Poverty
Date posted: 11/04/2009
Quick Data Links
Chart Directory:
- All Individuals in Poverty in United States, Colorado & Larimer County, 2000-2008
- Individuals in Poverty by Age in Larimer County, 2000-2008
- Individuals in Poverty by Age in United States, Colorado & Larimer County, 2008
- Poverty in Larimer County by Family Type, 2000
- Poverty in Larimer County Cities and Towns, 2000
In 2008, people living at or below the Federal Poverty Guideline earn $10,400 or less for an individual, $14,000 or less for a two-person household, and $21,200 or less for a four-person household. For preceding years, see Prior Federal Poverty Guidelines.
The 2008 American Community Survey in the United States, released in August 2009, is a sample survey of approximately 100,000 households nationwide. These data reflect conditions in calendar year 2008. The official poverty rate in the United States increased slightly from 13.0% in 2007 to 13.2% in 2008.
What this chart shows: All Individuals in Poverty in United States, Colorado, & Larimer County, 2000-2008
Data Source: U. S. Census Bureau, SAIPE 2000-2005, American Community Survey 2006, 2007, 2008
What these data tell us:
In 2000, the percentage of people living in poverty in Larimer County was more than 33% less than those living in poverty nationally. By 2008, the gap had narrowed in Larimer County - the number of individuals living in poverty in the County was just over 6% less than the national average.NOTE: Caution should be taken when comparing the 2006, 2007 and 2008 figures with those for the years 2000 through 2005. The U.S. Census Bureau's Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) database was used for the years 2000 through the latest year available, 2005. The SAIPE data was used for these years because the American Community Survey (ACS) did not include Larimer County until 2005. In 2006, ACS began collecting 'group quarters' data, which covers those living in college dorms, institutions, nursing homes, prisons, etc., so comparisons can be confidently made between 2006, 2007 and 2008, but not for previous years. These rates are based on extrapolated data, and can vary depending on the data source and methodology used.
What this chart shows: Individuals in Poverty by Age in Larimer County, 2000-2008
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, SAIPE 2000-2005, American Community Survey 2006, 2007, 2008
What these data tell us:
From 2000 through 2006, the number of individuals living in poverty in Larimer County has steadily increased. Since 2006, however, the number of people living in poverty in the County has been variable. For example, the number of children under the age of 18 living in poverty has dropped 20% between 2006 and 2008.There does not seem to be a simple reason for the decline in poverty rates, although it could be due to a sampling error. When looking at three-year averages, 11.9% of children under the age of 18 were living in poverty in the County during the years 2005-2007. During the 2006-2008 three-year period, that number drops only .2% to 11.7%.
Please see the cautionary note above for an explanation of the sources used in preparing this chart.
What this chart shows: Individuals in Poverty by Age in the United States, Colorado & Larimer County - 2008
Data Source: U.S Census Bureau, 2008 American Community Survey
What these data tell us:
The number of all people living in poverty in 2008 was highest in the United States, followed by Larimer County and the Colorado. For children under the age of 18 and seniors 65 years and over, Larimer County had fewer individuals in these groups living in poverty than either the United States or Colorado. When it comes to adults living in poverty between the ages of 18 and 64, Larimer County had more in this age group than either the United States or Colorado.What this chart shows: Poverty in Larimer County by Family Type - 2000
Data Source:
What these data tell us:
In 2000, 39.7% of children in Larimer County under age 5 living in single-mother/head-of-household lived in poverty, compared to 14% for children under age 5 of single-father/head-of-household. A similar trend was observed for families having children less than 18 years old, with children under age 18 in female single-parent households three times more likely to live in poverty (24.1%) than those in male single-parent households (8%). For more information about household types in Larimer County, see Household Types and Age of Residents.
At the national level, poverty rates for children under age 5 and age 18 living in single-mother/head of household families (46.4% and 34.3% respectively) were approximately twice the poverty rates for children under age 5 and 18 living in single-father/head of household families (22.2% and 17.7% respectively) in 2000 (2000 Census).
What this chart shows: Poverty in Larimer County Cities and Towns - 2000
Data Source: 2000 United States Census
What these data tell us:
In Larimer County, Fort Collins had the highest percentage of individuals (12.8%) living in poverty. Fort Collins also had the highest percentage of persons 18 years and older (10.8%) living in poverty. This may be due to the large college student population in Fort Collins. In contrast, Berthoud had the lowest percentage of persons living in poverty for those same groups at 3.1% and 2.2% respectively.Additional Information:
On Compass -
- Median Family Income Levels
- Food Stamps
- Free and Reduced School Lunch
- Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)
- Median Family Income
- Self-Sufficient Wages
- Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
- Unemployment Rate
Outside Compass -
- Cost of Living Calculator
- Federal Poverty Guidelines
- Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2008 released August 2008 by the Current Population Survey.
- Institute for Research on Poverty is a center for research into the causes and consequences of poverty and social inequality in the United States.
- National Center for Children in Poverty identifies and promotes strategies that prevent child poverty in the United States and improve the lives of low-income children and families.
- Pathways Past Poverty is a collaborative initiative headed by United Way of Larimer County in conjunction with Colorado State University, NCEDC, The Coloradoan, and other nonprofit organizations.
- PovertyNet provides an introduction to key issues as well as in-depth information on poverty measurement, monitoring, analysis, and on poverty reduction strategies for researchers and practitioners.
- Recession Could Cause Large Increase in Poverty and Push Millions into Deep Poverty released November 2008 by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
- United States Census Bureau
Standards or Targets: N/A
Data Tables:
Individuals in Poverty in the United States, Colorado & Larimer County
|
United States |
Colorado |
Larimer County |
|
|
Percentage |
Percentage |
Percentage |
|
|
2000 |
11.3% |
8.9% |
7.5% |
|
2001 |
11.7% |
8.7% |
7.4% |
|
2002 |
12.1% |
9.5% |
8.4% |
|
2003 |
12.5% |
10.0% |
9.3% |
|
2004 |
12.7% |
10.2% |
9.8% |
|
2005 |
13.3% |
10.9% |
11.5% |
|
2006* |
13.3% |
12.0% |
13.0% |
|
2007 |
13.0% |
12.0% |
12.9% |
|
2008 |
13.2% |
11.4% |
12.4% |
*Data prior to 2006 was collected from SAIPES and data for 2006 and 2007 was collected from ACS.
Individuals in Poverty by Age in Larimer County
|
All Individuals |
Under Age 18 |
Ages 5-17 |
|
|
Percentage |
Percentage |
Percentage |
|
|
2000 |
7.5% |
8.1% |
6.8% |
|
2001 |
7.4% |
7.5% |
6.5% |
|
2002 |
8.4% |
8.6% |
7.9% |
|
2003 |
9.3% |
9.9% |
8.6% |
|
2004 |
9.8% |
10.3% |
8.8% |
|
2005 |
11.5% |
10.9% |
9.8% |
|
2006* |
13.0% |
13.5% |
10.3% |
|
2007 |
12.9% |
11.7% |
8.9% |
|
2008 |
12.4% |
10.4% |
9.7% |
*Data prior to 2006 was collected from SAIPES and data for 2006 and 2007 was collected from ACS.
Individuals in Poverty by Age, United States, Colorado, Larimer County, 2008
|
United States |
Colorado |
Larimer County |
|
|
Percentage |
Percentage |
Percentage |
|
|
All Individuals |
13.2% | 11.4% | 12.4% |
|
Under 18 years |
18.2% | 15.1% | 10.4% |
|
18 to 64 years |
11.9% | 10.5% | 14.1% |
|
65 years and over |
9.9% | 8.4% | 6.2% |
Poverty in Larimer County by Family Type, 2000
|
Family Type |
All Families |
Male Head of Household |
Female Head of Household |
|||
|
Count |
Percentage |
Count |
Percentage |
Count |
Percentage |
|
|
All Families |
2,712 | 4.3% | 240 | 7% | 1,320 | 19.2% |
|
Families with related children under 18 |
1,970 | 6.1% | 153 | 8% | 1,169 | 24.1% |
|
Families with related children under 5 |
990 | 8.3% | 76 | 14.0% | 528 | 39.7% |
Poverty in Larimer County Cities and Towns, 2000
|
Berthoud |
Estes Park |
Fort Collins |
Livermore |
Loveland |
Timnath/ Wellington |
|
|
All Individuals |
3.1% |
3.6% |
12.8% |
4.5% |
5.3% |
5.3% |
|
Number |
343 |
388 |
17,275 |
210 |
3,817 |
567 |
|
Children under 18 |
1.0% |
0.5% |
2.0% |
1.0% |
1.6% |
1.8% |
|
Number |
105 |
57 |
2,709 |
49 |
1,159 |
192 |
|
18 years & over |
2.2% |
3.0% |
10.8% |
3.4% |
3.7% |
3.5% |
|
Number |
238 |
331 |
14,566 |
161 |
2,658 |
375 |
|
65 years and over |
0.4% |
0.1% |
0.4% |
0.5% |
0.4% |
0.4% |
|
Number |
46 |
9 |
581 |
25 |
316 |
40 |