Recent analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data highlights that California and Louisiana rank among the highest in poverty rates when factoring in living costs. The traditional poverty measure shows Louisiana at 19.6% and California at 10.7%, while the Supplemental Poverty Measure, which accounts for housing and other expenses, raises California's rate to 17.8% and keeps Louisiana at 19%. This underscores the complexity of poverty measurement and the need to consider various financial realities.
Key facts
- Louisiana's traditional poverty rate is 19.6%; California's is 10.7%.
- The Supplemental Poverty Measure raises California's rate to 17.8%.
- Maine has the lowest Supplemental Poverty Measure rate at 6.4%.
- The official poverty rate fell to 10.2% for the third consecutive year.
- Real median household income reached a record $87,460 in 2025.
A short AI summary in our own words. The reporting belongs to Axios; we don't reproduce it.