Poverty and living standards in California, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 11.8% of people in California lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 4,579,429 people; joint 23rd highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in California gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for California was 11.8% (4,560,419 people), so the rate is unchanged over five years; the national rate moved from 12.3% to 12.1%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children live in poverty in California?
14.6% of children under 18 in California were in poverty in 2024, about 1,210,041 children; 25th highest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 14.7% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in California?
The Gini index of household income inequality in California was 0.4852 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); 5th most unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in California are cost-burdened?
55.8% of renting households in California spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 29.0% spent half or more; the 30% share is 3rd highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in California get food stamps?
13.5% of households in California (1,860,876) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; 11th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 35% of those households had incomes below the poverty line, and 60% of households below the poverty line did not receive SNAP.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people get SNAP in California?
An average of 5,474,022 people in California received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), up 1.8% on fiscal 2024 (5,379,575), according to USDA administrative data; nationally the average was 42.14 million.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow much are SNAP benefits in California?
SNAP benefits paid in California totaled $12.5 billion in fiscal 2025, an average of $190.93 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 20th largest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in California?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 181,934 people experiencing homelessness in California, down 2.8% on 2024 (187,084) and up 20.3% on 2019 (151,278); the largest count among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 745,652).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many homeless people in California sleep outside?
Of those counted in California in January 2025, 66,351 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 115,583 (63.5%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; the highest unsheltered share among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 35.7%).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyWho is homeless in California?
The January 2025 count in California included 26,142 people in families with children, 15,448 children under 18, 64,693 chronically homeless individuals and 8,686 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in California are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 11.4% of households in California were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; 26th highest among the 50 states and DC and statistically lower than the national average of 12.2%, according to USDA.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyIs food insecurity in California getting worse?
4.1% of households in California had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 9.8% in 2018-20 and 15.0% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is +1.6 percentage points, a statistically significant increase.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow California compares with other states
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
California ranks 23 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Indiana | 12.1% |
| 21 | Rhode Island | 12.0% |
| 22 | Arizona | 11.9% |
| 23 | California | 11.8% |
| 24 | Nevada | 11.8% |
| 25 | Oregon | 11.7% |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | 11.6% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
California ranks 25 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Pennsylvania | 15.3% |
| 23 | Missouri | 15.3% |
| 24 | Arizona | 15.2% |
| 25 | California | 14.6% |
| 26 | Delaware | 14.2% |
| 27 | Illinois | 14.1% |
| 28 | Iowa | 13.1% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
California ranks 5 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | New York | 0.5186 |
| 3 | Connecticut | 0.4989 |
| 4 | Louisiana | 0.4922 |
| 5 | California | 0.4852 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 0.4820 |
| 7 | Illinois | 0.4802 |
| 8 | Florida | 0.4799 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
California ranks 3 of 51, highest first. Share of renter households for which the ratio can be computed
| Rank | Region | Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 62.1% |
| 2 | Nevada | 57.6% |
| 3 | California | 55.8% |
| 4 | Hawaii | 55.0% |
| 5 | Louisiana | 54.1% |
| 6 | Connecticut | 54.1% |
| 7 | Georgia | 53.1% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
California ranks 11 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Massachusetts | 15.1% |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 14.0% |
| 10 | Rhode Island | 13.9% |
| 11 | California | 13.5% |
| 12 | Illinois | 13.4% |
| 13 | Kentucky | 13.4% |
| 14 | Michigan | 13.2% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
California ranks 26 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Utah | 11.8% |
| 24 | Tennessee | 11.7% |
| 25 | Alabama | 11.5% |
| 26 | California | 11.4% |
| 27 | Idaho | 11.3% |
| 28 | Delaware | 11.3% |
| 29 | North Carolina | 10.9% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
California ranks 1 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 181,934 |
| 2 | New York | 145,560 |
| 3 | Washington | 31,721 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 28,311 |
| 5 | Texas | 28,031 |
| 6 | Florida | 27,888 |
| 7 | Oregon | 27,202 |
Share of homeless people who were unsheltered (2025)
California ranks 1 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 63.5% |
| 2 | Oregon | 60.7% |
| 3 | Hawaii | 59.2% |
| 4 | Arizona | 55.7% |
| 5 | Georgia | 54.2% |
| 6 | Alabama | 53.8% |
| 7 | Washington | 53.7% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
California ranks 1 of 51, highest first. USDA FNS National Data Bank
| Rank | Region | People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 5,474,022 |
| 2 | Texas | 3,472,443 |
| 3 | Florida | 3,011,486 |
| 4 | New York | 2,958,255 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 1,964,591 |
| 6 | Illinois | 1,895,979 |
| 7 | Georgia | 1,528,094 |
More on California: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gini index of income inequality (B19083), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 dc8a2b21190b…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Receipt of food stamps/SNAP by poverty status for households (B22003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 53dc663e0426…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gross rent as a percentage of household income (B25070), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 edf1abe1970b…)
- USDA Economic Research Service: Household Food Security in the United States in 2023 (ERR-337), tables 4 and 5: food insecurity by State, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c0eebe273d83…)
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: 2007-2025 Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness by State (2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, Part 1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c04ebcbe51c8…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2024 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cb52c47d75c1…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2019 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 229d90cb3e05…)
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service: SNAP Monthly State Participation and Benefit Summary, fiscal years 1969 to current (FY24.xlsx and FY25.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d31418fd3b4b…)
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