San Antonio poverty rate dips, but challenges persist
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Downtown San Antonio as seen this spring. Photo: Lance King/Getty Images
San Antonio's poverty rate is improving from its pandemic highs, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data, but it doesn't tell the full story of how people struggle to make ends meet in a fast-growing city.
Why it matters: Among America's largest cities, San Antonio remains one of the poorest — it has the fourth-highest poverty rate, down from the No. 3 spot just a couple of years prior.
The latest: About 17% of city of San Antonio residents lived at or below the federal poverty line in 2024, the latest data shows.
- Only Houston (21%), Philadelphia (20%) and New York City (18%) had higher poverty rates among the nation's most populous cities.
By the numbers: The poverty rate for children under 18 in San Antonio was 22.3% in 2024. It was 14.5% for people aged 65 and up.
- The rate among Hispanic residents was 20%, while it stood at 14.7% each for white and Black residents.
Context: The federal poverty income threshold is $15,940 for an individual and $32,130 for a household of four.
- The national poverty rate is 12.1%.
Flashback: While San Antonio's poverty rate was improving before the pandemic (16.8% in 2019), it went up during and after COVID (18.7% in 2022).
- A decade ago, it stood at 17.8%, not far off from where it is now.
State of play: San Antonio has long been home to industries that pay lower wages, like hospitality.
- City voters have approved initiatives aimed at helping end the cycle of generational poverty — from passing San Antonio's first housing bond to implementing a workforce training program.
Reality check: The poverty rate doesn't account for all the people in San Antonio who make enough money to be above the threshold but still don't earn a living wage and struggle to get by, Megan Legacy, CEO of the San Antonio Hope Center, tells Axios.
- The center offers a range of resources and case management to help people land higher-paying jobs — what Legacy says is the best way to exit poverty.
What they're saying: Legacy says the center sees people who work multiple jobs and still struggle to care for a family. Many experience what she calls a "benefits cliff," in which a person receives a minimal raise and actually loses household income because they no longer qualify for public assistance.
- Often, people "are working full-time, but they're not making enough to meet all of their needs," Legacy says.
- "You're choosing between putting gas in the car or paying for a medication," Legacy says. "They're not being lazy, they're actually doing the best they can with what they have."
The bottom line: Poverty remains one of San Antonio's most enduring and persistent challenges.