More than one out of five Arizonans live in poverty, a figure higher than anywhere else in the nation except for Mississippi.
New figures Thursday from the U.S. Census Bureau show nearly 1.4 million Arizonans who were in households earning less than the federal poverty level. That computes out to 21.2 percent.
By contrast, the national figure is approaching 43.6 million, just 14.3 percent.
That poverty level is based on family size. The Census Bureau uses a threshold for a family of four at $21,954, with smaller numbers for smaller families and bigger ones for larger clans.
The numbers include cash income but not one-time capital gains.
They also exclude government help like food stamps. That makes a difference: The Census Bureau figures that if the value of that aid were added to income figures, the number of people nationwide listed as living in poverty would be 3.6 million less.
The new reports shows that, even with a nationwide recession, there is an increasing disparity between Arizonans and those living everywhere else.
In 2007, for example, before the economy tanked, 13 other states had higher poverty rates than Arizona's 14.3 percent.
By 2008 the percentage of Arizonans living in poverty rose to 18 percent and only three states had higher numbers.
And the current 21.2 percent number -- second worst in the nation -- is approaching a level nearly 50 percent above the national average.
On a separate measurement, the Census Bureau also found that, despite the much higher poverty rate, the number of Arizonans without insurance is only slightly above the national average.
A total of 80.4 percent of Arizonans reported coverage, compared with 83.3 percent nationwide.
One likely reason for the lack of disparity is that Arizona has a more inclusive Medicaid program than most other states.
The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the state's Medicaid program, provides free care for anyone in a family below the federal poverty level. And it has nearly free coverage for children in families where the earnings are twice that level.
Federal Medicaid regulations have much lower income limits, though states are free to set their own higher figures.
As a result, more than 20 percent of Arizona residents receive care through AHCCCS. The nationwide figure for Medicaid recipients is less than 16 percent.
A large number of Arizonans living in poverty are children.
The Census Bureau puts the poverty level of those younger than 18 at 31.3 percent, again, second only to Mississippi though tied with the District of Columbia. Nationally the poverty figure for children is 20.7 percent.
And among those of working age -- 18 through 64 -- the state poverty rate is 18.4 percent, compared to just 12.9 percent nationwide.
Even the elderly are affected: Among those 65 and older in Arizona, the Census Bureau finds 13.8 percent living below the poverty level. For the entire country the figure is 8.9 percent.
On a national basis, the Census Bureau reported the poverty rate in 2009 was the highest since 1994. But it was 8.1 percentage points lower than in 1959, the first year that such statistics are available.
The family poverty rate nationwide went from 10.3 percent in 2008 to 11.1 percent last year. In Arizona the family poverty rate is now 16.3 percent.
In a prepared statement, President Obama said things could have been worse nationally.
"Because of the Recovery Act and many other programs providing tax relief and income support to a majority of working families -- and especially those most in need -- millions of Americans were kept out of poverty last year,'' the statement said. And the president said that the new federal health insurance law will ensure that more families have coverage.
Paul Senseman, press aide to Gov. Jan Brewer, said the numbers "are no surprise to Arizona families who are struggling due to Arizona s economic over-reliance on many years of housing boom.'' He said that is why she is pushing to create new jobs and why she supported the temporary sales tax hike to prevent further cuts to education.
Thursday's report does not break down the related issue of income on a state-by-state basis.
But a separate study done by the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that, on average, Arizonans in the state's population centers earned far less last year than those elsewhere.
The BEA puts per capita personal income nationwide -- total income divided by population -- at $40,757 for metro areas. Of areas examined by the agency, Mohave County comes the closest at $35,841.
For the Phoenix metro area, which is Maricopa and Pinal counties, the figure is $34,282, with Pima County at $33,259, Coconino County at $34,111, Yavapai County at $28,877 and Yuma County at $25,496.
| Poverty stats: | ||
| Category | AZ % | US % |
| All | 21.20% | 14.30% |
| People under 18 | 31.30% | 20.70% |
| Age 18-64 | 18.40% | 12.90% |
| 65 and older | 13.80% | 8.90% |
| Families | 16.30% | 11.10% |
| Female head of household, no husband, with children | ||
| 45.70% | 39.90% | |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau | ||
az2008 posted at 4:00 pm on Thu, Sep 16, 2010.
It would be interesting to see how the state's Hispanic population influences this statistic compared to other states.
I.e., I wonder how that would influence the debate over SB 1070, and the more general argument that immigration is good.
AZMomma posted at 4:18 pm on Thu, Sep 16, 2010.
Unsaid: Ethnic breakdown, and if this also includes results that include the huge Native American reservations.
Not going to get all rattled by these stats until we see what was actually compiled.
Too easy to make the figures fit the bias of the reporter and the 'survey group'
coyote posted at 7:08 pm on Thu, Sep 16, 2010.
I think that we are also getting more retired people in our population which will also affect the income level. We have always had a large Native American population and hispanic group.
kenj12 posted at 7:31 pm on Thu, Sep 16, 2010.
Arizona is 49th in education per spending per student and Mississippi is 50th.
Arizona is 49th in percentage of population in poverty and Mississippi is 50th.
That explains everything, like it or not.
samkat posted at 8:10 pm on Thu, Sep 16, 2010.
Also unsaid is how many illegals are pulling us down. Coyote: Among the seniors moving here, I wold say most are in pretty good financial positions.
tededitedit posted at 8:25 pm on Thu, Sep 16, 2010.
With these stats I think it's safe to say we need to stop importing poor people and start exporting them. We also need to change the fact that right now the best job a poor single mother can have is to produce more kids. There's always talk of fixing (throwing money at) our education system - we need to fix the family system. One last gripe - we call the winter visitors "snowbirds" yet we call all the transients counted in this survey "Arizonans" ?
AZMomma posted at 4:48 am on Fri, Sep 17, 2010.
Keep in mind the 2010 Census was written " place of residence on 1 April 2010". Most 'birds' had already left us by then, and a few of my friends still here answered as if they were 'home' in WA, IA, MN etc.
For the resident Sr. Citz's - if they just listed their SS income they would definitely come in WAY below the Poverty levels.
apriltwenty posted at 1:31 pm on Fri, Sep 17, 2010.
Facts are facts. Other states have their share of illegals and retirees and exist under the same Fed Gov't. Az has been lagging behind the rest of the country for years and the common thread is bad politicians who happen to be repub cons. The cons have kept AZ citizens under-educated and poor so they can more easily line their pockets with stolen tax dollars to enhance their own personal wealth. AZ voters have been in complete denial until now when it has become more than obvious just how bad they have run down our state. We need to replace the incumbents with new, smart people who have the best interests of AZ at heart.
Cactuscrusader posted at 11:15 am on Sat, Sep 18, 2010.
Preach on apriltwenty!
RMRilke posted at 8:23 pm on Sat, Sep 18, 2010.
Everyone is quick to blame the "illegals," but no one mentions how the Mormons "bleed the beast" through their control of school districts, ADOT, Maricopa County government, welfare fraud for polygamists and cushy government jobs where they get paid for taking care of their grandparents. It was Mormon businessmen who rented out half of Mesa to illegal aliens and now they want to cry "Foul!" The Mormons organize politically, have meetings in their churches and basically don't follow any laws (including traffic laws) unless they think they are going to get caught. I'm sure I will be called a bigot for posting this, but as a fourth generation Arizona native, I have observed all of these things firsthand, so at least they can't call me a liar!
RosciW posted at 11:35 pm on Sat, Sep 18, 2010.
Before everyone gets their undies in a twist -- here's ANOTHER report quoting from the SAME CENSUS -- and Arizona isn't even in the bottom 10. So ... what's going on here?
http://money.cnn.com/2010/09/16/news/economy/Americas_wealthiest_states/index.htm
This link sheds some light on the Hispanic comments others are making here (from pure speculation) http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/income_wealth/cb10-144.html
And here's a link with a PDF that even tells you how many illegal immigrants they counted and how much money they are making a year. Hint - average is $36,000 http://www.census.gov/prod/2010pubs/p60-238.pdf
At any rate - this is all I can find on the Govt Census page. So inquiring minds want to know what the source is for these reports and WHY are the two news articles reporting different things?
Orange_peel posted at 5:03 pm on Mon, Sep 20, 2010.
The two articles (this and the CNN one you linked) are using two separate statistics to prove different, though similar points. The CNN article uses median household income (average) in it's sidebar. This Tribune article examines those citizens below the poverty line. The two aren't mutually exclusive, but are intrinsically linked.
Orange_peel posted at 5:07 pm on Mon, Sep 20, 2010.
Translation: In Arizona, the rich are richer and the poor are poorer.