Census: Almost One in Six Missourians Lived Below the Poverty Line Last Year
The Associated Press and KY3 summarize a new Census report on poverty in Missouri: "A newly released report shows 14.8 percent (885,000) of people in Missouri were poor last year, down from 15.5 percent (926,000) in 2009. The Census Bureau's annual report, which was released on Tuesday, offers a snapshot of the economic well-being of U.S. households for 2010, when joblessness hovered above 9 percent for a second year... In Missouri, 14 percent (835,000) of residents lacked insurance last year, down from 2009 (14.6 percent and 871,000 people)..."
How does the Census define poor? It depends on how the number of family members. Here's a breakdown of the weighted average poverty thresholds for 2010, by family size:
- One person - $11,139
- Two people - $14,218
- Three people - $17,374
- Four people - $22,314
- Five people - $26,439
- Six people - $29,897
- Seven people - $34,009
- Eight people - $37,934
- Nine people or more - $45,220
For more, please check out the full data with analysis at Census.gov.
