U.S. Poverty and Income Estimates

December 7th, 2009by William Benjamin

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Within the global community, poverty in the United States does not seem to be as immense of an issue as in many other world countries. For example, when you look at countries with populations earning below 2$ a day such as dozen of countries in Africa, India, and some Central American countries, it makes poverty in the U.S. seem minuscule. However, if you focus within the United States it is clear that we have our own issues with poverty, particularly with a struggling economy. The Small Area Income and Estimates branch of the U.S. Census Bureau recently released poverty and income estimates by counties for all states in the U.S. These estimates help us better understand economic and impoverished infrastructural problems.

Below I’ve created two maps using GeoCommons. By uploading the Census estimates into Finder, I’m able to map poverty estimates for all ages, and median household incomes for all counties in the US using Maker. By following several simple steps I’ve been able to create a geospatial experience for all people interested in seeing the most recent poverty and income estimates in the US.

Click here to view an interactive map in Maker! and click here to view the data set in Finder!.

The Census Bureau has different ways of measuring poverty and need, but are primarily measured by income and poverty thresholds for children in need under 18 years of age.