Latest news about poverty in Memphis, TN collected exclusively by city-data.com from local newspapers, TV, and radio stations
21.4% of Memphis, TN residents had an income below the poverty level in 2022, which was 38.1% greater than the poverty level of 13.3% across the entire state of Tennessee. 15.0% of high school graduates and 34.0% of non high school graduates live in poverty. The poverty rate was 30.7% among disabled residents. The renting rate among poor residents was 77.6%. For comparison, it was 40.6% among residents with income above the poverty level.
Poverty rates in Memphis, TN
Residents with income below the poverty level in 2022:
Memphis:
21.4%
Whole state:
13.3%
Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2022:
Memphis:
9.9%
Whole state:
6.2%
Poverty rate among disabled residents:
Memphis:
30.7%
Tennessee:
21.2%
Disability rate in this city among poor residents (it is 13.4% among residents who are not classified as poor):
Memphis:
21.7%
Tennessee:
24.0%
Renting rate in this city among poor and not poor residents:
Residents below poverty level:
77.6%
Residents above poverty level:
40.6%
Poverty by age in Memphis, TN
Breakdown by age of poor male residents in Memphis,TN (percentage below poverty level)
29.2%Under 5 years
55.7%5 years
37.3%6 to 11 years
20.7%12 to 14 years
30.2%15 years
24.9%16 and 17 years
20.4%18 to 24 years
11.8%25 to 34 years
14.2%35 to 44 years
15.9%45 to 54 years
19.8%55 to 64 years
10.2%65 to 74 years
14.4%75 years and over
Breakdown by age of poor female residents in Memphis,TN (percentage below poverty level)
42.5%Under 5 years
41.8%5 years
31.1%6 to 11 years
34.3%12 to 14 years
26.3%15 years
16.7%16 and 17 years
25.4%18 to 24 years
22.2%25 to 34 years
20.0%35 to 44 years
20.3%45 to 54 years
15.6%55 to 64 years
15.0%65 to 74 years
24.0%75 years and over
Breakdown by age of very poor residents in Memphis,TN (% below half of poverty level)
18.4%Under 6 years
14.6%6 to 11 years
12.3%12 to 17 years
11.2%18 to 24 years
8.6%25 to 34 years
10.2%35 to 44 years
7.3%45 to 54 years
7.7%55 to 64 years
3.9%65 to 74 years
8.6%75 years and over
Poverty by race and place of birth in Memphis, TN
Breakdown of poor residents within races in Memphis, TN (%)
11.8%White
24.7%Black
54.5%American Indian
10.4%Asian
59.4%Native Hawaiian
24.2%Other race
38.2%2+ races
22.7%Hispanic
Breakdown of poor residents within races in Memphis, TN (absolute numbers)
17,201White
95,139Black
891American Indian
1,096Asian
190Native Hawaiian
6,782Other race
10,2872+ races
12,382Hispanic
21.7%Below poverty level
78.3%Above poverty level
18.6%Below poverty level
81.4%Above poverty level
Poverty in families in Memphis, TN
Children below poverty level:
Memphis, Tennessee:
32.7%
State:
17.3%
Poverty rate among high school graduates:
Memphis:
15.0%
Tennessee:
9.5%
Poverty rate among people who did not graduate high school:
Memphis:
34.0%
Tennessee:
27.9%
14.9%Married-couple family
10.8%Male, no wife present
74.3%Female, no husband present
7.9%Worked full-time, year-round
23.5%Worked part-time
68.5%Did not work
3.5%Both worked full-time
7.9%One full-time, other part-time
27.9%One full-time, other didn't work
6.3%Both worked part-time
22.1%One part-time, other didn't work
32.4%Both didn't work
Other data
Owners below poverty level
0.5%1999 to 2000
1.2%1995 to 1998
2.5%1990 to 1994
5.6%1980 to 1989
13.8%1970 to 1979
19.7%1960 to 1969
25.8%1950 to 1959
16.9%1940 to 1949
14.1%1939 or earlier
Owners above poverty level
0.8%1999 to 2000
3.0%1995 to 1998
3.6%1990 to 1994
10.1%1980 to 1989
17.9%1970 to 1979
21.7%1960 to 1969
23.9%1950 to 1959
9.9%1940 to 1949
9.1%1939 or earlier
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