Chapter 10. Children Are the Poorest Americans: A Look at Poverty in the United States

10.1 Synopsis

true
true
true
You must read each slide, and complete any questions on the slide, in sequence.

Welcome

Children Are the Poorest Americans: A Look at Poverty in the United States

Featuring an interactive map and recent census data, this activity examines U.S. poverty rates by state and age group.

Click the 'Get Started' button below to start this activity

A small baby looks up as she bites an apple.
Inga Marchuk/Shutterstock

10.2 Children Are the Poorest Americans: A Look at Poverty in the United States

Children Are the Poorest Americans: A Look at Poverty in the United States

It may come as no surprise that the poverty rate varies greatly from state to state. What is surprising, however, is how much the poverty rates vary among age groups within the same state.

The map below shows how many people in each age group (under 18, 18–64, and 65 and over) were living below the poverty line in 2017. (In 2017, the U.S. Health and Human Services’ poverty guideline for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia was $24,600. Alaska’s was $30,750, and Hawaii’s was $28,290.)

CLICK ON EACH STATE TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE IN EACH AGE GROUP ARE LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.

A spreadsheet that shows the data for each state in the United States on how many people from different age groups live below the poverty line. The first column indicates all the states and the following columns indicate the data of people below poverty line under 18, between 18–64, and 65 and over.

10.3 Children Are the Poorest Americans: A Look at Poverty in the United States

Children Are the Poorest Americans: A Look at Poverty in the United States

Basketball players walk on an outdoor court after the ball is dropped in the basket.
Scott Melvogel / Shutterstock

Question 10.1 Poverty in the United States

ZCLcq4SR6VWauiPA0xjiuLPBP7rbGqfYUp+FDgwAp7IHiFRNFHY0kmLE+nGQ5GLoS6Eszx2QCVVIUUaLnlC3mMuPUyg5Nlfa44Wu1ZKpKeYyyuA05/bf7Evh1S94dQZvOF6nSibKU4MoTpwynC3auvTNtKc+yzctPW9hAKLaUJIhLYMvUDTIrX8OTaEJ5dABoy8Ujp9BzGRf/4ub9SpKFqKpZ7pwgRonXA8OW0kcHVfY3h5b59gVEauz4PAtqfAywqKLx1AyWnrQWoBnDgLU3ZLOLOpsOJB3t0O3pWxUNTgcuxflVBj/zQ21c0FrfBwG44890lPRE8wXb9lSERBP0LikaZ7398Uiz+TDxioKVE4Bn2YtCCkMnwPx40MDltE6I4xqaTUI6OSfZbDw1uWaytwl4kvUhPeKD1raK9rv9KTfleNsgyfVF5qZ4qcUOOJA
Your answer should include New Hampshire, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Note that those states tend to have relatively low poverty overall.

10.4 Activity Completed!

Congratulations! You have completed this activity.

REFERENCES

U.S. Census Bureau. (2018, December 6). American Community Survey 2013-2017 5-year estimates. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau.