Comparing Poverty Rates under the Official Census Poverty Measure and the Supplemental Poverty Measure

Published: Nov 19, 2018

Scroll over the map to compare poverty rates under the official Census poverty measure and the Supplemental Poverty Measure, which takes into account health care and housing costs among other factors. This interactive is a companion to the November 2018 issue brief How Many Seniors Are Living in Poverty?

Percent of People Ages 65 and Older with Incomes Below 100% and 200% of Poverty, 2015-2017

Below 100% of the poverty threshold

Official Measure
Supplemental Measure

Below 200% of the poverty threshold

Official Measure
Supplemental Measure

NOTE: US average poverty rates are for 2017; poverty rates by state are averaged across three years (2015-2017).
DATA SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2016-2018 Annual Social and Economic Supplement