Are You Below or Above the Poverty Line in Your State?

Poverty in America remains one of its biggest social issues. Federal poverty guidelines range from $12,760 for a one-person household to $44,120 for an eight-person family group. A salary of $12,760 means that a one-person household has only about $35 a day for necessities such as rent, food and transportation. The poverty line for a family of eight translates to just about $120 per day, which is far from enough for a family of that size to maintain a comfortable standard of living.

The cost of living can also vary widely from state to state, meaning you’ll encounter significant differences between the federal and state poverty guidelines. In reality, poverty in certain areas can be more severe than what the nationwide numbers imply, and state poverty rates range between about 8% and 21%. That’s why GOBankingRates conducted a study to reveal the actual poverty line for families of various sizes in every state, after factoring in the local cost of living.

In some states, low-income families have a little more financial breathing room to keep their heads above water. In other states, it’s understandable how different costs can seem to keep piling on for people who are already among the most vulnerable in society. Whether you’re living alone or supporting a larger family, learning the actual poverty line in your state can be an important wake-up call about economic inequality.

Last updated: May 27, 2021

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,025
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $14,895
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $18,766
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $22,637
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $26,508

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $15,950
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $21,550
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $27,150
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $32,750
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $38,350

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $12,313
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $16,637
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $20,960
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $25,283
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $29,606

Find Out: How Do Your Stimulus Payments Affect Your Taxes?

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $10,884
  
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $14,706
  
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $18,527
  
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $22,349
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $26,170

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $14,725
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $19,895
  
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $25,065
  
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $30,235
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $35,405

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $13,002
  
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $17,568
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $22,133
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $26,698
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $31,263

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $13,538
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $18,292
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $23,045
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $27,798
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $32,551

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $12,607
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $17,033
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $21,459
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $25,886
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $30,312

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $12,837
  
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $17,343
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $21,850
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $26,357
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $30,864

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,867
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $16,033
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $20,200
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $24,366
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $28,532

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $14,680
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $19,830
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $24,980
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $30,130
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $35,280

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,803
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $15,947
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $20,091
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $24,235
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $28,379

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $12,518
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $16,912
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $21,307
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $25,702
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $30,097

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,395
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $15,395
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $19,396
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $23,397
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $27,397

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,382
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $15,378
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $19,374
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $23,370
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $27,367

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,484
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $15,516
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $19,548
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $23,580
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $27,612

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,203
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $15,137
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $19,070
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $23,004
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $26,937

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,369
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $15,361
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $19,353
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $23,344
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $27,336

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $12,760
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $17,240
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $21,720
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $26,200
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $30,680

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $13,832
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $18,688
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $23,544
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $28,401
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $33,257

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $13,998
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $18,912
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $23,827
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $28,741
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $33,656

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,790
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $15,930
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $20,069
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $24,209
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $28,348

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $12,441
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $16,809
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $21,177
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $25,545
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $29,913

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $10,974
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $14,826
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $18,679
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $22,532
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $26,385

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,331
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $15,309
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $19,287
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $23,266
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $27,244

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,905
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $16,085
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $20,265
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $24,445
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $28,624

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,420
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $15,430
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $19,439
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $23,449
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $27,459

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $12,441
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $16,809
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $21,177
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $25,545
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $29,913

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $13,526
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $18,274
  
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $23,023
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $27,772
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $32,521

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $14,700
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $19,860
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $25,021
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $30,182
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $35,343

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,624
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $15,706
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $19,787
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $23,868
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $27,949

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $14,853
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $20,067
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $25,282
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $30,497
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $35,712

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,714
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $15,826
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $19,939
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $24,052
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $28,164

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,561
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $15,619
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $19,678
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $23,737
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $27,796

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,280
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $15,240
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $19,200
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $23,161
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $27,121

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,280
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $15,240
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $19,200
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $23,161
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $27,121

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $12,900
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $17,430
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $21,959
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $26,488
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $31,017

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $12,441
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $16,809
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $21,177
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $25,545
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $29,913

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $12,671
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $17,119
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $21,568
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $26,017
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $30,465

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,624
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $15,706
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $19,787
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $23,868
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $27,949

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,216
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $15,154
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $19,092
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $23,030
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $26,968

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,471
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $15,499
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $19,526
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $23,554
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $27,581

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $12,352
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $16,688
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $21,025
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $25,362
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $29,698

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $12,326
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $16,654
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $20,982
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $25,309
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $29,637

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $13,143
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $17,757
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $22,372
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $26,986
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $31,600

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $13,015
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $17,585
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $22,154
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $26,724
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $31,294

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $13,755
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $18,585
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $23,414
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $28,244
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $33,073

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,203
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $15,137
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $19,070
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $23,004
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $26,937

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,726
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $15,844
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $19,961
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $24,078
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $28,195

• Actual poverty line for 1-person household: $11,829
• Actual poverty line for 2-person household: $15,981
• Actual poverty line for 3-person household: $20,134
• Actual poverty line for 4-person household: $24,287
• Actual poverty line for 5-person household: $28,440

More From GOBankingRates

• 4 Tips for Saving Money While in the Military
• 17 Tips To Live Comfortably Off Just a Social Security Check
• 10 Cheap Cryptocurrencies To Check Out
• Big Personal Goals That You Should Put Your Money Toward

Methodology: In order to determine each state’s unique poverty guideline income, GOBankingRates sourced the current 2020 Poverty Guidelines from the office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), and factored it by each state’s regional price parity, sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Alaska and Hawaii were excluded from this calculation since they are assigned separate poverty guidelines, reflecting an Office of Economic Opportunity administrative practice beginning in the 1966-1970 period. Poverty guideline incomes were calculated for households with one to eight people. All data was compiled on and up to date as of Sept. 14, 2020. Supplemental data on quintile incomes, median household income and poverty rate are sourced from the Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey.