Poverty

Date updated: 12/17/2012

The following data were obtained from the American Community Survey using the American FactFinder website. The American Community Survey was designed to replace the long form decennial census that was last collected in 2000. The 2009-2011 American Community Survey, released in October 2012, is a sample survey of approximately 5.8 million households nationwide.

In 2010 (the midpoint of the data years depicted), people living at or below the Federal Poverty Guidelines earned $10,830 or less for an individual, $14,570 or less for a two-person household, and $22,050 or less for a four-person household.

The official poverty rate in the United States increased from 14.3% in 2009 to 15.3% in 2010, whereas the poverty rate in Larimer County decreased from 15.6% in 2009 to 14.3% in 2010. An analysis of the Larimer County data shows that over the last 5 years, the only statistically significant change was in 2009 when the rate increased to 15.6%. Changes in the other years could reflect changes in the rate or could be the result of statistical variances caused by sampling error. For this reason, 3-year averages instead of 1 year data were chosen for this measurement to reduce the margin of error.

What this chart shows: All Individuals in Poverty in the United States, Colorado, & Larimer County, 2000 Census v. American Community Survey

 

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2000 Census - Table DP-3; American Community Surveys - Table S1701)

See data table

What the above data tell us:

Since 2000, the number of individuals living in poverty in Larimer County increased 54%. This increase was higher in Larimer County than in Colorado (42%) or the United States (23%).

NOTE: The smaller the sample size, the larger the margin of error (MOE). The MOE for all individuals in Larimer County living in poverty averaged +/-1.0% between 2006 and 2011.

What this chart shows: Children Under 18 Living in Poverty in the United States, Colorado & Larimer County, 2000 Census v. American Community Survey

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2000 Census - Table DP-3; American Community Surveys - Table S1701)

See data table

What the above data tell us:

Since 2000, the number of children living in poverty in Larimer County increased nearly 85%. This increase was much higher in Larimer County than in Colorado (55%) or the United States (29%).

NOTE: The smaller the sample size, the larger the margin of error (MOE). The MOE for children under 18 living in poverty in Larimer County averaged +/-2.2% between 2006 and 2011, compared to +/- .01 in the United States and +/- 0.6% in Colorado.

What this chart shows: Individuals in Poverty by Age in the United States, Colorado & Larimer County, 2009-2011 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau (Table S1701)

See data table

What the above data tell us:

According to the 2009-2011 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates, the percentage of all individuals living poverty in Larimer County (14.2%) fell between the United States (15.2%) and Colorado (13.2%).

There were fewer children (under the age of 18) and seniors (over 65) living in poverty in Larimer County than in the United States or Colorado.

There were more adults (18-64) living in poverty in Larimer County (15.9%), which could be due to the number of students attending Colorado State University.

What this chart shows: Single Mothers with Children Under 18 Living in Poverty in the United States, Colorado & Larimer County, 2009-2011 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau (Table B17010)

See data table

What the above data tell us:

According to the 2009-2011 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates, approximately 9.5% of families living in poverty in Larimer County lived in single-mother households with children under the age of 5 (554/5,821), compared to 2.0% for single-father households with children under the age 5 (117/5,821). A similar trend was observed for families having children under age 18 years old, with single-mother households being 3.5 to 4 times more likely to live in poverty (32.9%) than those in single-father households (8.5%). For more information about household types in Larimer County, see Household Types and Age of Residents.

As per the chart above, Larimer County had a higher percentage of single mothers with children under 5 living in poverty than in the United States, but a slightly lower percentage than in Colorado.

NOTE: Due to an error in calculations, please do not use previously published statistics for measuring single mothers with children under 18 living in poverty.

What this chart shows: Percentage of Individuals Living in Poverty in Fort Collins and Loveland, 2009-2011 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates

 

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau (Table S1701)

See data table

What the above data tell us:

According to the 2009-2011 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates, Fort Collins had a higher percentage of all age individuals living in poverty than Loveland, but Loveland saw more children under 18 living in poverty and slightly more seniors 65 years and over living in poverty.

NOTE: Only Fort Collins and Loveland have large enough populations to be included in the American Community Survey's 3-Year Estimates. For information on the county's smaller communities, see the data table for a breakdown of poverty levels by age group from the 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.

What this chart shows: Marginal Poverty Rates in the United States, Colorado & Larimer County, 2009-2011 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates

 

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau (Table C17002)

See data table

What the above data tell us:

In 2011, a family of four in Larimer County required a household income of $58,232 to be considered self-sufficient (See Self-Sufficient Wages). In 2011, a family of four living at 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) would be earning $41,348.

According to the chart above, on average, more than 1 in 4 Larimer County residents (27%) were living below 185% of FPL between 2009 and 2011. In addition, an estimated 20,500 residents were living below 50% of FPL or $7,355 for a family of 2 in 2011.

Additional Information:

Related Information on COMPASS -

• Food Stamps

• Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)
• Median Family Income
• Self-Sufficient Wages
• Students Eligible for Free or Reduced School Lunch
• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
• Unemployment Rate

Other Resources -

• Cost of Living Calculator
• Federal Poverty Guidelines
• Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2011 released September 2012 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.
• 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.
• Poverty Rate Second-Highest in 45 Years; Record Numbers Lacked Health Insurance, Lived in Deep Poverty [pdf] released September 2011 by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
• United States Census Bureau

Industry Standards or Targets:

N/A

Data Tables:

All Individuals Living in Poverty

	United States	Colorado	Larimer County
2000 Census	12.4%	9.3%	9.2%
2006-2008 ACS	13.2%	11.9%	12.9%
2009-2011ACS	15.2%	13.2%	14.2%

See chart

Children Under 18 Living in Poverty

	United States	Colorado	Larimer County
2000 Census	16.6%	11.3%	7.3%
2006-2008 ACS	18.2%	16.0%	12.3%
2009-2011ACS	21.4%	17.5%	13.5%

See chart

Individuals in Poverty by Age, 2009-2011 (3-Year Average)

	United States	Colorado	Larimer County
All Individuals	15.2%	13.2%	14.2%
Under 18 years	21.4%	17.5%	13.5%
18 to 64 years	14.0%	12.5%	15.9%
65 years and over	9.3%	8.1%	5.8%

See chart

Single Women with Children Living in Poverty, 2009-2011 (3-Year Average)

	United States	Colorado	Larimer County
Children <5	8.2%	9.1%	8.9%
Children <18	39.5%	36.6%	30.8%

See chart

Individuals in Poverty by Age, 2009-2011 (3-Year Average)

	Fort Collins	Loveland
All Individuals	18.6%	10.5%
Under 18 years	13.4%	14.2%
18 to 64 years	21.6%	9.9%
65 years and over	7.2%	7.3%

See chart

Poverty by Age in Larimer County Cities and Towns, 2007-2011 (5-Year Average)

	All Ages	Children Under 18	65 Years and Over
Berthoud	5.9%	6.8%	7.5%
Estes Park	5.6%	6.7%	0.9%
Fort Collins	17.2%	11.6%	6.4%
Laporte CDP	6.7%	0.0%	8.1%
Loveland	9.4%	13.0%	6.6%
Wellington	13.0%	18.4%	15.1%

Return to Text

Marginal Poverty Rates, 2009-2011 (3-Year Average)

	United States	Colorado	Larimer County
<50% FPL	6.7%	6.0%	7.0%
<100% FPL	15.2%	13.2%	14.2%
<125% FPL	19.9%	17.5%	18.3%
<185% FPL	31.4%	27.9%	27.0%

See chart

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