San Antonio’s Households Struggle with High Poverty Rates and Low Median Incomes, Census Data Reveals
New Census data released this week sheds light on the economic challenges faced by households in San Antonio. The data reveals that the city’s poverty rates are high, and its median incomes lag behind those of many similarly sized metropolitan areas in the United States.
According to the data, San Antonio’s median income is lower than both the state and national levels. In fact, it is the lowest among metro areas with a population between 2.3 million and 3 million individuals. Additionally, poverty rates in San Antonio surpass both the national and state rates.
The U.S. Census Bureau conducts the American Community Survey annually to collect crucial statistics that affect communities across the country. This survey includes data on poverty rates and median incomes for households in the United States.
In terms of poverty rates, San Antonio fares particularly poorly compared to similarly sized metros. The Express-News analysis reveals that San Antonio has the highest poverty rates among these metros. Poverty rates are measured as the percentage of the population below the poverty line. In 2022, households with two adults and two children were considered living in poverty if their collective income was $29,678 or less. For a family of one, the threshold was $14,880.
San Antonio’s overall poverty rate in 2022 stood at around 14%, while its childhood poverty rate (individuals under 18 years old) was 20.1%—about 4 percentage points above the national rate. By comparison, Denver, which had the lowest poverty rate among similarly sized metros, had a childhood poverty rate of 8.3% and an overall poverty rate of 11.2%.
Furthermore, San Antonio was one of only two similarly sized metros that saw an increase in the overall poverty rate between 2021 and 2022. The city’s poverty rate rose from 13.4% in 2021 to 14.2% in 2022. In contrast, some major Texas metros experienced a decrease in poverty rates last year. Austin’s overall poverty rate fell from 10.3% in 2021 to 9.4% in 2022, while Dallas saw a decrease from 11% to 10.3%. However, the Houston metro’s poverty rate increased from 14.1% in 2021 to 14.3% in 2022. The overall poverty rate in Texas only slightly decreased from 14.2% in 2021 to 14% in 2022.
Turning to median income, San Antonio households fall about $1,700 short of the state’s median income of $72,284. The city’s median income is also the lowest among similarly sized metros, albeit less than $100 lower than Pittsburgh’s median income. Since 2017, San Antonio’s median income has increased by approximately 24%, consistent with the national median.
Notably, the median income among San Antonio’s Hispanic households is the lowest compared to similarly sized metros. While San Antonio’s Hispanic residents earn only $400 less than the statewide average for the Hispanic population, they earn approximately $2,500 less than Orlando, the metro with the second-lowest median income among Hispanics. San Antonio’s Hispanic population also earns about $27,000 less than the city’s white population.
The newly released Census data highlights the economic disparities and challenges faced by households in San Antonio. Efforts to address poverty and improve median incomes in the city are crucial in order to promote economic well-being and ensure a better quality of life for all residents.