Understanding Poverty Rates And Support In Washington State

There are 37 million* Americans living in poverty and an estimated 10% below the federal poverty line residing in Washington. Are the impoverished better off in one state or another based on services made available.

Smilehub, a charity resource website, looked into that question and their research reveals Washington state is one of the most supportive of the poor.

The U.S. Census Bureau numbers used to determine the rankings are the latest available from 2023.

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Washington state was ranked in the top 12 for three key factors and was listed as the best for Income & Benefits, on the strength of the $15.74 per hour minimum wage. The minimum wage jumped $1.25 per hour from 2022 and is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI)

In Washington state poverty rates are higher than the nationwide averages for:

Children:
Poverty rates are higher for children, with 11.4% of those aged 0-17 living below the poverty line. (Wa Office of Financial Management)
Racial Disparities:
Certain racial and ethnic groups experience higher poverty rates, including American Indian and Alaska Native (29%), Hispanic (28%), and Black (26%) residents. (WA Dept. of Health)
Regional Variations:
Some counties in Eastern Washington and on the Olympic Peninsula have poverty rates as high as 40%. (KUOW)

How Well Does Washington Support Residents in Poverty

States Most Supportive of People in Poverty

Overall Rank*	State	Total Score	Education & Transportation Availability Rank	Income & Benefits Rank	Housing, Healthcare & Food Rank
1	Massachusetts	68.01	2	7	5
2	Minnesota	65.39	11	3	1
3	Washington	64.99	9	1	12
4	New Jersey	63.52	3	8	17
5	Maryland	63.20	6	4	11
6	Rhode Island	63.05	12	5	4
7	New York	60.39	1	23	24
8	Illinois	58.91	4	17	22
9	Colorado	58.21	17	2	30
10	Vermont	57.67	18	11	10
11	California	57.63	7	9	35
12	Maine	57.54	25	12	6
13	New Hampshire	57.34	28	13	3
14	Connecticut	57.20	5	16	19
15	Oregon	56.73	10	6	37
16	Delaware	54.38	16	15	15
17	Michigan	54.32	8	22	26
18	Virginia	51.62	20	27	14
19	Iowa	51.12	29	28	9
20	Pennsylvania	51.03	19	34	7
21	Alaska	50.56	40	10	34
22	Hawaii	49.82	21	21	29
23	North Dakota	49.66	45	30	2
24	South Dakota	48.82	46	25	8
25	Missouri	48.44	22	33	20
26	Arizona	48.41	41	14	32
27	New Mexico	48.06	13	37	23
28	Indiana	48.01	33	31	16
29	Ohio	48.00	34	32	13
30	Nevada	46.48	15	20	45
31	Wisconsin	45.31	36	19	39
32	Montana	44.92	43	35	18
33	North Carolina	44.39	24	41	25
34	Nebraska	44.31	42	24	36
35	Utah	42.63	48	18	42
36	Idaho	42.55	50	29	28
37	Tennessee	41.87	14	40	40
38	Kansas	41.61	27	38	41
39	Kentucky	41.56	30	47	21
40	Wyoming	41.05	23	26	49
41	West Virginia	40.26	35	45	27
42	Oklahoma	38.87	31	42	38
43	Florida	36.47	39	36	48
44	Arkansas	36.22	37	44	43
45	Louisiana	35.79	26	49	31
46	Alabama	34.31	47	48	33
47	Georgia	33.78	44	43	46
48	South Carolina	33.60	38	46	47
49	Texas	32.13	32	39	50
50	Mississippi	28.01	49	50	44