The overlooked geography of American poverty

California's poverty rate jumps to 17.8% under the Census Bureau's Supplemental Poverty Measure, up from 10.7% under the official measure, while Louisiana stays near 19.6%. Maine has the lowest SPM rate at 6.4%, followed by Nebraska at 7.5% and Minnesota at 7.9%. The South hosts 10 of 11 states where traditional poverty exceeds the national average.