Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide medical coverage to millions of Americans, and one of the main criteria to determine eligibility is income. In states with expanded coverage, the minimum eligibility threshold for adults is 138 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL).

The impact of the Affordable Care Act The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created the opportunity for states to expand Medicaid to cover nearly all low-income adults. Most states chose to extend coverage, meaning adults are eligible if their household income is at or below 138 percent of the FPL. Before the ACA, applicants had to fit into one of several categories in order to be eligible. Each group had its own income rules, and they all differed from state to state. Most low-income adults without children were not eligible.

Medicaid income rules simplified The ACA established a new methodology to determine income eligibility that helped to align rules that previously varied nationwide. In general, an individual’s eligibility is now determined by their Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) and where it falls in relation to the FPL. In 2021, the FPL for a one-person household was set at 12,880 U.S. dollars, which was the minimum income a person had to earn to qualify for Medicaid. In expansion states, an individual would still be eligible if they earned up to 138 percent of that figure.

This poverty rate data shows what percentage of the measured population* falls below the poverty line. Poverty is closely related to income: different “poverty thresholds” are in place for different sizes and types of household. A family or individual is considered to be below the poverty line if that family or individual’s income falls below their relevant poverty threshold. For more information on how poverty is measured by the U.S. Census Bureau (the source for this indicator’s data), visit the U.S. Census Bureau’s poverty webpage.

The poverty rate is an important piece of information when evaluating an area’s economic health and well-being. The poverty rate can also be illustrative when considered in the contexts of other indicators and categories. As a piece of data, it is too important and too useful to omit from any indicator set.

The poverty rate for all individuals in the measured population in Champaign County has hovered around roughly 20% since 2005. However, it reached its lowest rate in 2021 at 14.9%, and its second lowest rate in 2023 at 16.3%. Although the American Community Survey (ACS) data shows fluctuations between years, given their margins of error, none of the differences between consecutive years’ estimates are statistically significant, making it impossible to identify a trend.

Poverty rate data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, which are released annually.

As with any datasets that are estimates rather than exact counts, it is important to take into account the margins of error (listed in the column beside each figure) when drawing conclusions from the data.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, instead of providing the standard 1-year data products, the Census Bureau released experimental estimates from the 1-year data in 2020. This includes a limited number of data tables for the nation, states, and the District of Columbia. The Census Bureau states that the 2020 ACS 1-year experimental tables use an experimental estimation methodology and should not be compared with other ACS data. For these reasons, and because data is not available for Champaign County, no data for 2020 is included in this Indicator.

For interested data users, the 2020 ACS 1-Year Experimental data release includes a dataset on Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age.

*According to the U.S. Census Bureau document “How Poverty is Calculated in the ACS," poverty status is calculated for everyone but those in the following groups: “people living in institutional group quarters (such as prisons or nursing homes), people in military barracks, people in college dormitories, living situations without conventional housing, and unrelated individuals under 15 years old."

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2023 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table S1701; generated by CCRPC staff; using data.census.gov; (17 October 2024).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2022 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table S1701; generated by CCRPC staff; using data.census.gov; (25 September 2023).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2021 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table S1701; generated by CCRPC staff; using data.census.gov; (16 September 2022).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2019 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table S1701; generated by CCRPC staff; using data.census.gov; (8 June 2021).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2018 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table S1701; generated by CCRPC staff; using data.census.gov; (8 June 2021).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2017 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table S1701; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (13 September 2018).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2016 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table S1701; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (14 September 2017).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2015 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table S1701; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (19 September 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2014 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table S1701; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (16 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2013 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table S1701; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (16 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2012 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table S1701; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (16 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table S1701; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (16 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2010 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table S1701; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (16 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2009 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table S1701; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (16 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2008 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table S1701; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (16 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2007 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table S1701; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (16 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2006 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table S1701; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (16 March 2016).; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2005 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table S1701; generated by CCRPC staff; using American FactFinder; (16 March 2016).

In 2023 the poverty rate in the United States was highest among people between 18 and 24, with a rate of 16 percent for male Americans and a rate of 21 percent for female Americans. The lowest poverty rate for both men and women was for those aged between 45 and 54. What is the poverty line? The poverty line is a metric used by the U.S. Census Bureau to define poverty in the United States. It is a specific income level that is considered to be the bare minimum a person or family needs to meet their basic needs. If a family’s annual pre-tax income is below this income level, then they are considered impoverished. The poverty guideline for a family of four in 2021 was 26,500 U.S. dollars. Living below the poverty line According to the most recent data, almost one-fifth of African Americans in the United States live below the poverty line; the most out of any ethnic group. Additionally, over 7.42 million families in the U.S. live in poverty – a figure that has held mostly steady since 1990, outside the 2008 financial crisis which threw 9.52 million families into poverty by 2012. The poverty gender gap Wage inequality has been an ongoing discussion in U.S. discourse for many years now. The poverty gap for women is most pronounced during their child-bearing years, shrinks, and then grows again in old age. While progress has been made on the gender pay gap over the last 30 years, there are still significant disparities, even in occupations that predominantly employ men. Additionally, women are often having to spend more time attending to child and household duties than men.

These geospatial data resources and the linked mapping tool below reflect currently available data on three categories of potentially qualifying Low-Income communities: Census tracts that meet the CDFI's New Market Tax Credit Program's threshold for Low Income, thereby are able to apply to Category 1. Census tracts that meet the White House's Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool's threshold for disadvantage in the 'Energy' category, thereby are able to apply for Additional Selection Criteria Geography. Counties that meet the USDA's threshold for Persistent Poverty, thereby are able to apply for Additional Selection Criteria Geography. Note that Category 2 - Indian Lands are not shown on this map. Note that Persistent Poverty is not calculated for US Territories. Note that CEJST Energy disadvantage is not calculated for US Territories besides Puerto Rico. The excel tool provides the land area percentage of each 2023 census tract meeting each of the above categories. To examine geographic eligibility for a specific address or latitude and longitude, visit the program's mapping tool. Additional information on this tax credit program can be found on the DOE Landing Page for the 48e program at https://www.energy.gov/diversity/low-income-communities-bonus-credit-program or the IRS Landing Page at https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/low-income-communities-bonus-credit. Maps last updated: September 1st, 2024 Next map update expected: December 7th, 2024 Disclaimer: The spatial data and mapping tool is intended for geolocation purposes. It should not be relied upon by taxpayers to determine eligibility for the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program. Source Acknowledgements: The New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) Tract layer using data from the 2016-2020 ACS is from the CDFI Information Mapping System (CIMS) and is created by the U.S. Department of Treasury Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. To learn more, visit CDFI Information Mapping System (CIMS) | Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (cdfifund.gov). https://www.cdfifund.gov/mapping-system. Tracts are displayed that meet the threshold for the New Market Tax Credit Program. The 'Energy' Category Tract layer from the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) is created by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) within the Executive Office of the President. To learn more, visit https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/. Tracts are displayed that meet the threshold for the 'Energy' Category of burden. I.e., census tracts that are at or above the 90th percentile for (energy burden OR PM2.5 in the air) AND are at or above the 65th percentile for low income. The Persistent Poverty County layer is created by joining the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service's Poverty Area Official Measures dataset, with relevant county TIGER/Line Shapefiles from the US Census Bureau. To learn more, visit https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/poverty-area-measures/. Counties are displayed that meet the thresholds for Persistent Poverty according to 'Official' USDA updates. i.e. areas with a poverty rate of 20.0 percent or more for 4 consecutive time periods, about 10 years apart, spanning approximately 30 years (baseline time period plus 3 evaluation time periods). Until Dec 7th, 2024 both the USDA estimates using 2007-2011 and 2017-2021 ACS 5-year data. On Dec 8th, 2024, only the USDA estimates using 2017-2021 data will be accepted for program eligibility.

VITAL SIGNS INDICATOR
Poverty (EQ5)

FULL MEASURE NAME
The share of the population living in households that earn less than 200 percent of the federal poverty limit

LAST UPDATED
January 2023

DESCRIPTION
Poverty refers to the share of the population living in households that earn less than 200 percent of the federal poverty limit, which varies based on the number of individuals in a given household. It reflects the number of individuals who are economically struggling due to low household income levels.

DATA SOURCE
U.S Census Bureau: Decennial Census - http://www.nhgis.org
1980-2000

U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey - https://data.census.gov/
2007-2021
Form C17002

CONTACT INFORMATION
vitalsigns.info@mtc.ca.gov

METHODOLOGY NOTES (across all datasets for this indicator)
The U.S. Census Bureau defines a national poverty level (or household income) that varies by household size, number of children in a household, and age of householder. The national poverty level does not vary geographically even though cost of living is different across the United States. For the Bay Area, where cost of living is high and incomes are correspondingly high, an appropriate poverty level is 200% of poverty or twice the national poverty level, consistent with what was used for past equity work at MTC and ABAG. For comparison, however, both the national and 200% poverty levels are presented.

For Vital Signs, the poverty rate is defined as the number of people (including children) living below twice the poverty level divided by the number of people for whom poverty status is determined. The household income definitions for poverty change each year to reflect inflation. The official poverty definition uses money income before taxes and does not include capital gains or non-cash benefits (such as public housing, Medicaid and food stamps).

For the national poverty level definitions by year, see: US Census Bureau Poverty Thresholds - https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/income-poverty/historical-poverty-thresholds.html.

For an explanation on how the Census Bureau measures poverty, see: How the Census Bureau Measures Poverty - https://www.census.gov/topics/income-poverty/poverty/guidance/poverty-measures.html.

American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year data is used for larger geographies – Bay counties and most metropolitan area counties – while smaller geographies rely upon 5-year rolling average data due to their smaller sample sizes. Note that 2020 data uses the 5-year estimates because the ACS did not collect 1-year data for 2020.

To be consistent across metropolitan areas, the poverty definition for non-Bay Area metros is twice the national poverty level. Data were not adjusted for varying income and cost of living levels across the metropolitan areas.

This table contains regional statistics on relatively low-income households. The data are broken down by household characteristics such as gender and age of the main breadwinner, and the household composition and main source of income of the household. Two income limits are used for the classification by level of income: the low-income limit and the policy minimum. For these classifications, the number of households is published, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of the total population per region. The table also contains data on the number of households that had to survive on an income below the used income threshold for a long period of time (4 years and more). The results are used, among other things, in reports on poverty. The data relate to all private households with income as at 1 January of the year under review. Student households and households that only had an income for part of the year were not taken into account. The reference date for the municipal division is January 1, 2021. Data available from 2011 to 2020. Status of the figures: The figures in this table for 2011 to 2019 are final. The figures for 2020 are provisional. Changes as of December 2, 2022: None, this table has been discontinued. When will there be new figures: No longer applicable. This table is followed by the table Low and long-term low income; household characteristics, region (classification 2022). See section 3.

In 2023, just over 50 percent of Americans had an annual household income that was less than 75,000 U.S. dollars. The median household income was 80,610 U.S. dollars in 2023. Income and wealth in the United States After the economic recession in 2009, income inequality in the U.S. is more prominent across many metropolitan areas. The Northeast region is regarded as one of the wealthiest in the country. Maryland, New Jersey, and Massachusetts were among the states with the highest median household income in 2020. In terms of income by race and ethnicity, the average income of Asian households was 94,903 U.S. dollars in 2020, while the median income for Black households was around half of that figure. What is the U.S. poverty threshold? The U.S. Census Bureau annually updates its list of poverty levels. Preliminary estimates show that the average poverty threshold for a family of four people was 26,500 U.S. dollars in 2021, which is around 100 U.S. dollars less than the previous year. There were an estimated 37.9 million people in poverty across the United States in 2021, which was around 11.6 percent of the population. Approximately 19.5 percent of those in poverty were Black, while 8.2 percent were white.

United States - Total Expenses for Health Care and Social Assistance, Establishments Exempt from Federal Income Tax was -0.60000 % Chg. in January of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Total Expenses for Health Care and Social Assistance, Establishments Exempt from Federal Income Tax reached a record high of 6.20000 in October of 2020 and a record low of -3.70000 in January of 2021. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Total Expenses for Health Care and Social Assistance, Establishments Exempt from Federal Income Tax - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

This table contains results for households with a relatively low income. The results are broken down into household characteristics such as gender and age of the main breadwinner, and the household composition and main source of income of the household. Two income limits are used for the classification by level of income: the low-income limit and the policy minimum. For these classifications, the number of households is published, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of the total population. The table also contains data on the number of households that had to survive on an income below the used income threshold for a long period of time (4 years and more). The results are used, among other things, in reports on poverty. The data relate to all private households with income as at 1 January of the year under review. Student households and households that only had an income for part of the year were not taken into account. Data available from: 2011. Status of the figures: The figures for the years 2011 - 2020 are final. The figures for 2021 are provisional. Changes as of March 10, 2023: For the periods 2011 to 2013, the figures for Duration of income position: 4 years or longer have been supplemented. Changes as of December 2, 2022: Update with final figures for 2020 and provisional figures for 2021. When will new figures be released? The new figures will be available in December 2023.

Graph and download economic data for Real Median Personal Income in the United States (MEPAINUSA672N) from 1974 to 2023 about personal income, personal, median, income, real, and USA.

United States - Total Revenue for Social Assistance, Establishments Exempt from Federal Income Tax was -8.70000 % Chg. in January of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Total Revenue for Social Assistance, Establishments Exempt from Federal Income Tax reached a record high of 25.40000 in October of 2020 and a record low of -12.70000 in January of 2021. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Total Revenue for Social Assistance, Establishments Exempt from Federal Income Tax - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

United States - Total Revenue for Home Health Care Services, Establishments Subject to Federal Income Tax was 4.00000 % Chg. in October of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Total Revenue for Home Health Care Services, Establishments Subject to Federal Income Tax reached a record high of 9.40000 in July of 2020 and a record low of -7.10000 in January of 2021. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Total Revenue for Home Health Care Services, Establishments Subject to Federal Income Tax - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on August of 2025.

United States - Total Expenses for Social Assistance, Establishments Exempt from Federal Income Tax was -5.70000 % Chg. in January of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Total Expenses for Social Assistance, Establishments Exempt from Federal Income Tax reached a record high of 15.60000 in October of 2020 and a record low of -11.70000 in January of 2021. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Total Expenses for Social Assistance, Establishments Exempt from Federal Income Tax - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

United States - Revenue from Households for Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (Except Satellite), Establishments Subject to Federal Income Tax was 54321.00000 Mil. of $ in October of 2021, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Revenue from Households for Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (Except Satellite), Establishments Subject to Federal Income Tax reached a record high of 54321.00000 in October of 2021 and a record low of 18289.00000 in October of 2003. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Revenue from Households for Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (Except Satellite), Establishments Subject to Federal Income Tax - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

In the state of California, there were approximately *** million children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP insurance plans in March 2025. Additionally, Texas, New York, and Florida all had more than *** million children enrolled in the programs. How many people are enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP? State Medicaid programs provide medical coverage to millions of Americans, including children, pregnant women, and parents. The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was introduced in 1997 to help uninsured children who were previously not eligible for Medicaid. The total number of individuals enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP was approximately **** million in May 2021, and California has the largest state program. How is income eligibility determined? The Affordable Care Act established a new methodology to assess income eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP. The adoption of the Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) methodology helped to align eligibility rules that previously varied nationwide. In general, an individual’s eligibility is now determined by their MAGI and where it falls in relation to the federal poverty level (FPL). For Medicaid and CHIP plans across all states in 2021, the median upper income eligibility level for children was *** percent of the FPL.

Low income cut-offs (LICOs) before and after tax by community size and family size, in current dollars, annual.

Graph and download economic data for Real Disposable Personal Income (DSPIC96) from Jan 1959 to Jun 2025 about disposable, personal income, personal, income, real, and USA.

This statistic shows the median household income in the United States from 1990 to 2023 in 2023 U.S. dollars. The median household income was 80,610 U.S. dollars in 2023, an increase from the previous year. Household incomeThe median household income depicts the income of households, including the income of the householder and all other individuals aged 15 years or over living in the household. Income includes wages and salaries, unemployment insurance, disability payments, child support payments received, regular rental receipts, as well as any personal business, investment, or other kinds of income received routinely. The median household income in the United States varies from state to state. In 2020, the median household income was 86,725 U.S. dollars in Massachusetts, while the median household income in Mississippi was approximately 44,966 U.S. dollars at that time. Household income is also used to determine the poverty line in the United States. In 2021, about 11.6 percent of the U.S. population was living in poverty. The child poverty rate, which represents people under the age of 18 living in poverty, has been growing steadily over the first decade since the turn of the century, from 16.2 percent of the children living below the poverty line in year 2000 to 22 percent in 2010. In 2021, it had lowered to 15.3 percent. The state with the widest gap between the rich and the poor was New York, with a Gini coefficient score of 0.51 in 2019. The Gini coefficient is calculated by looking at average income rates. A score of zero would reflect perfect income equality and a score of one indicates a society where one person would have all the money and all other people have nothing.

This dataset tracks annual reduced-price lunch eligibility from 2021 to 2023 for Federal Way Public School Eceap vs. Washington and Federal Way School District