what is poverty level in ohio
Ohio's poverty rate stands at 12.7% as of 2024, affecting about 1.47 million residents—slightly above the national average but down from peaks like 16.4% in 2011.
Current Poverty Rate
Ohio's poverty rate hit 12.7% in 2024 , the lowest since 2010 per American Community Survey data, down 0.6 points from 2023. This equates to 1,467,983 people below the federal poverty line, a 20.5% drop from the 2011 high of 1.845 million. The rate reflects households unable to cover basics like food, housing, and healthcare, with Ohio lagging the U.S. average consistently.
Federal Poverty Guidelines (2024)
These thresholds define "poverty level" income by household size for the 48 contiguous states (Ohio included):
| Family Size | 100% Poverty Guideline |
|---|---|
| 1 | $15,060 |
| 2 | $20,440 |
| 3 | $25,820 |
| 4 | $31,200 |
Demographic Breakdown
- Children under 18 : 16.5% in poverty (down from 22.9% in 2014).
- Adults under 65 : 12% (down from 15.1% in 2014).
- Seniors 65+ : 10.4% (up from 8.1% in 2014).
Urban areas like Columbus see higher concentrations, while rural counties face persistent challenges.
Historical Trends
Ohio's rate hovered at 13.9% pre-pandemic (affecting 1.58M people), dipping to 12.6% by 2020 before a 2021 uptick to 13.3%. Post-COVID recovery slowed the gap with national figures.
TL;DR : Ohio's 2024 poverty rate is 12.7% (1.47M people); guidelines start at $15,060 for one person.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
