ALABAMA (June 9, 2022) — Alabama Possible, a statewide nonprofit organization that breaks down barriers to prosperity, today released its 2022 Barriers to Prosperity Data Sheet. This year’s findings show that more than 714,000 Alabamians, including 222,000 children, live below the federal poverty threshold, which is $26,496 for a family of four.
Alabama’s median household income is at a peak of $53,958. However, the gap between Alabama’s median household income and the national median household income stands at $13,382.
“This data gives us insights into specific areas we need to target in our state in order to move each Alabamian toward prosperity,” said Chandra Scott, the executive director of Alabama Possible.
Alabama Possible’s 2022 Barriers to Prosperity Data Sheet highlights data from all 67 counties, including rates of poverty, food security, educational attainment, employment, and health insurance coverage. The report pairs information from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Alabama Commission on Higher Education, and Alabama Department of Human Resources to generate a comprehensive resource.
Key findings include:
- Alabama is the sixth poorest state in the U.S., and 14.9% of Alabamians live below the federal poverty threshold – a noticeably larger percentage than the national rate of 11.9%. The federal poverty thresholds range from $13,171 for one person to $26,496 for a family of four.
- At a county level, seven of Alabama’s 67 counties have a poverty rate higher than 25%. Two counties have a poverty rate higher than 30%. Only Baldwin and Shelby Counties have a poverty rate of less than 10%.
- In Alabama, Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino people experience higher rates of poverty and lower median household incomes than white people. While 25.6% of Black or African American people and 29.2% of Hispanic or Latino people live in poverty, only 11.2% of white people do. White people have a median household income of $60,213, compared to $35,239 for Black or African American people and $42,568 Hispanic or Latino people.
Those who want to learn more about the Barriers to Prosperity Data Sheet can join the free webinar on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at 1 pm. You can register at alabamapossible.org/events.
Visit www.alabamaPossible.org/DataSheet to access Alabama Possible’s 2022 Barriers to Prosperity Data Sheet as a PDF download, explore an interactive digital dashboard, and access discussion questions for use by families, civic organizations, educational institutions, and faith communities.