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Economy: Poverty Indicator Although the poverty rate in DuPage County remains low relative to state rates, the number of people living in poverty rose 54 percent in 10 years.
ABOUT THE INDICATOR The poverty level is a national standard defining persons who are considered poor. Poverty thresholds do not vary geographically, and will be the same in all parts of the U.S., regardless of the local cost of living. This helps in comparing poverty rates in different areas, but it does not always reflect the impact that local costs have on a household that may be living at or near the poverty line. The specific definition of poverty is a set of income thresholds established by the federal government that vary by family size and composition. If a family’s total income falls below the poverty thresholds for a family of its size and composition, then that family (and everyone in it) is considered poor. This section compares poverty rates in DuPage County with those for the state, and provides data on growth in the poverty population between 1990 and 2000. OBSERVATIONS In 2000, 3.6 percent of DuPage County residents were considered poor, compared with 10.7 percent of Illinois residents. Although the poverty rate for DuPage County is in fact low, it translates into a fairly high number of individuals living in poverty; a number that rose substantially in the last decade. In 2000, more than 32,000 residents of DuPage County were poor, up 54 percent from just under 21,000 residents in 1990. TAPESTRY DuPage County residents are generally well educated and have access to good jobs and higher wages. All of these factors keep the majority of residents above the poverty level. For example, according to the Census Bureau, individuals aged 25 and above without a high school diploma have a median income of $15,000 while those with at least a high school diploma have a median income of $29,000. Nearly 95 percent of DuPage County residents have achieved a high school education or above. The fact that the number of impoverished people in DuPage County has increased substantially since 1990 is unsettling. Moreover, it is likely that the actual number of poor individuals in the county is higher than Census Bureau data indicate because DuPage’s population includes a growing number of immigrants and undocumented individuals, who most likely have not been included in Census counts. Growth in the number of poor individuals in a county places increased demands on the county in terms of health and social services and on charitable organizations that help to meet the needs of the poor. Rising poverty could also translate into an increase in homelessness, further burdening organizations that provide food and shelter to the homeless in the colder months. HOW TO GET INVOLVED OR LEARN MORE
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