Poverty

The federal government sets the poverty level guidelines each year for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. In 2017, the year for which these poverty statistics are reported, the federal government set the following guidelines for income levels considered at or below poverty:

Household Size Federal Poverty Level
1 $12,060
2 $16,240
3 $20,420
4 $24,600

SOURCE: https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines


The median income for people in the State of Wisconsin was $59,305 in 2017. The median income for people in Kenosha County was below this ($57,269) and the median income for people in Racine County was slightly above this ($60,897). About 12% of people in Wisconsin (11.5%), 14.2% of people in Kenosha County and 11.2% of people in Racine County are at our below poverty.

 

People in Poverty by State and County

  • In general, percentages of people in poverty are greater for people in Kenosha and Racine Counties than in the State.
  • There are greater percentages of women in poverty than men in the State and in Kenosha County.
  • The percentage of women in poverty is lower than the percentage of men in poverty in Racine County and is equal to the percentage of women in poverty in the State.

People in Poverty by State and County: Gender Comparison

  • These percentages are based solely on people at or below the poverty level.
  • Ten percent more black women are in poverty than black men in the State of Wisconsin and Racine County, while this gender gap is greater for Kenosha County as 56.2% of women are in poverty compared to 43.8% of men, a difference of 12.4%.
  • For whites in the State, 12% more women are in poverty than men.
  • In Racine County, there are 17% more white women in poverty than white men, but only a slight 1% gender disparity between white women and men in Kenosha County.
  • To sum, there are greater racial disparities between black men and black women in Kenosha County and greater racial disparities between white men and white women in Racine County than found in the State.
 
These percentages are based solely on people at or below the poverty level.
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