A recent report by the United States Census Bureau reveals that poverty in Iowa increased between 2000 and 2005. 308,713 Iowans were in poverty in 2005, a 30% increase during the five year period.
Iowa’s 10.8% poverty rate in 2005 remained behind the national rate of 13.3%. In 2000 Iowa’s poverty rate was 8.3% and the national average was 11.3%.
Over the five year period median incomes in Iowa increased 7.8% (10.1% nationwide) Inflation rose 13% over the same period. To keep pace with inflation Iowa’s median 2005 income of $43,610 should have been $4000 higher.
In the six HACAP counties a total of 44,913 people lived in poverty in 2005, up 18,464 during the five year period; 10,788 of the 2005 total were children, up 3445 during the five year period. The number of people living in poverty in Johnson County nearly doubled; this number is said to be distorted due to the number of low-income University of Iowa Students according to Peter Fisher, Research Director for the Iowa Policy Project in Iowa City.
Poverty statistics for HACAP counties are as follows:
Benton County
2005 Poverty Estimate All Ages (Number): 2,108
Percent in poverty in 2005 (All Ages): 7.9
2000 Poverty Estimate (All Ages): 1,534
Percent in poverty 2000 (All Ages): 6
% Difference 2000 to 2005 (All ages): 31.67
2005 Child Poverty (Under 18): 627
Percent Children in Poverty 2005 (Under 18): 10.1
2000 Child Poverty (Under 18): 506
Percent Children in Poverty 2000 (Under 18): 7.6
Estimated 2005 Median Household Income: $48,713
Estimated 2000 Median Income: $44,742
Iowa County
2005 Poverty Estimate All Ages (Number): 1,021
Percent in poverty in 2005 (All Ages): 6.5
2000 Poverty Estimate (All Ages): 883
Percent in poverty 2000 (All Ages): 5.6
% Difference 2000 to 2005 (All ages): 16.07
2005 Child Poverty (Under 18): 291
Percent Children in Poverty 2005 (Under 18): 7.9
2000 Child Poverty (Under 18): 244
Percent Children in Poverty 2000 (Under 18): 6.1
Estimated 2005 Median Household Income: $47,959
Estimated 2000 Median Income: $43,649
Johnson County
2005 Poverty Estimate All Ages (Number): 18,229
Percent in poverty in 2005 (All Ages): 16.8
2000 Poverty Estimate (All Ages): 9,303
Percent in poverty 2000 (All Ages): 8.8
% Difference 2000 to 2005 (All ages): 90.91
2005 Child Poverty (Under 18): 2,510
Percent Children in Poverty 2005 (Under 18): 12
2000 Child Poverty (Under 18): 1,977
Percent Children in Poverty 2000 (Under 18): 9
Estimated 2005 Median Household Income: $44,466
Estimated 2000 Median Income: $42,827
Jones County
2005 Poverty Estimate All Ages (Number): 2,010
Percent in poverty in 2005 (All Ages): 10.7
2000 Poverty Estimate (All Ages): 1,568
Percent in poverty 2000 (All Ages): 8.4
% Difference 2000 to 2005 (All ages): 27.38
2005 Child Poverty (Under 18): 555
Percent Children in Poverty 2005 (Under 18): 13.6
2000 Child Poverty (Under 18): 465
Percent Children in Poverty 2000 (Under 18): 10.2
Estimated 2005 Median Household Income: $42,292
Estimated 2000 Median Income: $38,612
Linn County
2005 Poverty Estimate All Ages (Number): 19,383
Percent in poverty in 2005 (All Ages): 10
2000 Poverty Estimate (All Ages): 11,639
Percent in poverty 2000 (All Ages): 6.1
% Difference 2000 to 2005 (All ages): 63.93
2005 Child Poverty (Under 18): 6,065
Percent Children in Poverty 2005 (Under 18): 13.1
2000 Child Poverty (Under 18): 3,611
Percent Children in Poverty 2000 (Under 18): 7.6
Estimated 2005 Median Household Income: $49,507
Estimated 2000 Median Income: $48,597
Washington County
2005 Poverty Estimate All Ages (Number): 2,162
Percent in poverty in 2005 (All Ages): 10.3
2000 Poverty Estimate (All Ages): 1,512
Percent in poverty 2000 (All Ages): 7.3
% Difference 2000 to 2005 (All ages): 41.1
2005 Child Poverty (Under 18): 740
Percent Children in Poverty 2005 (Under 18): 14.7
2000 Child Poverty (Under 18): 540
Percent Children in Poverty 2000 (Under 18): 10.3
Estimated 2005 Median Household Income: $42,756
Estimated 2000 Median Income: $40,464
Statewide Statistics
2005 Poverty Estimate All Ages (Number): 308,713
Percent in poverty in 2005 (All Ages): 10.8
2000 Poverty Estimate (All Ages): 237,684
Percent in poverty 2000 (All Ages): 8.3
% Difference 2000 to 2005 (All ages): 30.12
2005 Child Poverty (Under 18): 91,700
Percent Children in Poverty 2005 (Under 18): 13.9
2000 Child Poverty (Under 18): 75,952
Percent Children in Poverty 2000 (Under 18): 10.8
Estimated 2005 Median Household Income: $43,610
Estimated 2000 Median Income: $40,443