Poverty and living standards in New York, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 14.0% of people in New York lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 2,702,081 people; 10th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in New York gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for New York was 13.1% (2,471,760 people), so the rate is up 0.9 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 New York?
17.9% of children under 18 in New York were in poverty in 2024, about 697,721 children; joint 12th highest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 18.9% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in New York?
The Gini index of household income inequality in New York was 0.5186 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); 2nd most unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in New York are cost-burdened?
51.5% of renting households in New York spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 28.6% spent half or more; the 30% share is 17th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in New York get food stamps?
16.2% of households in New York (1,270,240) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; 5th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 44% of those households had incomes below the poverty line, and 50% of households below the poverty line did not receive SNAP.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people get SNAP in New York?
An average of 2,958,255 people in New York received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), up 1.1% on fiscal 2024 (2,926,213), 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 New York?
SNAP benefits paid in New York totaled $7.7 billion in fiscal 2025, an average of $216.54 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 3rd largest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in New York?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 145,560 people experiencing homelessness in New York, down 7.9% on 2024 (158,019) and up 58.1% on 2019 (92,091); 2nd 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 New York sleep outside?
Of those counted in New York in January 2025, 139,704 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 5,856 (4.0%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; the 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 New York?
The January 2025 count in New York included 84,923 people in families with children, 46,175 children under 18, 4,621 chronically homeless individuals and 1,273 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in New York are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 12.3% of households in New York were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; 19th 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 New York getting worse?
4.7% of households in New York had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 10.5% in 2018-20 and 14.0% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is +1.8 percentage points, a statistically significant increase.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow New York compares with other states
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
New York ranks 10 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Arkansas | 15.3% |
| 8 | Alabama | 15.2% |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 14.8% |
| 10 | New York | 14.0% |
| 11 | Texas | 13.4% |
| 12 | Michigan | 13.4% |
| 13 | Tennessee | 13.3% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
New York ranks 13 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Tennessee | 18.4% |
| 11 | South Carolina | 18.1% |
| 12 | Texas | 17.9% |
| 13 | New York | 17.9% |
| 14 | Michigan | 17.7% |
| 15 | Georgia | 16.9% |
| 16 | North Carolina | 16.6% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
New York ranks 2 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 0.5244 |
| 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 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
New York ranks 15 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Massachusetts | 52.4% |
| 13 | Oregon | 52.3% |
| 14 | New Jersey | 52.2% |
| 15 | New York | 51.5% |
| 16 | North Carolina | 51.5% |
| 17 | Maryland | 51.5% |
| 18 | Michigan | 51.2% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
New York ranks 5 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | West Virginia | 17.0% |
| 3 | Louisiana | 16.7% |
| 4 | Oregon | 16.4% |
| 5 | New York | 16.2% |
| 6 | District of Columbia | 15.9% |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 15.1% |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 15.1% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
New York ranks 19 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Missouri | 12.7% |
| 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% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
New York ranks 2 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)
New York ranks 51 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Maine | 11.6% |
| 46 | Nebraska | 10.8% |
| 47 | Delaware | 10.6% |
| 48 | Wisconsin | 9.1% |
| 49 | Vermont | 8.0% |
| 50 | Massachusetts | 6.2% |
| 51 | New York | 4.0% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
New York ranks 4 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 New York: 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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