Assets
Asset poverty rate: 22.20%
Average college graduate debt: $38,521
Unbanked households: 4.70%
Economic well-being
Extreme poverty rate: 8%
Food insecurity: 10.60%
Minimum wage: $7.25
Number of Black or African American children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment: 165,000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment: 122,000
Percent of individuals who are uninsured: 5.80%
Percent of jobs that are low-wage: 20.10%
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line: 27.30%
Poverty rate: 12%
Unemployment rate: 4%
Education
High school graduation rate: 85.90%
Percent of adult population with at least a high school degree: 89.90%
Percent of college graduates with debt: 64%
Percent of population over age 25 with at least a four year college degree: 31.80%
Percent of teens ages 16 to 19 not attending school and not working: 5%
Family
Children in foster care: 15,526
Number of households with grandparents responsible for grandchildren under age 18: 235,515
Percent of children in immigrant families: 13%
Percent of children living in single parent families: 35%
Teen birth rate per 1,000 population ages 15-19: 13.30%
Housing
Home foreclosure rate: 1.24%
People experiencing homelessness: 13,375
Households paying more than 50% of income on housing: 403,600
Percent renters: 31%
Total housing units: 5,742,828
Justice System
Incarcerated persons per 100,000 residents: 355
Number of youth residing in juvenile justice and correctional facilities: 1,566
Participation in federal programs
Adults and children receiving welfare (TANF): 81,735
Children receiving food stamps (SNAP): 629,000
EITC recipients: 885,000
Families receiving child care subsidies: 57,500
Households receiving federal rental assistance: 217,000
Households receiving LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program): 329,243
Number of children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP: 1,499,326
Number of women and children receiving WIC (Women, Infants and Children supplemental nutrition program): 186,459
Participants in all Head Start programs: 35,979
Poverty by demographic
Child poverty rate: 17%
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty: 29,000
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty: 235,000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty: 204,000
Percent of single-parent families with related children that are below poverty: 31%
Senior poverty rate: 8.30%
Women in poverty: 13%

State governments play a significant role in developing policies that help support low-income families. Below is a list of some key Pennsylvania policies and a link to an organization that tracks the issue.

Tax & Asset-Building Policy

Family and Work Supports