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Complete Health Indicator Report of Utah Population Characteristics: Poverty, All Persons

Definition

The percentage of persons living in households whose income is at or below the federal poverty threshold.

Numerator

Estimated number of persons living in households whose income is at or below the federal poverty threshold as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Denominator

Estimated number of persons in the population.

Data Interpretation Issues

Poverty status is determined by comparing annual income to a set of dollar values called thresholds that vary by family size, number of children, and age of householder. If a family's before tax money income is less than the dollar value of their threshold, then that family and every individual in it are considered to be in poverty. For people not living in families, poverty status is determined by comparing the individual's income to his or her threshold. The poverty threshold for a family of four including two children was $27479 in 2021. Poverty thresholds are updated annually to allow for changes in the cost of living using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). They do not vary geographically.

Why Is This Important?

Poverty takes into account both income and family size, and has both immediate and long-lasting effects on health. Income provides an assessment of the financial resources available to individual persons or families for basic necessities (e.g., food, clothing, and health care) to maintain or improve their well-being. Persons living in poverty are worse off than persons in more affluent households for many of the indicators tracked by the Utah Department of Health.

Healthy People Objective SDOH-3.1:

Proportion of persons living in poverty
U.S. Target: Not applicable; this measure is being tracked for informational purposes.

Other Objectives

CSTE Chronic Disease Indicator - Poverty

How Are We Doing?

According to the American Community Survey (ACS), approximately 8.6% of Utah residents, or 281,673 Utahns, were living in poverty in 2021. This includes 76,102 children aged 17 and under.

What Is Being Done?

Health care "safety net" programs, such as Medicaid, CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Plan), and the Primary Care Network (PCN) provide some relief to those who are eligible. Utah's community health centers also fill a critical niche in providing high-quality health care services to Utahns of any income level. Programs such as Head Start and those that provide assistance linking people with jobs aim to reduce poverty by increasing social functioning and self-sufficiency. Other programs, such as minimum wage requirements, food stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and government subsidized health insurance and child care, provide assistance to families needing additional support.

Available Services

Utah Department of Workforce Services[[br]] P.O. Box 45249[[br]] Salt Lake City, UT 84145-0249[[br]] Phone: (801) 526-WORK (9675)[[br]] Fax: (801) 526-9211[[br]] Email: dwscontactus@utah.gov[[br]] [http://jobs.utah.gov/]


Related Indicators

Relevant Population Characteristics

Health status and access to health care services are strongly related to income and poverty.

Related Relevant Population Characteristics Indicators:


Health Care System Factors

People living in poverty are less likely to have health insurance coverage and often find it more difficult to pay for needed medical care. Some literature suggests that they are more likely to be hospitalized for conditions that should have been controlled in the outpatient setting ("ambulatory care sensitive conditions" or ACSCs).

Related Health Care System Factors Indicators:


Risk Factors

Being in poor mental or physical health can influence an individual's ability to be employed. People with little education are less likely to earn a living wage.

Related Risk Factors Indicators:


Health Status Outcomes

People living in poverty are worse off than those in more affluent households for many of the Indicator Reports included here.

Related Health Status Outcomes Indicators:




Graphical Data Views

Percentage of Persons Living in Poverty, Utah and U.S., 1980-2021

::chart - missing::
confidence limits

The data for this graph come from the Current Population Survey (CPS) for years 1980-2007, from the American Community Survey (ACS) for years 2008-2016 and from Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) for years 2017-2020.
Utah vs. U.S.YearPercentage of PersonsLower LimitUpper Limit
Record Count: 84
Utah198010.0%7.8%12.2%
Utah198112.2%9.8%14.6%
Utah198214.5%12.0%17.0%
Utah198313.5%11.8%15.2%
Utah198411.1%8.9%13.3%
Utah198510.9%9.3%12.5%
Utah198612.6%10.9%14.3%
Utah198710.2%8.7%11.7%
Utah19889.8%8.3%11.3%
Utah19898.2%6.8%9.6%
Utah19908.2%6.8%9.6%
Utah199112.9%11.2%14.6%
Utah19929.4%8.0%10.8%
Utah199310.7%9.2%12.2%
Utah19948.0%6.7%9.3%
Utah19958.4%7.1%9.7%
Utah19967.7%6.4%9.0%
Utah19978.9%7.6%10.0%
Utah19989.0%7.7%10.3%
Utah19995.7%4.6%6.8%
Utah20007.6%6.8%8.4%
Utah200110.5%9.5%11.5%
Utah20029.9%8.9%10.9%
Utah20039.1%8.2%10.0%
Utah200410.1%9.1%11.1%
Utah20059.2%8.2%10.2%
Utah20069.3%8.3%10.3%
Utah20079.6%8.6%10.6%
Utah20089.7%9.4%10.0%
Utah200911.5%11.0%12.0%
Utah201013.2%12.7%13.7%
Utah201113.5%12.8%14.2%
Utah201212.8%12.1%13.5%
Utah201312.7%12.1%13.3%
Utah201411.7%11.1%12.3%
Utah201511.3%10.8%11.8%
Utah201610.2%9.7%10.7%
Utah20179.7%9.3%10.1%
Utah20189.1%8.7%9.5%
Utah20198.8%8.5%9.1%
Utah20207.3%6.9%7.7%
Utah20218.7%8.3%9.1%
U.S.198013.0%
U.S.198114.0%
U.S.198215.0%
U.S.198315.2%
U.S.198414.4%
U.S.198514.0%
U.S.198613.6%
U.S.198713.4%
U.S.198813.0%
U.S.198912.8%
U.S.199013.5%
U.S.199114.2%
U.S.199214.8%
U.S.199315.1%
U.S.199414.5%
U.S.199513.8%
U.S.199613.7%
U.S.199713.3%
U.S.199812.7%
U.S.199911.9%
U.S.200011.3%
U.S.200111.7%
U.S.200212.1%
U.S.200312.5%12.4%12.6%
U.S.200412.7%12.6%12.8%
U.S.200512.6%12.5%12.7%
U.S.200612.3%12.2%12.4%
U.S.200712.5%12.4%12.6%
U.S.200813.2%13.1%13.3%
U.S.200914.3%14.2%14.4%
U.S.201015.3%15.2%15.4%
U.S.201115.9%15.8%16.0%
U.S.201215.9%15.8%16.0%
U.S.201315.8%15.7%15.9%
U.S.201415.5%15.4%15.6%
U.S.201514.7%14.6%14.8%
U.S.201614.0%13.9%14.1%
U.S.201713.4%13.3%13.4%
U.S.201813.1%13.0%13.2%
U.S.201912.3%12.2%12.4%
U.S.202011.9%11.9%11.9%
U.S.202112.8%12.7%12.9%

Data Notes

Both the ACS and CPS data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use of a margin of error. The value shown here is the 90 percent margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted roughly as providing 90 percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate plus the margin of error (the lower and upper confidence bounds) contains the true value.

Data Sources

  • U.S. Current Population Survey
  • American Community Survey


Percentage of Persons Living in Poverty by Age and Sex, Utah, 2021

::chart - missing::
confidence limits

Data from the 2019 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates, table B17001
Males vs. FemalesAge GroupPercentage of PersonsLower LimitUpper Limit
Record Count: 39
Male0-4 years10.5%8.2%12.9%
Male5 years6.7%3.3%10.0%
Male6-11 years8.9%7.0%10.7%
Male12-14 years7.6%5.7%9.5%
Male15 years7.7%3.9%11.6%
Male16-17 years6.6%4.4%8.7%
Male18-24 years15.2%12.5%17.8%
Male25-34 years6.9%5.8%7.9%
Male35-44 years5.9%4.8%7.0%
Male45-54 years5.6%3.6%7.6%
Male55-64 years5.6%4.4%6.9%
Male65-74 years5.9%4.6%7.3%
Male75+ years6.4%4.4%8.5%
Female0-4 years8.9%7.4%10.3%
Female5 years11.0%6.6%15.4%
Female6-11 years6.6%5.0%8.2%
Female12-14 years6.1%4.3%7.9%
Female15 years5.4%2.5%8.3%
Female16-17 years10.1%7.3%12.9%
Female18-24 years19.1%16.8%21.3%
Female25-34 years9.6%8.2%11.1%
Female35-44 years6.5%5.4%7.6%
Female45-54 years8.9%6.8%11.0%
Female55-64 years7.5%6.1%8.9%
Female65-74 years8.0%6.4%9.5%
Female75+ years10.8%8.4%13.2%
Total0-4 years9.7%8.3%11.1%
Total5 years8.7%5.9%11.4%
Total6-11 years7.8%6.5%9.0%
Total12-14 years6.9%5.6%8.2%
Total15 years6.7%4.2%9.3%
Total16-17 years8.3%6.5%10.1%
Total18-24 years17.1%15.3%18.8%
Total25-34 years8.2%7.3%9.1%
Total35-44 years6.2%5.4%7.0%
Total45-54 years7.2%5.8%8.7%
Total55-64 years6.6%5.6%7.5%
Total65-74 years7.0%6.0%8.0%
Total75+ years8.8%7.2%10.4%

Data Notes

The ACS data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use of a margin of error. The value shown here is the 90 percent margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted roughly as providing 90 percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate plus the margin of error (the lower and upper confidence bounds) contains the true value. 2021 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year Table B17001 estimates.

Data Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of the Census
  • American Community Survey


Percentage of Persons Living in Poverty by County, Utah, 2021

::chart - missing::
confidence limits

Data for this graph are based on the 2021 Model-based Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) for School Districts, Counties, and States.
CountyPercentage of PersonsLower LimitUpper Limit
Record Count: 31
Beaver9.2%7.0%11.4%
Box Elder8.0%6.5%9.5%
Cache11.0%9.4%12.6%
Carbon15.9%13.0%18.8%
Daggett7.2%5.5%8.9%
Davis6.4%5.5%7.3%
Duchesne13.1%10.1%16.1%
Emery11.8%9.1%14.5%
Garfield9.9%7.5%12.3%
Grand11.1%8.5%13.7%
Iron13.3%10.7%15.9%
Juab8.8%6.9%10.7%
Kane9.4%7.2%11.6%
Millard10.2%7.6%12.8%
Morgan4.5%3.4%5.6%
Piute15.1%11.6%18.6%
Rich8.0%6.0%10.0%
Salt Lake8.8%8.0%9.6%
San Juan26.8%22.8%30.8%
Sanpete11.7%9.1%14.3%
Sevier9.7%7.4%12.0%
Summit5.8%4.7%6.9%
Tooele5.6%4.2%7.0%
Uintah11.9%9.2%14.6%
Utah8.1%7.2%9.0%
Wasatch4.9%3.8%6.0%
Washington9.4%8.0%10.8%
Wayne11.1%8.4%13.8%
Weber9.3%7.9%10.7%
State8.7%8.3%9.1%
U.S.12.8%12.7%12.9%

Data Notes

For information on how SAIPE estimates are created, please see: [https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/technical-documentation/methodology.html].

Data Source

U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates, Model-based Estimates for States, Counties, & School Districts


Persons Living in Poverty by Local Health District, Utah, 2021

::chart - missing::
confidence limits

Local Health DistrictPercentage of PersonsLower LimitUpper Limit
Record Count: 15
Bear River10.1%8.9%11.3%
Central10.5%9.3%11.7%
Davis County6.4%5.5%7.3%
Salt Lake County8.8%8.0%9.6%
San Juan26.8%22.8%30.8%
Southeast13.7%12.0%15.4%
Southwest10.3%9.1%11.5%
Summit5.8%4.7%6.9%
Tooele5.6%4.2%7.0%
TriCounty12.3%10.3%14.3%
Utah County8.1%7.2%9.0%
Wasatch4.9%3.8%6.0%
Weber-Morgan9.1%7.7%10.5%
State of Utah8.7%8.3%9.1%
U.S.12.8%12.7%12.9%

Data Notes

Data for this graph are based on the 2021 Model-based Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) for School Districts, Counties, and States. The poverty threshold for a family of four including two children was $27,479 in 2021. ([https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/income-poverty/historical-poverty-thresholds.html])

Data Source

U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates, Model-based Estimates for States, Counties, & School Districts


Percentage of Persons Living in Poverty by Utah Small Area, 2017-2021 ACS 5-year estimate

::chart - missing::
confidence limits

Utah Small AreasPercentage of PersonsLower LimitUpper LimitNote
Record Count: 104
Brigham City7.2%5.5%8.9%
Box Elder Co (Other) V26.7%4.0%12.9%
Tremonton7.1%4.7%12.9%
Logan V216.8%14.9%12.9%
North Logan22.8%17.5%12.9%
Cache (Other)/Rich (All) V25.7%3.8%12.9%
Hyrum6.7%2.9%12.9%
Smithfield6.4%3.4%12.9%
Ben Lomond9.5%7.8%12.9%
Weber County (East)5.3%3.6%12.9%
Morgan County1.8%1.0%2.6%*
Ogden (Downtown)11.8%10.1%12.9%
South Ogden9.3%7.8%12.9%
Roy/Hooper5.2%3.6%12.9%
Riverdale7.6%5.2%12.9%
Clearfield Area/Hooper7.2%5.9%12.9%
Layton/South Weber7.0%5.2%12.9%
Kaysville/Fruit Heights3.1%1.8%12.9%
Syracuse5.8%2.2%12.9%
Centerville3.3%1.9%12.9%
Farmington3.4%1.3%12.9%
North Salt Lake2.9%1.7%12.9%
Woods Cross/West Bountiful5.9%2.5%12.9%
Bountiful5.5%4.2%12.9%
SLC (Rose Park)18.1%14.4%12.9%
SLC (Avenues)9.9%8.0%12.9%
SLC (Foothill/East Bench)7.9%5.6%12.9%
Magna8.2%5.7%12.9%
SLC (Glendale) V214.2%10.2%12.9%
West Valley (Center)11.7%9.0%12.9%
West Valley (West) V26.3%4.2%12.9%
West Valley (East) V213.9%11.4%12.9%
SLC (Downtown) V225.2%23.0%12.9%
SLC (Southeast Liberty)9.1%6.8%12.9%
South Salt Lake19.0%14.3%12.9%
SLC (Sugar House)9.8%8.0%12.9%
Millcreek (South)5.8%3.8%12.9%
Millcreek (East)3.8%2.6%12.9%
Holladay V27.0%5.1%12.9%
Cottonwood6.2%4.6%12.9%
Kearns V29.2%6.8%12.9%
Taylorsville (E)/Murray (W)7.5%5.7%12.9%
Taylorsville (West)9.4%6.3%12.9%
Murray10.7%8.7%12.9%
Midvale9.4%7.4%12.9%
West Jordan (Northeast) V28.9%6.6%12.9%
West Jordan (Southeast)6.4%4.9%12.9%
West Jordan (W)/Copperton4.3%2.7%12.9%
South Jordan V22.8%2.0%12.9%
Daybreak2.8%1.5%12.9%
Sandy (West)6.2%4.5%12.9%
Sandy (Center) V25.1%3.5%12.9%
Sandy (Northeast)4.3%2.7%12.9%
Sandy (Southeast)3.0%2.2%12.9%
Draper4.7%3.0%12.9%
Riverton/Bluffdale2.9%1.8%12.9%
Herriman5.3%3.2%12.9%
Tooele County (Other)6.3%4.5%12.9%
Tooele Valley4.3%3.4%12.9%
Eagle Mountain/Cedar Valley4.6%2.8%12.9%
Lehi5.2%3.5%12.9%
Saratoga Springs4.7%2.8%12.9%
American Fork4.4%3.2%12.9%
Alpine6.9%2.9%12.9%
Pleasant Grove/Lindon5.4%4.0%12.9%
Orem (North)10.6%8.4%12.9%
Orem (West)11.5%9.2%12.9%
Orem (East)6.7%4.6%12.9%
Provo/BYU23.1%20.2%12.9%
Provo (West City Center)15.0%12.7%12.9%
Provo (East City Center)35.8%32.8%12.9%
Salem City4.2%1.9%12.9%
Spanish Fork5.9%4.6%12.9%
Springville7.7%6.0%12.9%
Mapleton3.1%1.5%12.9%
Utah County (South) V25.9%3.7%12.9%
Payson6.8%5.0%12.9%
Park City5.2%4.0%12.9%
Summit County (East)6.9%3.8%12.9%
Wasatch County5.1%3.7%6.5%*
Daggett and Uintah County11.7%9.3%12.9%
Duchesne County13.2%11.2%15.2%*
Nephi/Mona10.4%7.7%12.9%
Delta/Fillmore14.2%9.9%12.9%
Sanpete Valley14.5%11.5%12.9%
Central (Other)10.0%8.3%12.9%
Richfield/Monroe/Salina14.0%10.6%12.9%
Carbon County16.3%13.7%18.9%*
Emery County12.5%9.9%15.1%*
Grand County14.8%9.9%19.7%*
Blanding/Monticello10.6%8.0%12.9%
San Juan County (Other)30.1%21.2%12.9%
St. George10.3%8.9%12.9%
Washington Co (Other) V29.4%1.8%12.9%
Washington City4.6%2.4%12.9%
Hurricane/La Verkin11.0%7.2%12.9%
Ivins/Santa Clara7.6%4.8%12.9%
Cedar City15.9%13.5%12.9%
Southwest LHD (Other)10.7%6.7%12.9%
State of Utah8.8%8.6%9.0%
U.S.12.6%12.5%12.7%

Data Notes

Confidence intervals are 90%. *Small areas that are also counties use the ACS county estimate. **The ACS uses 5-digit ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) based on boundaries from the 2010 Census. Some Small Areas consist of ZIP Codes that were introduced after 2010; therefore, data are not available for these Small Areas from the ACS. A description of the Utah Small Areas may be found on IBIS at the following URL: [https://ibis.health.utah.gov/resource/Guidelines.html].

Data Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of the Census
  • American Community Survey


Percentage of Persons Living in Poverty by Race, Utah, 2021

::chart - missing::
confidence limits

Data from the 2021 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table S1701
Race/Ethnicity group dataPercentage of PersonsLower LimitUpper Limit
Record Count: 11
American Indian/Alaskan Native24.7%17.5%31.9%
Asian6.3%4.3%8.3%
Black/African American22.7%15.6%29.8%
Hispanic/Latino11.7%10.1%13.3%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander9.8%5.4%14.2%
White7.8%7.3%8.3%
Two or More Races9.5%8.0%11.0%
Other12.7%10.0%15.4%
All Races/Ethnicities8.6%8.1%9.1%
White, non-Hispanic/Latino7.6%7.1%8.1%
U.S.12.8%12.7%12.9%

Data Notes

Persons in race categories are only those who selected a single race. The ACS data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use of a margin of error. The value shown here is the 90 percent margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted roughly as providing 90 percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate plus the margin of error (the lower and upper confidence bounds) contains the true value.

Data Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of the Census
  • American Community Survey

More Resources and Links

Evidence-based community health improvement ideas and interventions may be found at the following sites:
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER Database, a system for disseminating public health data and information.
  • United States Census Bureau data dashboard.
  • Utah healthy Places Index, evidence-based and peer-reviewed tool, supports efforts to prioritize equitable community investments, develop critical programs and policies across the state, and much more.
  • County Health Rankings
  • Kaiser Family Foundation's StateHealthFacts.org
  • Medical literature can be queried at PubMed library.



Page Content Updated On 01/12/2023, Published on 02/06/2023
The information provided above is from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services IBIS-PH web site (http://ibis.health.state.gov). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Fri, 29 March 2024 8:05:47 from Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health Web site: http://ibis.health.state.gov ".

Content updated: Mon, 6 Feb 2023 14:45:06 MST