Washington state poverty rate remains unchanged

BY Brandi Kruse  on September 13, 2011 @ 1:47 pm (Updated: 3:10 pm - 9/13/11 )

While the national rate is on the increase, the poverty rate in Washington state has remained relatively steady, according to new Census data.

"Washington has had a relatively good economy," said Marieka Klawitter, an associate professor at the University of Washington Evans School of Public Affairs. "It doesn't feel like it if you're living here, but compared to many other states, we have an economy that's less based on, for example, industrial manufacturing so we've been less hit by parts of the recession."

The number of Washington state residents living below the poverty line remained relatively steady from 2009 to 2010. Approximately 781,000 residents, or 11.7 percent, were living in poverty in 2009. The number dropped just slightly in 2010 to 774,000 residents, or 11.5 percent.

The national average rose from 14.3 percent in 2009 to 15.1 percent in 2010.

While the poverty line varies by family size, a family of four with an annual income below $22,113 is considered to be living in poverty.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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