Phoenix sees poverty numbers decline for the first time in years

Poverty levels in Phoenix are on the decline for the first time in years. Poverty in metro Phoenix declined between 2019 and 2024 and sits at a lower level than in similarly sized U.S. cities, according to newly released U.S. Census Bureau data.

Data: U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/Axios

Jessica Boehm, a Reporter for Axios, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the newly discovered data and what these numbers mean for the future of poverty in Phoenix.

According to the U.S. Health Insurance Marketplace, poverty at the federal level can classified as an annual income of about $32,000 for a family of four.

Boehm says that the level decline can be attributed to the rise in wages and companies changing job requirements for it’s employees in Phoenix.

Additionally, Boehm’s research included looking into the correlation between education and poverty.

“As of right now, you can see a direct connection between your level of education attainment and your likelihood of living in poverty, says Boehm.

However, her findings say the poverty rate declined for those who do not hold a high school diploma, dropping from 22% to 20%. Additionally, levels rising from 4.4% to 4.6% for those with a college degree.

But what exactly caused this decline? Boehm mentions that it could be a result of increased amount of jobs available that do not require a higher education degree.

Jobs like those in advanced manufacturing sectors can provide people with livable wages, without needing a college education.

While these numbers put Phoenix at a lower level for poverty compared to other similarly sized cities, like Houston or Philadelphia, Boehm says that these numbers should be “taken with a grain of salt.”

While the decline is a step towards lowering poverty, Boehm says that there are still more than half of renters in Arizona paying more than 30% of their income.