More Local Residents Living In Poverty

UNDATED -- The number of people living in poverty in the St. Cloud area has jumped.

The U.S. Census Bureau released the information on local communities saying 12% of the residents in Stearns and Benton counties are living below the poverty line.  That's higher than the statewide average of 10%.

20% of Waite Park residents are living in poverty -- up from 12% 10 years ago.  And Sauk Rapids saw a 5% increase over the past 10 years.  The Census Bureau released St. Cloud's poverty numbers back in September, a startling 32% of St. Cloud residents are below poverty level.

The Federal Government considers the poverty line to be $22,050 for a family of four.