Poverty and living standards in Texas, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 13.4% of people in Texas lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 4,111,828 people; joint 11th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in Texas gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for Texas was 13.6% (3,870,944 people), so the rate is down 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 Texas?
17.9% of children under 18 in Texas were in poverty in 2024, about 1,352,889 children; joint 12th highest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 19.3% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Texas?
The Gini index of household income inequality in Texas was 0.4792 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); 9th most unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Texas are cost-burdened?
52.7% of renting households in Texas spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 25.5% spent half or more; the 30% share is 8th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Texas get food stamps?
10.3% of households in Texas (1,178,046) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; 22nd lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 44% 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 Texas?
An average of 3,472,443 people in Texas received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), up 8.8% on fiscal 2024 (3,193,009), 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 Texas?
SNAP benefits paid in Texas totaled $7.5 billion in fiscal 2025, an average of $181.00 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 19th smallest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in Texas?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 28,031 people experiencing homelessness in Texas, up 0.2% on 2024 (27,987) and up 8.4% on 2019 (25,848); 5th 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 Texas sleep outside?
Of those counted in Texas in January 2025, 15,870 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 12,161 (43.4%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; 15th 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 Texas?
The January 2025 count in Texas included 5,931 people in families with children, 3,918 children under 18, 5,066 chronically homeless individuals and 1,907 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in Texas are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 16.9% of households in Texas were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; 2nd 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 Texas getting worse?
6.4% of households in Texas had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 13.3% in 2018-20 and 18.0% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is +3.6 percentage points, a statistically significant increase.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow Texas compares with other states
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
Texas ranks 11 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 14 | South Carolina | 13.3% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
Texas ranks 12 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Oklahoma | 18.7% |
| 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% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
Texas ranks 9 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Massachusetts | 0.4820 |
| 7 | Illinois | 0.4802 |
| 8 | Florida | 0.4799 |
| 9 | Texas | 0.4792 |
| 10 | North Carolina | 0.4782 |
| 11 | Mississippi | 0.4766 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 0.4747 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
Texas ranks 8 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Louisiana | 54.1% |
| 6 | Connecticut | 54.1% |
| 7 | Georgia | 53.1% |
| 8 | Texas | 52.7% |
| 9 | South Carolina | 52.6% |
| 10 | Colorado | 52.5% |
| 11 | Arizona | 52.4% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
Texas ranks 29 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Georgia | 10.8% |
| 27 | Vermont | 10.6% |
| 28 | Alaska | 10.4% |
| 29 | Texas | 10.3% |
| 30 | Maryland | 10.3% |
| 31 | Arizona | 10.2% |
| 32 | Delaware | 10.0% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
Texas ranks 2 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas | 18.9% |
| 2 | Texas | 16.9% |
| 3 | Louisiana | 16.2% |
| 4 | Mississippi | 16.2% |
| 5 | Oklahoma | 15.4% |
| 6 | Kentucky | 14.5% |
| 7 | South Carolina | 14.4% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
Texas ranks 5 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 8 | Colorado | 16,687 |
Share of homeless people who were unsheltered (2025)
Texas ranks 15 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Tennessee | 46.1% |
| 13 | West Virginia | 45.9% |
| 14 | New Mexico | 45.8% |
| 15 | Texas | 43.4% |
| 16 | Louisiana | 42.1% |
| 17 | Mississippi | 41.7% |
| 18 | Oklahoma | 37.4% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
Texas ranks 2 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 Texas: 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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