Poverty and living standards in Kentucky, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 15.4% of people in Kentucky lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 688,530 people; 6th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in Kentucky gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for Kentucky was 16.0% (692,875 people), so the rate is down 0.6 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 Kentucky?
18.9% of children under 18 in Kentucky were in poverty in 2024, about 189,906 children; 8th highest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 20.3% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Kentucky?
The Gini index of household income inequality in Kentucky was 0.4711 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); 21st most unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Kentucky are cost-burdened?
45.2% of renting households in Kentucky spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 23.0% spent half or more; the 30% share is 9th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Kentucky get food stamps?
13.4% of households in Kentucky (249,767) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; 12th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 54% of those households had incomes below the poverty line, and 56% of households below the poverty line did not receive SNAP.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people get SNAP in Kentucky?
An average of 595,472 people in Kentucky received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), down 0.7% on fiscal 2024 (599,910), 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 Kentucky?
SNAP benefits paid in Kentucky totaled $1.3 billion in fiscal 2025, an average of $177.89 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 12th smallest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in Kentucky?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 5,789 people experiencing homelessness in Kentucky, up 10.7% on 2024 (5,231) and up 41.9% on 2019 (4,079); 25th 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 Kentucky sleep outside?
Of those counted in Kentucky in January 2025, 3,791 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 1,998 (34.5%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; 19th 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 Kentucky?
The January 2025 count in Kentucky included 1,260 people in families with children, 768 children under 18, 1,170 chronically homeless individuals and 386 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in Kentucky are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 14.5% of households in Kentucky were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; 6th highest among the 50 states and DC and statistically higher than the national average of 12.2%, according to USDA.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyIs food insecurity in Kentucky getting worse?
6.5% of households in Kentucky had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 13.8% in 2018-20 and 16.4% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is +0.7 percentage points, a change USDA does not rate as statistically significant.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow Kentucky compares with other states
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
Kentucky ranks 6 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | District of Columbia | 16.4% |
| 4 | West Virginia | 16.2% |
| 5 | New Mexico | 15.8% |
| 6 | Kentucky | 15.4% |
| 7 | Arkansas | 15.3% |
| 8 | Alabama | 15.2% |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 14.8% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
Kentucky ranks 8 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Alabama | 20.4% |
| 6 | West Virginia | 20.1% |
| 7 | Arkansas | 19.6% |
| 8 | Kentucky | 18.9% |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 18.7% |
| 10 | Tennessee | 18.4% |
| 11 | South Carolina | 18.1% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
Kentucky ranks 21 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Arkansas | 0.4721 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 0.4717 |
| 20 | New Jersey | 0.4714 |
| 21 | Kentucky | 0.4711 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | 0.4696 |
| 23 | Virginia | 0.4691 |
| 24 | Michigan | 0.4679 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
Kentucky ranks 43 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Oklahoma | 46.1% |
| 41 | Arkansas | 45.5% |
| 42 | Missouri | 45.2% |
| 43 | Kentucky | 45.2% |
| 44 | Wisconsin | 44.9% |
| 45 | Kansas | 43.4% |
| 46 | Iowa | 43.2% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
Kentucky ranks 13 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Rhode Island | 13.9% |
| 11 | California | 13.5% |
| 12 | Illinois | 13.4% |
| 13 | Kentucky | 13.4% |
| 14 | Michigan | 13.2% |
| 15 | Alabama | 13.1% |
| 16 | Maine | 12.7% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
Kentucky ranks 6 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Louisiana | 16.2% |
| 4 | Mississippi | 16.2% |
| 5 | Oklahoma | 15.4% |
| 6 | Kentucky | 14.5% |
| 7 | South Carolina | 14.4% |
| 8 | West Virginia | 13.7% |
| 9 | Wyoming | 13.1% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
Kentucky ranks 25 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Maryland | 7,120 |
| 23 | Hawaii | 6,828 |
| 24 | Indiana | 6,675 |
| 25 | Kentucky | 5,789 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | 5,243 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | 5,174 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | 5,138 |
Share of homeless people who were unsheltered (2025)
Kentucky ranks 19 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Louisiana | 42.1% |
| 17 | Mississippi | 41.7% |
| 18 | Oklahoma | 37.4% |
| 19 | Kentucky | 34.5% |
| 20 | South Carolina | 32.4% |
| 21 | Missouri | 31.5% |
| 22 | Kansas | 31.2% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
Kentucky ranks 25 of 51, highest first. USDA FNS National Data Bank
| Rank | Region | People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Maryland | 675,134 |
| 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 |
More on Kentucky: 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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