Tennessee poverty rates fall, stagnate compare to national average

Tennessee’s poverty rates are on the decline, but stagnated compared to the national average, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Tennessee poverty rates typically follow a pattern where they drop below the U.S. national average for two years then stagnate for one. Overall, Tennessee has a 17.6% rate of children who live in poverty, above the national average of 12.4%. The national poverty rate is also at 12.4%, while Tennessee’s rate is 13.3%. The U.S. Census Bureau found the national poverty rate increased to 12.4% in 2022 from an average of 7.8% in 2021 due to the expiration of government assistance programs. The U.S. Census Bureau classifies poverty as a family of four whose income is below $29,678 per year or an individual earning below $14,800 this year. Federal relief funds during the pandemic helped lower poverty rates for the past two years, but the expiration of these funds – combined with the cost of living increases – are expected to create an increase in poverty rates.