Poverty and living standards in New York, New York: official figures
17.9% of residents of New York (1,494,379 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 177th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; New York: 14.0%).
How many children live in poverty in New York?
23.9% of children under 18 in New York lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (402,500 children), 163rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; New York: 18.3%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in New York?
By age, the poverty rate in New York was 22.9% for children under 6 and 19.0% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in New York live in deep poverty?
732,165 people in New York, 8.8% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 175th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in New York are cost-burdened?
52.4% of renting households in New York spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (1,116,442 households), 392nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; New York: 52.1%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in New York spend half their income on rent?
28.9% of renting households in New York spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 274th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in New York are food insecure?
An estimated 24.6% of adults in New York experienced food insecurity in the past year, 120th highest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 20.1% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow New York compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
New York ranks 177 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 174 | Lynwood | 18.0% |
| 175 | Tulare | 17.9% |
| 176 | Compton | 17.9% |
| 177 | New York | 17.9% |
| 178 | Lafayette | 17.8% |
| 179 | Wichita Falls | 17.7% |
| 180 | St. Joseph | 17.7% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
New York ranks 163 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 160 | Lawrence | 24.1% |
| 161 | Kokomo | 24.1% |
| 162 | New Britain | 24.0% |
| 163 | New York | 23.9% |
| 164 | Knoxville | 23.9% |
| 165 | San Antonio | 23.9% |
| 166 | Victoria | 23.8% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
New York ranks 175 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 172 | Stonecrest | 8.8% |
| 173 | Midwest City | 8.8% |
| 174 | Springfield | 8.8% |
| 175 | New York | 8.8% |
| 176 | West Haven | 8.7% |
| 177 | Racine | 8.7% |
| 178 | Clearwater | 8.7% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
New York ranks 432 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 429 | Huntington Beach | 52.4% |
| 430 | Yuma | 52.4% |
| 431 | West Jordan | 52.4% |
| 432 | New York | 52.4% |
| 433 | Lowell | 52.4% |
| 434 | Albuquerque | 52.4% |
| 435 | Upland | 52.4% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
New York ranks 120 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 117 | Springfield | 24.8% |
| 118 | Mount Vernon | 24.7% |
| 119 | Dothan | 24.7% |
| 120 | New York | 24.6% |
| 121 | Yuma | 24.5% |
| 122 | Chicago | 24.4% |
| 123 | Columbus | 24.4% |
More on New York: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
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