Tennessee poverty rates fall, stagnate compare to national average
![TN Poverty rates compared](/sites/default/files/styles/lead_top_story_900x600/public/uploads/feature-images/screenshot-2023-10-02-094147.png?itok=BFG7Y5a9)
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.