After a month delay, the Census bureau came out with new poverty estimates for 2024 for every state, county and school district. The Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates were probably delayed by the government shutdown. They also had to catch up on other economic statistics such as the unemployment rate.
The map above shows the categories of poverty for the counties in and around Pennsylvania. We see that, with the exception of Butler County north of Pittsburgh, the counties of the Alleghenies are generally in the higher poverty categories. Forest County (in the Allegheny National Forest) had the highest rate at 22.8% followed by Philadelphia County at 19.7%.
The graph above shows the estimated poverty trends from 1997 to 2024 for the U.S., Pennsylvania, Cambria and Forest Counties. While the trend for the U.S. and PA are relatively flat, the trend for the 2 counties fluctuates. This could be due to the relatively small populations there.
Forest County’s (orange line) rise in poverty appears to coincide with the great recession in 2008. It has remained relatively high ever since. The Forest County School District (which obviously covers the whole county) also has a homeless rate of 15%. Forest County also has the lowest median household income in the state at $55,213.
Cambria County’s rate had a decline from 16.2% in 2022 to 13.2% in 2023. In 2024 the poverty rate rose to 14.5%. This is above the U.S. rate of 12.1% and the PA rate of 11.6%. Cambria’s median income is $61,223. Cambria was included for reference.
Conversely, Johnstown’s poverty rate is estimated to be 31.2% with a median household income of $37,888. The Greater Johnstown School District has a homeless rate of 5.7%. Overall county rates can mask deeper inequalities inside.
School district poverty rates can be seen in the first link below. The federal definition of poverty was created in the 1960’s is often criticized as being too narrow.