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Also see: Population in Poverty in Los Angeles County.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is required by law to set income limits that determine the eligibility of applicants for HUD's assisted housing programs.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also issues updated Federal Poverty Guidelines each year. These numbers are a simplification of U.S. Census Bureau poverty thresholds that federal agencies may use for administrative purposes, such as determining financial eligibility for certain federal programs. The guidelines are the same for all 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia (with separate guidelines for Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. territories).
The following tables show both HUD and HHS guidelines for 2025/2026 and, for comparison, the same guidelines for 2015/2016.
Also see past guidelines for: 2024 & 2014 | 2023 & 2013 | 2022 & 2012 |
2021 & 2011 | 2020 & 2010 | 2019 & 2009 | 2018 & 2008.
HUD guidelines here effective as of April 1, 2025.
HUD 2025 median family income for Los Angeles County determined to be $106,600.
HHS Federal Poverty Level guidelines are for 2026.
| Family Size (Persons in Family/Household) |
Annual Family Income | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HUD Low Income Level 1 | HUD Very Low Income Level 2 | HUD Extremely Low Income Level 3 | HHS Federal Poverty Level* | ||
| 1 | $84,850 | $53,000 | $31,850 | $15,960 | |
| 2 | $96,950 | $60,600 | $36,400 | $21,640 | |
| 3 | $109,050 | $68,150 | $40,950 | $27,320 | |
| 4 | $121,150 | $75,750 | $45,450 | $33,000 | |
| 5 | $130,850 | $81,800 | $49,100 | $38,680 | |
| 6 | $140,550 | $87,850 | $52,750 | $44,360 | |
| 7 | $150,250 | $93,900 | $56,400 | $50,040 | |
| 8 | $159,950 | $100,000 | $60,000 | $55,720 | |
| For each additional person in family more than 8, Add: | --- | --- | --- | $5,680 | |
* Federal guidelines in this column are for 2026. HUD guidelines in HUD columns are for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.
1) Low-Income Families are defined as families whose incomes do not exceed 80 percent of the median family income.
2) Very Low-Income families do not exceed 50 percent of the median family income.
3) In 2010, Extremely Low-Income families did not exceed 30 percent of the median family income. The FY 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act, however, changed the definition of Extremely Low-Income to be the greater of 30/50ths (60 percent) of the Section 8 very low-income limit or the poverty guideline as established by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), provided that this amount is not greater than the Section 8 50% very low-income limit. Consequently, the extremely low income limits may equal the very low (50%) income limits.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
For comparison, here are guidelines from a decade ago:
HUD 2015 median family income for Los Angeles County determined to be $63,000.
HHS Federal Poverty Level guidelines are for 2016.
| Family Size (Persons in Family/Household) |
Annual Family Income | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HUD Low Income Level 1 | HUD Very Low Income Level 2 | HUD Extremely Low Income Level 3 | HHS Federal Poverty Level* | ||
| 1 | $46,500 | $29,050 | $17,450 | $11,880 | |
| 2 | $53,150 | $33,200 | $19,950 | $16,020 | |
| 3 | $59,800 | $37,350 | $22,450 | $20,160 | |
| 4 | $66,400 | $41,500 | $24,900 | $24,300 | |
| 5 | $71,750 | $44,850 | $28,410 | $28,440 | |
| 6 | $77,050 | $48,150 | $32,570 | $32,580 | |
| 7 | $82,350 | $51,500 | $36,730 | $36,730 | |
| 8 | $87,650 | $54,800 | $40,890 | $40,890 | |
| For each additional person in family more than 8, Add: | --- | --- | --- | $4,160 | |
* Federal guidelines in this column are for 2016. HUD guidelines in HUD columns are for Fiscal Year 2014-2015.
1) Low-Income Families are defined as families whose incomes do not exceed 80 percent of the median family income.
2) Very Low-Income families do not exceed 50 percent of the median family income.
3) In 2010, Extremely Low-Income families did not exceed 30 percent of the median family income. The FY 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act, however, changed the definition of Extremely Low-Income to be the greater of 30/50ths (60 percent) of the Section 8 very low-income limit or the poverty guideline as established by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), provided that this amount is not greater than the Section 8 50% very low-income limit. Consequently, the extremely low income limits may equal the very low (50%) income limits.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
