Income and Poverty in the United States: 2014

"This report presents data on income and poverty in the United States based on information collected in the 2015 and earlier Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements (CPS ASEC) conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. The 2013 income and poverty estimates used in this report are based on the 2014 CPS ASEC sample of 30,000 addresses eligible to complete the questionnaire that included redesigned questions for income. These 2013 estimates differ from those released in September 2014. See the text box “Source of Estimates” and Appendix D for more information.

Summary of findings:
 • Real median household income in 2014 was not statistically different from the 2013 median.
 • The official poverty rate in 2014 was not statistically different from 2013.

For most groups, the 2014 income estimates were not statistically different from 2013 estimates. There were a few exceptions. Real median household income increased for households maintained by a foreign-born householder; income declined for non-Hispanic White households, households maintained by a native-born householder, households in the West and those inside principal cities of metropolitan statistical areas. The 2014 poverty rate increased for two groups: people aged 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree and married-couple families.

This report contains two main sections; one focuses on income and the other on poverty. Each section presents estimates by characteristics such as race, Hispanic origin, nativity, and region.2 Other topics, such as earnings and family poverty rates are included only in the relevant section..."
Income and poverty