Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Topics
Data & Maps
Surveys & Programs
Resource Library
Incorporating Amenities into Geographic Adjustments of the Supplemental Poverty Measure
Incorporating Amenities into Geographic Adjustments of the Supplemental Poverty Measure
Working Paper Number SEHSD-WP2018-32
Introduction
While most would agree that poverty thresholds in New York City should be higher than poverty thresholds in rural Alabama, there is much less consensus on the issue of how these differences in the cost of living should be reflected in the thresholds for the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM). Currently, the SPM thresholds produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics are adjusted by the Census Bureau for differences in the cost of rent and utilities using an index developed using data from the American Community Survey (ACS). This index is applied to the shelter portion of the threshold and does not take into consideration differences in amenities across jurisdictions. This paper suggests an approach that would take into account these amenities.
Related Information
Page Last Revised - October 8, 2021
✕
Is this page helpful?
Yes
No
Yes
No✕
NO THANKS
255 characters maximum
255 characters maximum reached
255 characters maximum reached
✕
Thank you for your feedback.
Comments or suggestions?
Comments or suggestions?
