16.1% of LA County Residents Live in Poverty

Census Bureau data released yesterday shows an increase in the poverty rate as reported in Los Angeles County, according to LA Now.

Up from 15.2% in 2008, the 2009 figure for the County is 16.1%; over "1.56 million county residents lived below the poverty threshold, which is $10,956 for one person and $21,954 for a family of four."

Other statistics from the Census data for LA County:
- Median household income declined to $54,467 (from $55,356)
- About 29% of workers employed full-time earned less than $25k in 2009
- 22.6% of the county population did not have health insurance in 2009
- Poverty by race: 21.9% of Latinos, 19.7% of African Americans, 10.5% of Asians, and 9.3% of whites were below the poverty line in 2009.

Comparatively, the poverty rate as reported in the state was 15.3%, while nationwide the figure is 14.3%.