Final answer:
Poverty thresholds are based on family size, number of children, and the age of individuals in small households. Despite regional economic variations, these thresholds are uniform nationwide. Non-cash government benefits are not factored into the official poverty line.
Step-by-step explanation:
Characteristics used to determine poverty thresholds include family size, number of children, and whether or not those in 1 or 2 person units are elderly. These federal poverty level charts are standardized across the 50 states and the District of Columbia despite regional differences in cost of living and median incomes, which can be quite significant between states like New Jersey and Mississippi. Moreover, the poverty line is based primarily on cash income, meaning it doesn't factor in non-cash government assistance such as Medicaid or federal housing aid.