Official vs supplemental poverty: how state rates change when housing costs, benefits and taxes count

The United States has two federal poverty rates, and they do not rank the states the same way. The official rate compares a family's cash income before taxes with a poverty line that is the same in New York and in Mississippi. The Supplemental Poverty Measure sets its line from spending on food, clothing, shelter and utilities, adjusts it for local housing costs, and counts taxes, work expenses and noncash benefits such as food assistance as part of what a family has to live on. The official measure leaves those benefits out.

Nationally the supplemental measure puts more people in poverty. In the Census Bureau's report Poverty in the United States: 2025, released in September 2026, the 2023–2025 average was 13.0% (±0.2 percentage points) on the supplemental measure and 10.7% (±0.2 percentage points) on the official one, a gap of 2.3 percentage points. Across the states the gap runs from 7.1 percentage points in California to −2.8 percentage points¹ in New Mexico.

Highest and lowest supplemental poverty rates

Louisiana had the highest supplemental rate, 19.0% (±1.4 percentage points). Its margin of error overlaps California's, so its rank lies between 1st and 2nd. After them come Mississippi (16.8%), Florida (16.4%), the District of Columbia (15.7%), Nevada (15.3%) and New York (15.1%). In all, 9 states, counting DC, were significantly above the national rate and 32¹ were significantly below it.

The lowest rates were in Maine (6.4%), Nebraska (7.5%), Wisconsin (7.9%) and Minnesota (7.9%). Maine's rank lies between 48th and 51st; its rate is not statistically different from New Hampshire, its only neighbor. The median state stood at 10.8%¹, below the national figure. The four most populous states, California, Texas, Florida and New York, are all significantly above it, and they weigh heavily in the national rate.

Louisiana19.0% ±1.4

California17.8% ±0.6

Mississippi16.8% ±1.4

Florida16.4% ±0.9

District of Columbia15.7% ±1.5

Nevada15.3% ±1.5

New York15.1% ±0.9

Alabama14.4% ±1.3

Texas14.4% ±0.6

Georgia14.0% ±1.2

Arizona13.7% ±1.2

North Carolina13.5% ±1.2

Kentucky13.2% ±1.6

New Mexico13.2% ±1.5

United States13.0% ±0.2

Arkansas12.8% ±1.4

Massachusetts12.5% ±1.0

New Jersey12.1% ±1.0

West Virginia12.1% ±1.6

Hawaii11.7% ±1.3

Illinois11.6% ±0.9

Oklahoma11.1% ±1.3

South Carolina11.1% ±1.2

Tennessee11.1% ±1.1

Oregon11.0% ±1.0

Maryland10.9% ±1.4

Colorado10.8% ±1.5

Pennsylvania10.7% ±1.0

Michigan10.6% ±1.2

Rhode Island10.6% ±1.4

Virginia10.6% ±1.2

Washington10.5% ±1.3

Alaska10.4% ±1.3

Connecticut10.4% ±1.4

Indiana10.3% ±1.2

Ohio9.9% ±1.0

Utah9.9% ±1.1

Montana9.5% ±1.6

Idaho9.4% ±1.0

Missouri9.4% ±1.3

Delaware8.9% ±1.3

North Dakota8.9% ±1.1

Vermont8.9% ±1.2

Wyoming8.7% ±1.1

Iowa8.3% ±1.1

Kansas8.1% ±1.0

New Hampshire8.0% ±1.3

South Dakota8.0% ±1.1

Minnesota7.9% ±1.0

Wisconsin7.9% ±1.2

Nebraska7.5% ±1.0

Maine6.4% ±1.1

Source: Census Bureau, Poverty in the United States. Whiskers show the 90% margin of error; states whose whiskers overlap may not differ significantly. Period: 2023-2025.

Show the numbers

State	SPM rate	MOE
Louisiana	19.0%	±1.4
California	17.8%	±0.6
Mississippi	16.8%	±1.4
Florida	16.4%	±0.9
District of Columbia	15.7%	±1.5
Nevada	15.3%	±1.5
New York	15.1%	±0.9
Alabama	14.4%	±1.3
Texas	14.4%	±0.6
Georgia	14.0%	±1.2
Arizona	13.7%	±1.2
North Carolina	13.5%	±1.2
Kentucky	13.2%	±1.6
New Mexico	13.2%	±1.5
United States	13.0%	±0.2
Arkansas	12.8%	±1.4
Massachusetts	12.5%	±1.0
New Jersey	12.1%	±1.0
West Virginia	12.1%	±1.6
Hawaii	11.7%	±1.3
Illinois	11.6%	±0.9
Oklahoma	11.1%	±1.3
South Carolina	11.1%	±1.2
Tennessee	11.1%	±1.1
Oregon	11.0%	±1.0
Maryland	10.9%	±1.4
Colorado	10.8%	±1.5
Pennsylvania	10.7%	±1.0
Michigan	10.6%	±1.2
Rhode Island	10.6%	±1.4
Virginia	10.6%	±1.2
Washington	10.5%	±1.3
Alaska	10.4%	±1.3
Connecticut	10.4%	±1.4
Indiana	10.3%	±1.2
Ohio	9.9%	±1.0
Utah	9.9%	±1.1
Montana	9.5%	±1.6
Idaho	9.4%	±1.0
Missouri	9.4%	±1.3
Delaware	8.9%	±1.3
North Dakota	8.9%	±1.1
Vermont	8.9%	±1.2
Wyoming	8.7%	±1.1
Iowa	8.3%	±1.1
Kansas	8.1%	±1.0
New Hampshire	8.0%	±1.3
South Dakota	8.0%	±1.1
Minnesota	7.9%	±1.0
Wisconsin	7.9%	±1.2
Nebraska	7.5%	±1.0
Maine	6.4%	±1.1

Where the two measures disagree

Subtracting each state's official rate from its supplemental rate sorts the states into three groups. The Census Bureau's Table 17 flags which differences are statistically significant at the 90% confidence level, and the groups below follow those flags.

• Higher on the supplemental measure. Most of the West and Northeast and several large Southern states, among them California, Florida, New York, Maryland, DC, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, Hawaii, Arizona, Utah and Texas. The largest gaps, in California, Florida and New York, are each bigger than the national gap.
• Lower on the supplemental measure. Only New Mexico, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Ohio and Maine.
• No significant difference. Much of the South and the Plains, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and the Dakotas, plus Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Alaska and Wyoming.

California7.1 pts

Florida5.1 pts

New York4.2 pts

Maryland3.7 pts

District of Columbia3.5 pts

Massachusetts3.4 pts

Nevada3.4 pts

Hawaii3.1 pts

New Jersey3.1 pts

Arizona3.0 pts

Utah3.0 pts

Texas2.8 pts

New Hampshire2.6 pts

United States2.3 pts

Colorado2.2 pts

Virginia1.9 pts

Connecticut1.8 pts

Oregon1.8 pts

Georgia1.7 pts

Delaware1.6 pts

Vermont1.6 pts

Washington1.6 pts

Pennsylvania1.4 pts

Illinois1.2 pts

Rhode Island1.2 pts

Idaho1.1 pts

Indiana0.9 pts

Montana0.9 pts

Minnesota0.5 pts

Tennessee0.5 pts

Alaska0.4 pts

Iowa0.3 pts

North Carolina0.3 pts

North Dakota0.3 pts

Missouri0.2 pts

Nebraska0.2 pts

South Carolina0.2 pts

Arkansas0.1 pts

Wyoming0.1 pts

Kansas0.0 pts

Kentucky−0.5 pts

Louisiana−0.6 pts

South Dakota−0.7 pts

Alabama−0.8 pts

Mississippi−0.8 pts

Michigan−0.9 pts

Ohio−0.9 pts

Wisconsin−0.9 pts

Maine−1.0 pts

West Virginia−1.4 pts

Oklahoma−1.5 pts

New Mexico−2.8 pts

Source: Census Bureau, Poverty in the United States. Period: 2023-2025.

Show the numbers

State	SPM minus official
California	7.1 pts
Florida	5.1 pts
New York	4.2 pts
Maryland	3.7 pts
District of Columbia	3.5 pts
Massachusetts	3.4 pts
Nevada	3.4 pts
Hawaii	3.1 pts
New Jersey	3.1 pts
Arizona	3.0 pts
Utah	3.0 pts
Texas	2.8 pts
New Hampshire	2.6 pts
United States	2.3 pts
Colorado	2.2 pts
Virginia	1.9 pts
Connecticut	1.8 pts
Oregon	1.8 pts
Georgia	1.7 pts
Delaware	1.6 pts
Vermont	1.6 pts
Washington	1.6 pts
Pennsylvania	1.4 pts
Illinois	1.2 pts
Rhode Island	1.2 pts
Idaho	1.1 pts
Indiana	0.9 pts
Montana	0.9 pts
Minnesota	0.5 pts
Tennessee	0.5 pts
Alaska	0.4 pts
Iowa	0.3 pts
North Carolina	0.3 pts
North Dakota	0.3 pts
Missouri	0.2 pts
Nebraska	0.2 pts
South Carolina	0.2 pts
Arkansas	0.1 pts
Wyoming	0.1 pts
Kansas	0.0 pts
Kentucky	−0.5 pts
Louisiana	−0.6 pts
South Dakota	−0.7 pts
Alabama	−0.8 pts
Mississippi	−0.8 pts
Michigan	−0.9 pts
Ohio	−0.9 pts
Wisconsin	−0.9 pts
Maine	−1.0 pts
West Virginia	−1.4 pts
Oklahoma	−1.5 pts
New Mexico	−2.8 pts

The split lines up with prices. California has a price level of 110.7 (US = 100), the most expensive in the nation in the Bureau of Economic Analysis figures for 2024, and Hawaii (110.0), the District of Columbia (109.9), New Jersey (108.8) and New York (107.9) follow. All five are in the first group. All five states in the second group have price levels below the national level, from 97.0 in Maine to 87.8² in Oklahoma. The Census Bureau's measure adjusts only for housing, not for all prices, so the price levels are a guide to the pattern rather than its formula.

California, Florida and New York climb the table

California's official rate, 10.7% (±0.5 percentage points), is not statistically different from the US figure (10.7%). Its supplemental rate, 17.8% (±0.6 percentage points), is 4.8 percentage points above the US figure (13.0%), 2nd highest (between 1st and 3rd) and higher than every bordering state (Arizona, Nevada and Oregon). Housing rents in California are priced at 154.3² on the BEA scale, the highest level of any state; only the District of Columbia is higher. On this measure California counted 7.1 percentage points¹ more of its residents as poor than on the official one, the widest gap in the country.

Florida and New York follow the same path. Florida's official rate, 11.3%, is not statistically different from the US figure (10.7%); its supplemental rate, 16.4%, is 3.4 percentage points above the US figure (13.0%) and higher than every bordering state (Alabama and Georgia). New York's official rate, 10.9%, is also not statistically different from the US figure (10.7%), but its supplemental rate, 15.1%, is 2.1 percentage points above the US figure (13.0%)¹.

A second set of expensive states starts with low official rates and ends near the national rate. Hawaii's official rate, 8.5%, is 2.2 percentage points below the US figure (10.7%); its supplemental rate is not statistically different from the US figure (13.0%). Massachusetts and New Jersey move the same way. Maryland's official rate, 7.2%, is 3.5 percentage points below the US figure (10.7%). Its gap, 3.7 percentage points, is 1.4 percentage points above the US figure (2.3 percentage points), yet its supplemental rate, 10.9%, remains 2.1 percentage points below the US figure (13.0%)¹.

New Mexico, Oklahoma and West Virginia move down

New Mexico has the largest drop. Its official rate, 16.0% (±2.6 percentage points), is 5.3 percentage points above the US figure (10.7%); its supplemental rate, 13.2% (±1.5 percentage points), is not statistically different from the US figure (13.0%)¹. Housing rents there are priced at 73.6² (US = 100).

Oklahoma crosses the national line. On the official measure it is 1.9 percentage points above the US figure (10.7%); on the supplemental measure it is 1.9 percentage points below the US figure (13.0%). West Virginia, where housing rents are least expensive in the country (54.2²), goes from 2.8 percentage points above the US figure (10.7%) on the official rate to not statistically different from the US figure (13.0%) on the supplemental one. Kentucky, with no significant difference between its two rates, ends in the same place: 3.0 percentage points above the US figure (10.7%) officially, not statistically different from the US figure (13.0%)¹ on the supplemental measure.

Ohio and Maine start lower. Ohio's official rate, 10.8%, is not statistically different from the US figure (10.7%); its supplemental rate, 9.9%, is 3.1 percentage points below the US figure (13.0%). Maine falls from 7.5% to 6.4%¹, the lowest supplemental estimate of any state.

Lower costs do not change the top of the list

Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are among the least expensive states, with price levels of 88.2, 87.0 and 88.8², yet none of the three has a significant difference between its two rates. Louisiana's official rate, 19.6% (±1.5 percentage points), and its supplemental rate, 19.0%, are 8.9 percentage points above the US figure (10.7%) and 6.0 percentage points above the US figure (13.0%), and its supplemental rate is higher than every bordering state (Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas). Mississippi's supplemental rate is 3.8 percentage points above the US figure (13.0%), Alabama's 1.4 percentage points above the US figure (13.0%)¹. New Mexico and Oklahoma move toward the middle on the supplemental measure; these three states stay near the top.

The same two states lead on the separate American Community Survey count: in 2025 the ACS put Louisiana first (18.1%) and Mississippi³ second, as the poverty rate ranking shows.

Every state on both measures

The table lists the official rate, the supplemental rate and the gap between them for each state, with the BEA price level for comparison. Click a column heading to sort.

Reading the numbers correctly

Three poverty rates are in circulation. The state pages and the poverty rate ranking on this site use the American Community Survey for a single year: the US rate there was 11.8% in 2025. The figures on this page come from the Current Population Survey's Annual Social and Economic Supplement, averaged over three years. The District of Columbia shows how far apart they can sit: 15.9% (±1.9 percentage points³) in the ACS for 2025, 12.1% (±1.4 percentage points¹) on the CPS official definition for 2023–2025. Do not subtract one survey's rate from the other's.

The official rate here is "Official+". To compare like with like, Table 17 computes the official rate on the same people as the supplemental measure, which adds unrelated children under 15 who are left out of the headline official count. The Official+ figures in this article are therefore not the published headline official rates.

Margins of error are wide for small states. New Mexico's official rate carries a margin of ±2.6 percentage points; California's, ±0.5 percentage points¹. Neighboring ranks often overlap, which is why ranks are given as ranges where they matter.

Price levels are a different adjustment. The BEA's regional price parities, used in the cost of living ranking, cover all consumer prices; the supplemental poverty line moves only with housing costs. Neither is a substitute for the other.

The supplemental measure does not set eligibility. The Census Bureau states that its thresholds are not intended to assess eligibility for government programs. The next state figures, for 2024–2026, are expected with the Census poverty report around September 2027.