Did You Know?

Written By Nicole DeJoris

“Did You Know?” are short articles providing background information regarding a relevant (or “in the news”) social justice issue, supported by documented sources.  As voters, we know that making informed decisions depends on accurate information. Poverty is a very real issue here in Glen Ellyn and it affects many social justice issues such as access to affordable housing, medical care, and educational opportunities, to name just a few. LWVGE pledges to continue to illuminate these important issues for not only our members, but the community at large. 

Did You Know? Focus on Poverty in DuPage County

  • 5.1% of the Glen Ellyn population live under the poverty level.  That’s 1 out of 20 residents,  or 1,430 people in our village.1 

  • The poverty rate in DuPage County is 6.1%2 and the rate is 11.9%3 in Illinois.  

  • Of  those  iving under the poverty level in DuPage County, most are children and seniors.  7.2%4 of all children in DuPage County and 6.2%5 of all seniors in DuPage County live under the poverty level. Women in DuPage County are also more likely than men to be living under the poverty level (women – 6.7%, men – 5.5%)6.

  • The poverty level in 2023 for a single person is at or below $14,580/year.  For a family of four, the poverty level is at or below $30,000/year.7

Footnotes

1United States Census Bureau, as cited in Impact DuPage, (2023). People Living Below Poverty Level.  https://www.impactdupage.org/indicators/index/view?indicatorId=347&periodId=9907&localeId=163121

2United States Census Bureau, as cited in Impact DuPage, (2023). People Living Below Poverty Level.  https://www.impactdupage.org/indicators/index/view?indicatorId=347&periodId=9907&localeId=668

3United Census Bureau, (2023).  Quick Facts, Illinois. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/IL/AGE295221

4American Community Survey 5-Year and United Census Bureau as cited by Impact DuPage, (2023), Children Living Below Poverty Level. https://www.impactdupage.org/indicators/index/view?indicatorId=189&localeId=668

5American Community Survey 5-Year and United Census Bureau, as cited in Impact DuPage, (2023), People 65+ Living Below Poverty Level.  https://www.impactdupage.org/indicators/index/view?indicatorId=343&localeId=668

6American Community Survey 5-Year and United Census Bureau, as cited in Impact Dupage, (2023), People Living Below the Poverty Level.https://www.impactdupage.org/indicators/index/view?indicatorId=347&localeId=668&localeChartIdxs=1%7C3.

7U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, (2023). Poverty Guidelines – HHS Poverty Guidelines for 2023.

Nicole DeJoris