Poverty and living standards in Iowa, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 11.2% of people in Iowa lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 352,136 people; 24th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in Iowa gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for Iowa was 11.0% (337,156 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 Iowa?
13.1% of children under 18 in Iowa were in poverty in 2024, about 94,285 children; 24th lowest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 14.1% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Iowa?
The Gini index of household income inequality in Iowa was 0.4357 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); 3rd least unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Iowa are cost-burdened?
43.2% of renting households in Iowa spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 21.7% spent half or more; the 30% share is 6th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Iowa get food stamps?
8.2% of households in Iowa (109,948) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; 9th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 47% of those households had incomes below the poverty line, and 66% of households below the poverty line did not receive SNAP.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people get SNAP in Iowa?
An average of 264,523 people in Iowa received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), up 2.0% on fiscal 2024 (259,323), 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 Iowa?
SNAP benefits paid in Iowa totaled $541.02 million in fiscal 2025, an average of $170.44 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 4th smallest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in Iowa?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 2,816 people experiencing homelessness in Iowa, up 7.0% on 2024 (2,631) and up 21.6% on 2019 (2,315); 16th smallest 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 Iowa sleep outside?
Of those counted in Iowa in January 2025, 2,205 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 611 (21.7%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; 19th 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 Iowa?
The January 2025 count in Iowa included 881 people in families with children, 555 children under 18, 557 chronically homeless individuals and 119 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in Iowa are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 9.8% of households in Iowa were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; joint 11th lowest 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 Iowa getting worse?
3.2% of households in Iowa had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 6.9% in 2018-20 and 11.9% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is +2.9 percentage points, a statistically significant increase.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow Iowa compares with other states
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
Iowa ranks 28 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Oregon | 11.7% |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | 11.6% |
| 27 | Illinois | 11.5% |
| 28 | Iowa | 11.2% |
| 29 | Kansas | 10.9% |
| 30 | North Dakota | 10.8% |
| 31 | Nebraska | 10.6% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
Iowa ranks 28 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | California | 14.6% |
| 26 | Delaware | 14.2% |
| 27 | Illinois | 14.1% |
| 28 | Iowa | 13.1% |
| 29 | Oregon | 13.0% |
| 30 | Connecticut | 13.0% |
| 31 | Alaska | 12.9% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
Iowa ranks 49 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Nebraska | 0.4458 |
| 46 | South Dakota | 0.4433 |
| 47 | Wisconsin | 0.4419 |
| 48 | Alaska | 0.4395 |
| 49 | Iowa | 0.4357 |
| 50 | Idaho | 0.4345 |
| 51 | Utah | 0.4222 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
Iowa ranks 46 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 43 | Kentucky | 45.2% |
| 44 | Wisconsin | 44.9% |
| 45 | Kansas | 43.4% |
| 46 | Iowa | 43.2% |
| 47 | Wyoming | 42.9% |
| 48 | Montana | 42.7% |
| 49 | South Dakota | 41.9% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
Iowa ranks 43 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Indiana | 8.6% |
| 41 | Nebraska | 8.4% |
| 42 | Minnesota | 8.3% |
| 43 | Iowa | 8.2% |
| 44 | Idaho | 7.2% |
| 45 | South Dakota | 7.1% |
| 46 | Montana | 7.0% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
Iowa ranks 41 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Virginia | 10.0% |
| 39 | Colorado | 9.9% |
| 40 | New Jersey | 9.8% |
| 41 | Iowa | 9.8% |
| 42 | Rhode Island | 9.7% |
| 43 | Hawaii | 9.6% |
| 44 | Washington | 9.5% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
Iowa ranks 36 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Connecticut | 3,735 |
| 34 | Louisiana | 3,688 |
| 35 | Vermont | 3,386 |
| 36 | Iowa | 2,816 |
| 37 | Arkansas | 2,720 |
| 38 | Idaho | 2,697 |
| 39 | Kansas | 2,658 |
Share of homeless people who were unsheltered (2025)
Iowa ranks 33 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Utah | 22.8% |
| 31 | Connecticut | 22.3% |
| 32 | Minnesota | 21.7% |
| 33 | Iowa | 21.7% |
| 34 | Alaska | 21.6% |
| 35 | Ohio | 20.3% |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | 19.4% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
Iowa ranks 34 of 51, highest first. USDA FNS National Data Bank
| Rank | Region | People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Connecticut | 369,295 |
| 32 | Mississippi | 363,309 |
| 33 | West Virginia | 272,843 |
| 34 | Iowa | 264,523 |
| 35 | Arkansas | 240,378 |
| 36 | Kansas | 187,181 |
| 37 | Utah | 176,220 |
More on Iowa: 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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