13.7 % (14th lowest)
> State poverty rate: 10.7% (12th lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 2.8% (18th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Virginia
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47. Washington
> Children in poverty: 204,470 (21st most)
> Child poverty rate: 12.5 % (10th lowest)
> State poverty rate: 10.3% (9th lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 2.5% (7th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Washington
48. West Virginia
> Children in poverty: 86,713 (14th least)
> Child poverty rate: 24.5 % (5th highest)
> State poverty rate: 17.8% (4th highest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 5.6% (3rd highest)
See all stories featuring: West Virginia
49. Wisconsin
> Children in poverty: 175,243 (24th most)
> Child poverty rate: 14.0 % (16th lowest)
> State poverty rate: 11.0% (16th lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 2.6% (10th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Wisconsin
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50. Wyoming
> Children in poverty: 17,986 (3rd least)
> Child poverty rate: 13.8 % (15th lowest)
> State poverty rate: 11.1% (17th lowest)
> Families w/ incomes below $10,000/year: 2.8% (18th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Wyoming
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