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Indicator Data
Percentage of families whose income in the last 12 months is below poverty level, Chittenden County
Current Value
5.30%
Definition
Story Behind the Curve
On average about 7% of families earned income below the poverty threshold. The number of families earning income below the poverty income threshold has remained steady; about 7% of families are considered to be in poverty. If a family’s total income is less than the dollar value of the appropriate threshold, then that family and every individual in it are considered to be in poverty. Poverty thresholds are updated annually to allow for changes in the cost of living (inflation factor) using the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
The American Community Survey (ACS) is an ongoing survey that provides data every year and is associated with a margin of error. The margin of error for this indicator is (+/-) 2%.
To compare the poverty level to Vermont and the United States put a check mark in the comparison box in the upper left corner above the graph.
Why Is This Important?
Measuring poverty as an economic indicator focuses attention on the low income population and how we are doing as a community/society at providing services to improve access to wealth and education.
Note on Methodology
The Panel on Poverty and Family Assistance developed an analysis of the measure of poverty. It concluded that the current measure of poverty has remained virtually unchanged over the past 30 years. Yet during that time, there have been marked changes in the nation’s economy and society and in public policies that have affected families’ economic wellbeing, which are not reflected in the measure.
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