10%

WHERE DO WE STAND?

The percentage of Travis County residents who live below the federal poverty threshold declined from 12% in 2018 to 10% in 2022. The decline in the percent of people in Travis County and the MSA living with incomes below the federal poverty thresholds is driven by the decline in the total number of individuals living with incomes below the federal poverty thresholds in the City of Austin.

Poverty thresholds are set annually by the U.S. Census Bureau and vary by family type and size. In 2022, the poverty thresholds set by the U.S. Census Bureau, were $29,678 for a family of four (2 adults/2 children) and $23,578 for a family of three (1 adult/2 children).

*The US Census Bureau did not release 2020 ACS 1-Year data.  To estimate the 2020 poverty rate, the median between the 2019 and 2021 rates was used.

A CLOSER LOOK

There are large disparities in poverty by race/ethnicity. The poverty rate is 17% for Black residents of Travis County, 17% for Hispanic residents, and 12% for Asian residents, compared to 7% for White residents.

This data is drawn from an American Community survey 5-year estimate to increase reliability of data.

CHILDREN IN POVERTY

An estimated 12% of children and youth under the age of 18 in Travis County were living below the poverty level in 2022. Children are more likely to be living in poverty than working-age adults or seniors. This drilldown is currently at the lowest level since tracking began in 2005.

CHILDREN IN POVERTY

The disparity in poverty rates by race and ethnicity is even greater for the child population than it is for the total population. Between 2018 and 2022, 23% of Hispanic children and 22% of Black or African American children lived below the federal poverty level, compared to 6% of Asian children and 5% of White children.

CHILDREN IN POVERTY

Over 37,000 Travis County children were living in poverty each year from 2018 to 2022, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. Approximately 88% of all children who live in poverty in Travis County are Black, Hispanic, or some other race or ethnicity.

This graph depicts the number of children living in households with incomes above the poverty line and the number of children living in households with incomes below the poverty line for each racial or ethnic category.

An estimated 27,058 Hispanic children and 4,840 Black children in Travis County live in poverty. The number of children living in households with incomes below the poverty line is much lower for Asian children (890).

POVERTY CONCENTRATION

This map shows where populations with incomes below the federal poverty thresholds are concentrated across the five-county region. In 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau poverty thresholds were set at $29,678 for a family of four (2 adults/2 children) and $23,578 for a family of three (1 adult/2 children). In Travis County, most of the population with incomes below the Federal Poverty Level were living along and east of IH 35.

Data Considerations: The American Community Survey samples 3% of the Nation’s population.  Due to small sample sizes, margins of error are increased, especially when broken down into small geographic areas such as census tracts. The census tracts marked with stripes indicate areas where data is “unreliable,” which means the Confidence Value does not meet at least Medium Reliability Standard.

LOW INCOME CONCENTRATION

This map shows where populations with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty thresholds are concentrated across the five-county region. In 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau poverty thresholds were set at $59,356 for a family of four (consisting of 2 adults/2 children) and $47,156 for a family of three (consisting of 1 adult/2 children). In Travis County, most of the population with incomes below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level were living along and east of IH 35.

Data Considerations: Data Considerations: The American Community Survey samples 3% of the Nation’s population.  Due to small sample sizes, margins of error are increased, especially when broken down into small geographic areas such as census tracts. The census tracts marked with stripes indicate areas where data is “unreliable,” which means the Confidence Value does not meet at least Medium Reliability Standard.