Explore the Data

Poverty Rate

The poverty rate now is at the same level as in 2019, after an increase in 2021 and 2022

The federal poverty level is determined annually based on size of the family, the number of children, and a measure of income needed to purchase food and other essential goods and services.¹ In 2023, the poverty threshold was $30,900 for a family of four that included two related children less than 19 years of age. The 2023 poverty threshold for one person under age 65 was $15,852 or about $43.43 a day.

The poverty rate increased from 12% in 2019 to 14% in 2021 and remained at 14% for 2022. In 2023, 12% (34,174 persons) lived in households falling below the poverty threshold, returning to about the same level as the 2019 pre-COVID-19 pandemic level (32,564 persons).

• Since 2013, there has been a 21% decrease in the total number of persons below the poverty threshold. This represents a decrease of 9,281 persons in poverty in the past 10 years.
• Since the year 2005, the poverty rate in Lincoln peaked in 2009 and 2010 with 17% of individuals falling below the poverty threshold.
• Lincoln’s poverty rate generally tracks trends for the U.S. overall and is higher than Nebraska overall.

Notes

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-year estimates, Table S1701.

Footnotes

1. Critics have said that the Federal Poverty Threshold, developed in the early 1960s, should be improved. The measure uses food costs and a multiplier of three to calculate needed income. Needed income is compared to gross income and does not include in-kind benefits, nor does it recognize increased labor participation of women (and related childcare costs), variability in health care costs across populations, or variability of expenses across geographies. These and other factors may underestimate poverty for persons in working families and overestimate poverty for persons in families receiving public assistance.