Skip to main content

Home > Releases > Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates > Poverty Universe, All Ages for Lancaster County, PA

Poverty Universe, All Ages for Lancaster County, PA (PUAAPA42071A647NCEN)

Observations

2024: 546,986
Updated: Feb 9, 2026 5:15 PM CST
2024:  546,986  
2023:  542,283  
2022:  540,638  
2021:  541,320  
2020:  533,355  

Units:

Persons,
Not Seasonally Adjusted

Frequency:

Annual

Fullscreen

Notes

Title Release Dates
Poverty Universe, All Ages for Lancaster County, PA 2015-03-10 2026-01-27
 
Source    
U.S. Census Bureau 2015-03-10 2026-01-27
 
Release    
Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates 2015-03-10 2026-01-27
 
Units    
Persons 2015-03-10 2026-01-27
 
Frequency    
Annual 2015-03-10 2026-01-27
 
Seasonal Adjustment    
Not Seasonally Adjusted 2015-03-10 2026-01-27
 
Notes    
The poverty universe is made up of persons for whom the Census Bureau can determine poverty status (either in poverty or not in poverty). The definition of poverty universe for SAIPE estimates is the same for 2006 and beyond and conceptually matches the poverty universe of the American Community Survey (ACS). The poverty universe estimates are not the same as the population estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program. Instead, they are derived estimates that differ from population estimates in the following ways. Beginning with 2006, the poverty universe includes group quarters populations only for noninstitutionalized group quarters, not elsewhere classified. Residents of college dormitories, military housing, and all institutional group quarters populations are excluded (this marks a break in the see discuss later in this note). The poverty universe does not include children under the age of 15 who are not related to a reference person within the household by way of birth, marriage or adoption (for example, foster children). The reason is that Census Bureau surveys typically ask income questions only of persons age 15 or older and those under 15 related to a reference person within the household.

The 2005 poverty universe estimates excluded all group quarters' residents, matching the definition of the 2005 ACS. Prior to the estimates for 2005, the poverty universe data were derived from the Annual Social and Economic Supplement of the Current Population Survey. This marks a break in the data series due to a methodology change.

For further information about SAIPE poverty universe data, visit https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/guidance/model-input-data.html.

2015-03-10 2019-12-11
The U.S. Census Bureau provides annual estimates of income and poverty statistics for all school districts, counties, and states through the Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/about.html) (SAIPE) program. The bureau's main objective with this program is to provide estimates of income and poverty for the administration of federal programs and the allocation of federal funds to local jurisdictions. In addition to these federal programs, state and local programs use the income and poverty estimates for distributing funds and managing programs.

Poverty universe is one of the data sources used in producing SAIPE program estimates, it is made up of persons for whom the Census Bureau can determine poverty status (either "in poverty" or "not in poverty"). The definition of poverty universe for SAIPE estimates is the same for 2006 and beyond and conceptually matches the poverty universe of the American Community Survey (ACS). The poverty universe estimates are not the same as the population estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program. Instead, they are derived estimates that differ from population estimates in the following ways:
1. The poverty universe does not include children under the age of 15 who are not related to a reference person within the household by way of birth, marriage or adoption (for example, foster children). The reason is that Census Bureau surveys typically ask income questions only of persons age 15 or older and those under 15 related to a reference person within the household.
2. Beginning with 2006, the poverty universe includes group quarters populations only for noninstitutionalized group quarters, not elsewhere classified. Residents of college dormitories, military housing, and all institutional group quarters populations are excluded. The 2005 poverty universe estimates excluded all group quarters' residents, matching the definition of the 2005 ACS. Prior to the estimates for 2005, the poverty universe data were derived from the Annual Social and Economic Supplement of the Current Population Survey. This marks a break in the data series due to a methodology change.

See more details about SAIPE Model Input Data (https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/time-series/demo/saipe/model-tables.html).

2019-12-12 2026-01-27

Release Tables

Related Data and Content

Data Suggestions Based On Your Search

Content Suggestions

Related Categories

Lancaster County, PA Counties Pennsylvania States U.S. Regional Data Poverty Measures Population Population, Employment, & Labor Markets

Releases

More Series from Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates

Tags

Lancaster County, PA Lancaster Pennsylvania Poverty Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates Census County or County Equivalent Annual Public Domain: Citation Requested United States of America Not Seasonally Adjusted