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Definition of Low Income Families In Clark County, Nevada

The U.S. government developed a definition for poverty in the 1950s, and 1959 marked the first time poverty data was collected based on an official definition. Clark County, Nevada has a smaller percentage of low-income individuals and families than the national average, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

  1. The Poverty Threshold

    • The U.S. Census Bureau determines poverty thresholds according to how many members belong to a household, and their ages. The poverty thresholds are the same throughout the United States. Although poverty thresholds may sometimes correspond to need, they are typically used by the Census Bureau for statistical data. Financial aid programs may use a different measure of poverty from the Census Bureau's in determining which households are eligible.

    Low-Income Family

    • According to the U.S. Department of Education, the definition of low-income family is a household whose taxable income from the previous year "did not exceed more than 150 percent of the poverty level amount." The U.S. Department of Education shows current low-income thresholds on its website.

    Low-Income in Nevada

    • The low-income chart for 2011 from the U.S. Department of Education groups Nevada with the other contiguous states, Washington D.C. and outlying jurisdictions. The 2011 chart shows that the low-income threshold for single person households is $16,335 in Nevada. For households with more than one person, simply add $5,730 for each additional member. For example, a three-person household would add $11,460 to get $27,795 as their low-income threshold.

    Other Poverty Thresholds

    • Some financial aid programs use different thresholds other than those set by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Education. Another common source for low income thresholds is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For 2011, the Department of Human Services says that the low income threshold for single person households in Nevada is $10,890. You can find the threshold for other household sizes by adding $3,820 per additional member.

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