The poverty universe is made up of persons for whom the Census Bureau can determine poverty status (either "in poverty" or "not in poverty"). The definition of poverty universe for SAIPE estimates is the same for 2006 and beyond and conceptually matches the poverty universe of the American Community Survey (ACS). The poverty universe estimates are not the same as the population estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program. For more information please go to https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/technical-documentation/methodology.html

The Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) program produces single-year estimates of poverty for states and all counties. Since SAIPE estimates combine ACS data with administrative and other data, SAIPE estimates generally have lower variance than ACS estimates but are released later because they incorporate ACS data in the models. For counties, particularly those with populations below 65,000, the SAIPE program provides the most accurate subnational estimates of poverty.