Poverty and living standards in Indiana, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 12.1% of people in Indiana lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 813,329 people; joint 19th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in Indiana gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for Indiana was 11.9% (773,367 people), so the rate is up 0.2 percentage points 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 Indiana?
15.8% of children under 18 in Indiana were in poverty in 2024, about 245,382 children; 18th highest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 18.1% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Indiana?
The Gini index of household income inequality in Indiana was 0.4523 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); 11th least unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Indiana are cost-burdened?
48.5% of renting households in Indiana spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 24.1% spent half or more; the 30% share is 22nd lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Indiana get food stamps?
8.6% of households in Indiana (238,944) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; 12th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 50% of those households had incomes below the poverty line, and 65% of households below the poverty line did not receive SNAP.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people get SNAP in Indiana?
An average of 591,860 people in Indiana received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), down 3.1% on fiscal 2024 (610,689), 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 Indiana?
SNAP benefits paid in Indiana totaled $1.4 billion in fiscal 2025, an average of $195.91 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 10th largest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in Indiana?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 6,675 people experiencing homelessness in Indiana, up 6.2% on 2024 (6,285) and up 22.0% on 2019 (5,471); 24th 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 Indiana sleep outside?
Of those counted in Indiana in January 2025, 5,143 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 1,532 (23.0%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; 23rd lowest 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 Indiana?
The January 2025 count in Indiana included 1,774 people in families with children, 1,155 children under 18, 810 chronically homeless individuals and 343 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in Indiana are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 12.2% of households in Indiana were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; 20th highest among the 50 states and DC and not statistically different from the national average of 12.2%, according to USDA.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyIs food insecurity in Indiana getting worse?
5.3% of households in Indiana had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 11.6% in 2018-20 and 14.1% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is +0.6 percentage points, a change USDA does not rate as statistically significant.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow Indiana compares with other states
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
Indiana ranks 20 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | North Carolina | 12.6% |
| 18 | Missouri | 12.2% |
| 19 | Florida | 12.1% |
| 20 | Indiana | 12.1% |
| 21 | Rhode Island | 12.0% |
| 22 | Arizona | 11.9% |
| 23 | California | 11.8% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
Indiana ranks 18 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Georgia | 16.9% |
| 16 | North Carolina | 16.6% |
| 17 | Ohio | 16.4% |
| 18 | Indiana | 15.8% |
| 19 | Florida | 15.7% |
| 20 | Nevada | 15.5% |
| 21 | Rhode Island | 15.5% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
Indiana ranks 41 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Kansas | 0.4557 |
| 39 | Vermont | 0.4551 |
| 40 | Hawaii | 0.4542 |
| 41 | Indiana | 0.4523 |
| 42 | Minnesota | 0.4521 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | 0.4478 |
| 44 | Delaware | 0.4478 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
Indiana ranks 30 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Virginia | 49.3% |
| 28 | Vermont | 48.8% |
| 29 | Illinois | 48.7% |
| 30 | Indiana | 48.5% |
| 31 | New Mexico | 48.4% |
| 32 | Idaho | 48.4% |
| 33 | Alabama | 48.2% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
Indiana ranks 40 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | New Jersey | 9.1% |
| 38 | Arkansas | 9.0% |
| 39 | Colorado | 8.9% |
| 40 | Indiana | 8.6% |
| 41 | Nebraska | 8.4% |
| 42 | Minnesota | 8.3% |
| 43 | Iowa | 8.2% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
Indiana ranks 20 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Nevada | 12.5% |
| 18 | Illinois | 12.4% |
| 19 | New York | 12.3% |
| 20 | Indiana | 12.2% |
| 21 | Florida | 12.0% |
| 22 | Arizona | 11.8% |
| 23 | Utah | 11.8% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
Indiana ranks 24 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Virginia | 7,240 |
| 22 | Maryland | 7,120 |
| 23 | Hawaii | 6,828 |
| 24 | Indiana | 6,675 |
| 25 | Kentucky | 5,789 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | 5,243 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | 5,174 |
Share of homeless people who were unsheltered (2025)
Indiana ranks 29 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | New Hampshire | 27.1% |
| 27 | Rhode Island | 26.0% |
| 28 | South Dakota | 25.0% |
| 29 | Indiana | 23.0% |
| 30 | Utah | 22.8% |
| 31 | Connecticut | 22.3% |
| 32 | Minnesota | 21.7% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
Indiana ranks 26 of 51, highest first. USDA FNS National Data Bank
| Rank | Region | People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Missouri | 662,382 |
| 24 | Colorado | 612,659 |
| 25 | Kentucky | 595,472 |
| 26 | Indiana | 591,860 |
| 27 | South Carolina | 591,369 |
| 28 | Nevada | 495,769 |
| 29 | New Mexico | 466,081 |
More on Indiana: 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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