Who is Poor?
The most recent official poverty measure estimates show that 11.4% of the population of the United States—37.2 million people—were poor in 2020.
Who is Poor in Wisconsin?
About 10% (10.2%) of the Wisconsin population was poor in 2017, as measured by the Wisconsin Poverty Measure (WPM) developed by IRP researchers. The map below shows the counties in the state where the poverty rate was higher, lower, or similar to the statewide average.
How is poverty measured?
Poverty is measured in the United States by comparing a person’s or family’s income to a set poverty threshold or minimum amount of income needed to cover basic needs. People whose income falls under their threshold are considered poor. The U.S. Census Bureau is the government agency in charge of measuring poverty. To do so,…
What Are Poverty Thresholds And Poverty Guidelines?
Poverty thresholds and poverty guidelines are dollar amounts set by the U.S. government to indicate the least amount of income a person or family needs to meet their basic needs. People whose income falls below the specified amount are considered poor. Both poverty thresholds and poverty guidelines are based on the official poverty measure established…
What is the consumer price index and how is it used?
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change over time in the price paid by urban households for a set of typical goods and services that people buy and consume, such as food, housing, and medical care. The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, produces the CPI to represent a statistical estimate of inflation, which is a general increase in…
What are good sources of information on basic trends in poverty and related issues?
This FAQ provides a list of websites, arranged by topic in alphabetical order with brief descriptions and links, that provide basic information on trends in poverty and related issues. See also FAQ: What are good sources of demographic and socioeconomic information for states, counties, and cities?
What are good sources of demographic and socioeconomic information for states, counties, and cities?
This FAQ provides a list of websites that are good sources of information on a range of poverty-related demographic and socioeconomic topics on the state, county, and city level, arranged by source type.