The Federal Poverty Level (FPL) is a national guideline used to determine eligibility for programs and services. For example, to be eligible for 3SquaresVT (SNAP), a household must have an income of less than 185% of the FPL. The reality is that the Federal Poverty Level is not a measure of family economic well-being. Many Vermonters earning well above the FPL struggle to cover the cost of basic needs such as housing, transportation, and healthcare.
The chart below show the percentage of children under 12 living below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level for the State of Vermont.
Please note: The data are 5-year estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS). Please only compare non-overlapping datasets (example: compare 2005-2009 ACS 5-year estimates to 2010-2014 ACS 5-year estimates).
Data Source
U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B17024, Vermont (2015 and 2020). data.census.gov
Related Indicators
Children Living in Poverty by Region – The indicator chart shows the percentage of children under 12 living below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level for each of the 12 Building Bright Futures regions, which align with the Vermont Agency of Human Services districts.
Related Indicators
Children Experiencing Homelessness (McKinney-Vento) – The indicator chart shows the number of children under 9 enrolled in school who meet the McKinney-Vento definition of homeless by school year.