An alternative measure from the U.S. Census Bureau ranks New Mexico as 17th in the nation for child poverty, which is above the national average.

New Mexico Voices for Children, a policy research and advocacy organization, announced on Wednesday two separate types of measurement from the U.S. Census Bureau that use similar data from the same agency. One measurement, the Official Poverty Measurement, shows New Mexico to be 50th in the nation for child poverty. But the Supplemental Poverty Measurement shows the state as ranking 17th in the nation for child poverty and that the state is below the national average. The difference between the measurements has to do with how programs and tax credits are counted and nuances. The organization also published a report explaining the measurements.

Emily Wildau, senior research and policy analyst for Voices for Children, said the SPM, created in 2011, is based on five-year data sets and takes things such as food, clothing and shelter into consideration but also counts internet expenses as well as benefit programs. It also differentiates between homeowners and renters and is preferred by researchers, Wildau said.

“It’s a more current and nuanced way to understand poverty,” Wildau said during a press conference with reporters.