Poverty and living standards in Missouri, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 12.2% of people in Missouri lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 740,873 people; 18th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in Missouri gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for Missouri was 12.9% (766,238 people), so the rate is down 0.7 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 Missouri?
15.3% of children under 18 in Missouri were in poverty in 2024, about 205,264 children; joint 22nd highest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 16.7% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Missouri?
The Gini index of household income inequality in Missouri was 0.4634 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); 24th least unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Missouri are cost-burdened?
45.2% of renting households in Missouri spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 21.7% spent half or more; the 30% share is 10th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Missouri get food stamps?
9.3% of households in Missouri (239,315) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; 17th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 51% of those households had incomes below the poverty line, and 63% of households below the poverty line did not receive SNAP.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people get SNAP in Missouri?
An average of 662,382 people in Missouri received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), up 1.0% on fiscal 2024 (656,118), 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 Missouri?
SNAP benefits paid in Missouri totaled $1.6 billion in fiscal 2025, an average of $196.81 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 9th largest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in Missouri?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 8,345 people experiencing homelessness in Missouri, up 14.1% on 2024 (7,312) and up 35.1% on 2019 (6,179); 20th 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 Missouri sleep outside?
Of those counted in Missouri in January 2025, 5,713 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 2,632 (31.5%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; 21st 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 Missouri?
The January 2025 count in Missouri included 2,259 people in families with children, 1,477 children under 18, 1,800 chronically homeless individuals and 557 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in Missouri are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 12.7% of households in Missouri were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; 16th 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 Missouri getting worse?
5.8% of households in Missouri had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 11.5% in 2018-20 and 16.9% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is +1.2 percentage points, a change USDA does not rate as statistically significant.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow Missouri compares with other states
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
Missouri ranks 18 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Georgia | 12.8% |
| 16 | Ohio | 12.6% |
| 17 | North Carolina | 12.6% |
| 18 | Missouri | 12.2% |
| 19 | Florida | 12.1% |
| 20 | Indiana | 12.1% |
| 21 | Rhode Island | 12.0% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
Missouri ranks 23 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Nevada | 15.5% |
| 21 | Rhode Island | 15.5% |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | 15.3% |
| 23 | Missouri | 15.3% |
| 24 | Arizona | 15.2% |
| 25 | California | 14.6% |
| 26 | Delaware | 14.2% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
Missouri ranks 28 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | West Virginia | 0.4668 |
| 26 | South Carolina | 0.4662 |
| 27 | Nevada | 0.4653 |
| 28 | Missouri | 0.4634 |
| 29 | Ohio | 0.4631 |
| 30 | Arizona | 0.4623 |
| 31 | Colorado | 0.4611 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
Missouri ranks 42 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Nebraska | 46.5% |
| 40 | Oklahoma | 46.1% |
| 41 | Arkansas | 45.5% |
| 42 | Missouri | 45.2% |
| 43 | Kentucky | 45.2% |
| 44 | Wisconsin | 44.9% |
| 45 | Kansas | 43.4% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
Missouri ranks 35 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Delaware | 10.0% |
| 33 | South Carolina | 9.5% |
| 34 | Tennessee | 9.4% |
| 35 | Missouri | 9.3% |
| 36 | Virginia | 9.2% |
| 37 | New Jersey | 9.1% |
| 38 | Arkansas | 9.0% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
Missouri ranks 16 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Ohio | 12.8% |
| 14 | Georgia | 12.8% |
| 15 | Oregon | 12.8% |
| 16 | Missouri | 12.7% |
| 17 | Nevada | 12.5% |
| 18 | Illinois | 12.4% |
| 19 | New York | 12.3% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
Missouri ranks 20 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Nevada | 9,905 |
| 18 | Tennessee | 8,850 |
| 19 | Minnesota | 8,392 |
| 20 | Missouri | 8,345 |
| 21 | Virginia | 7,240 |
| 22 | Maryland | 7,120 |
| 23 | Hawaii | 6,828 |
Share of homeless people who were unsheltered (2025)
Missouri ranks 21 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Oklahoma | 37.4% |
| 19 | Kentucky | 34.5% |
| 20 | South Carolina | 32.4% |
| 21 | Missouri | 31.5% |
| 22 | Kansas | 31.2% |
| 23 | Montana | 31.2% |
| 24 | North Carolina | 30.9% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
Missouri ranks 23 of 51, highest first. USDA FNS National Data Bank
| Rank | Region | People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Oklahoma | 694,230 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | 693,082 |
| 22 | Maryland | 675,134 |
| 23 | Missouri | 662,382 |
| 24 | Colorado | 612,659 |
| 25 | Kentucky | 595,472 |
| 26 | Indiana | 591,860 |
More on Missouri: 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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