Poverty and living standards in Virginia, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 9.8% of people in Virginia lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 839,669 people; joint 8th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in Virginia gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for Virginia was 9.9% (822,944 people), so the rate is down 0.1 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 Virginia?
11.8% of children under 18 in Virginia were in poverty in 2024, about 218,486 children; joint 15th lowest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 12.4% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Virginia?
The Gini index of household income inequality in Virginia was 0.4691 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); 23rd most unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Virginia are cost-burdened?
49.3% of renting households in Virginia spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 23.9% spent half or more; the 30% share is 25th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Virginia get food stamps?
9.2% of households in Virginia (316,827) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; 16th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 40% of those households had incomes below the poverty line, and 64% of households below the poverty line did not receive SNAP.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people get SNAP in Virginia?
An average of 817,733 people in Virginia received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), down 1.2% on fiscal 2024 (827,774), 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 Virginia?
SNAP benefits paid in Virginia totaled $1.8 billion in fiscal 2025, an average of $180.74 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 18th smallest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in Virginia?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 7,240 people experiencing homelessness in Virginia, up 1.4% on 2024 (7,141) and up 25.2% on 2019 (5,783); 21st 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 Virginia sleep outside?
Of those counted in Virginia in January 2025, 5,891 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 1,349 (18.6%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; 14th 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 Virginia?
The January 2025 count in Virginia included 2,289 people in families with children, 1,369 children under 18, 1,200 chronically homeless individuals and 371 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in Virginia are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 10.0% of households in Virginia were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; 14th 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 Virginia getting worse?
4.6% of households in Virginia had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 8.5% in 2018-20 and 9.5% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is +1.5 percentage points, a change USDA does not rate as statistically significant.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow Virginia compares with other states
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
Virginia ranks 43 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Washington | 10.0% |
| 41 | Hawaii | 10.0% |
| 42 | Wyoming | 10.0% |
| 43 | Virginia | 9.8% |
| 44 | Massachusetts | 9.8% |
| 45 | Colorado | 9.6% |
| 46 | Minnesota | 9.3% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
Virginia ranks 37 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Wisconsin | 12.2% |
| 35 | South Dakota | 11.9% |
| 36 | New Jersey | 11.8% |
| 37 | Virginia | 11.8% |
| 38 | Montana | 11.7% |
| 39 | North Dakota | 11.7% |
| 40 | Nebraska | 11.6% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
Virginia ranks 23 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | New Jersey | 0.4714 |
| 21 | Kentucky | 0.4711 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | 0.4696 |
| 23 | Virginia | 0.4691 |
| 24 | Michigan | 0.4679 |
| 25 | West Virginia | 0.4668 |
| 26 | South Carolina | 0.4662 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
Virginia ranks 27 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Maine | 50.2% |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | 49.4% |
| 26 | New Hampshire | 49.4% |
| 27 | Virginia | 49.3% |
| 28 | Vermont | 48.8% |
| 29 | Illinois | 48.7% |
| 30 | Indiana | 48.5% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
Virginia ranks 36 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 39 | Colorado | 8.9% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
Virginia ranks 38 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Maryland | 10.4% |
| 36 | Connecticut | 10.4% |
| 37 | Alaska | 10.4% |
| 38 | Virginia | 10.0% |
| 39 | Colorado | 9.9% |
| 40 | New Jersey | 9.8% |
| 41 | Iowa | 9.8% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
Virginia ranks 21 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Tennessee | 8,850 |
| 19 | Minnesota | 8,392 |
| 20 | Missouri | 8,345 |
| 21 | Virginia | 7,240 |
| 22 | Maryland | 7,120 |
| 23 | Hawaii | 6,828 |
| 24 | Indiana | 6,675 |
Share of homeless people who were unsheltered (2025)
Virginia ranks 38 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Ohio | 20.3% |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | 19.4% |
| 37 | North Dakota | 19.3% |
| 38 | Virginia | 18.6% |
| 39 | Wyoming | 18.3% |
| 40 | Michigan | 16.9% |
| 41 | District of Columbia | 15.5% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
Virginia ranks 16 of 51, highest first. USDA FNS National Data Bank
| Rank | Region | People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Arizona | 889,563 |
| 14 | New Jersey | 827,628 |
| 15 | Louisiana | 818,438 |
| 16 | Virginia | 817,733 |
| 17 | Oregon | 770,894 |
| 18 | Alabama | 740,270 |
| 19 | Tennessee | 696,070 |
More on Virginia: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.