Nationally, Poverty Rate Down (Slightly)

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as reported by the Washington Post, the poverty rate decreased slightly, from 15% in 2012 to 14.5% in 2013, but the number of people living at or below the poverty line remained stable. The Bureau attributed these seemingly incongruous results to population growth. 

According to the article, the poverty rate decrease was due at least in part to more workers shifting from part-time to full-time employment.

Additionally, from 2012 to 2013, the Bureau reported that the Connecticut poverty rate held steady, at 10.7%. In 2013, Connecticut’s poverty rate was the fourth lowest in the country, behind Maryland (10.1%), Alaska (9.3%), and New Hampshire (8.7%).

The map below has more information about poverty rates across the country.

 

Source: US Census Bureau, Poverty: 2012 and 2013