Definition: Estimated family resources required to meet basic needs, by family composition and housing tenure, according to the California Poverty Measure (e.g., in the first quarter of 2023, a California family of two adults and two children renting their residence required yearly resources of at least $40,765 in order to meet their basic needs).
Data Source: Public Policy Institute of California & Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality, California Poverty Measure (Aug. 2024).
Footnote: Data are one-year estimates beginning from a reference quarter—e.g., 2023 Q1 refers to the first quarter (January–March) of 2023. Data reflect legislative districts as of the 2022 election cycle. The California Poverty Measure (CPM) is an approach to gauging poverty in California that accounts for geographic differences in the cost of living, factors in tax credits and in-kind assistance that augment family resources, and subtracts medical, commuting, and child care expenses. In CPM estimates, a family consists of a householder residing with their spouse, children, and other relatives, along with their unmarried partner, unmarried partner's children, foster children, and other unrelated children. Information about CPM methodology is available in the technical appendices.
