The US economy is very strong, especially if compared to the other G7 countries. In the decade from 2023 to 2022, the US had a real GDP growth of 2.1%. This is above the G7 average of 1.7%. However, one must also look at the income inequality rate in the US, which is the biggest among G7 countries.
Though the typical American household earns over $75,000 a year, there are communities across the country where most households earn far less than that — often by tens of thousands of dollars. In many of these places, residents are far more likely to live below the poverty line than the typical American, and employment opportunities are relatively limited. Still, perceptions of the U.S. economy are overwhelmingly negative. Due largely to broad, macroeconomic circumstances, including inflation, the national debt, and taxes, 83% of Americans see economic conditions as poor or only fair, according to a March 2023 Gallup poll. But for many Americans, reasons for pessimism are far more personal.
Using five-year median household income estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified the poorest county or county equivalent in each state. In every county, borough, parish, or independent city on this list, incomes are anywhere from 11% to 66% lower than they are across the state. Annual unemployment data is from the BLS, and all other supplemental data are five-year estimates from the 2022 ACS.
Why We Are Looking At The Poorest Counties
The poorest counties in the US tend to be in rural areas and not near major urban and economic centers. They usually are just outside easy commuting distance to the closest big center with its associated job opportunities. These areas usually also lack basic infrastructure, making it more difficult to be economically viable.
It is important to identify areas with a persistently high poverty rate. This will help with the allocation of grants, loans, and other program funds. For instance, the White House’s Build Back Better Act will alleviate poverty among American children and families. How this will be allocated, will depend on how individuals are identified as needing help.
Here is the poorest county in every state.
Alabama: Sumter
- Household income (median): $31,726 (Alabama: $59,609)
- Poverty rate: 30.4% (Alabama: 15.7%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 3.5% (Alabama: 2.6%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.8% (Alabama: 27.2%)
- Total population in county: 12,196
- County seat: Livingston
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 67
Alaska: Kusilvak
- Household income (median): $42,663 (Alaska: $86,370)
- Poverty rate: 34.3% (Alaska: 10.5%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 12.9% (Alaska: 4.0%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.6% (Alaska: 30.7%)
- Total population in county: 8,372
- County seat: N/A
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 30
Arizona: Apache
- Household income (median): $37,483 (Arizona: $72,581)
- Poverty rate: 32.5% (Arizona: 13.1%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 7.7% (Arizona: 3.8%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.8% (Arizona: 31.8%)
- Total population in county: 66,054
- County seat: St. Johns
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 15
Arkansas: Lee
- Household income (median): $33,801 (Arkansas: $56,335)
- Poverty rate: 27.6% (Arkansas: 16.2%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 4.6% (Arkansas: 3.3%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 7.7% (Arkansas: 24.7%)
- Total population in county: 8,666
- County seat: Marianna
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 75
California: Trinity
- Household income (median): $47,317 (California: $91,905)
- Poverty rate: 22.0% (California: 12.1%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 4.6% (California: 4.2%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.2% (California: 35.9%)
- Total population in county: 15,889
- County seat: Weaverville
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 58
Colorado: Costilla
- Household income (median): $34,578 (Colorado: $87,598)
- Poverty rate: 22.5% (Colorado: 9.6%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 4.1% (Colorado: 3.0%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.7% (Colorado: 43.7%)
- Total population in county: 3,534
- County seat: San Luis
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 64
Connecticut: Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region
- Household income (median): $80,330 (Connecticut: $90,213)
- Poverty rate: 9.9% (Connecticut: 10.1%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: N/A (Connecticut: 4.2%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 33.8% (Connecticut: 41.4%)
- Total population in county: 280,293
- County seat: N/A
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 9
Delaware: Kent
- Household income (median): $69,278 (Delaware: $79,325)
- Poverty rate: 12.3% (Delaware: 11.1%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 5.2% (Delaware: 4.5%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.3% (Delaware: 34.5%)
- Total population in county: 182,400
- County seat: Dover
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 3
Florida: Glades
- Household income (median): $37,221 (Florida: $67,917)
- Poverty rate: 21.9% (Florida: 12.9%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 3.2% (Florida: 2.9%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.0% (Florida: 32.3%)
- Total population in county: 12,179
- County seat: Moore Haven
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 67
Georgia: Randolph
- Household income (median): $24,638 (Georgia: $71,355)
- Poverty rate: 28.1% (Georgia: 13.5%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 4.4% (Georgia: 3.0%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.4% (Georgia: 33.6%)
- Total population in county: 6,365
- County seat: Cuthbert
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 159
Hawaii: Hawaii
- Household income (median): $74,238 (Hawaii: $94,814)
- Poverty rate: 14.1% (Hawaii: 9.6%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 3.6% (Hawaii: 3.5%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 30.7% (Hawaii: 34.7%)
- Total population in county: 202,163
- County seat: Hilo
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 5
Idaho: Butte
- Household income (median): $37,358 (Idaho: $70,214)
- Poverty rate: 22.1% (Idaho: 11.0%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 3.0% (Idaho: 2.7%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.2% (Idaho: 30.2%)
- Total population in county: 2,605
- County seat: Arco
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 44
Illinois: Alexander
- Household income (median): $40,365 (Illinois: $78,433)
- Poverty rate: 21.4% (Illinois: 11.8%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 6.3% (Illinois: 4.6%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.3% (Illinois: 36.7%)
- Total population in county: 5,261
- County seat: Cairo
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 102
Indiana: Crawford
- Household income (median): $46,706 (Indiana: $67,173)
- Poverty rate: 21.9% (Indiana: 12.3%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 3.5% (Indiana: 3.0%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.2% (Indiana: 28.2%)
- Total population in county: 10,511
- County seat: English
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 92
Iowa: Appanoose
- Household income (median): $50,684 (Iowa: $70,571)
- Poverty rate: 17.3% (Iowa: 11.1%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 2.9% (Iowa: 2.7%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.8% (Iowa: 30.3%)
- Total population in county: 12,279
- County seat: Centerville
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 99
Kansas: Graham
- Household income (median): $47,071 (Kansas: $69,747)
- Poverty rate: 9.9% (Kansas: 11.6%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 2.4% (Kansas: 2.7%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.4% (Kansas: 34.7%)
- Total population in county: 2,430
- County seat: Hill City
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 105
Kentucky: Wolfe
- Household income (median): $28,666 (Kentucky: $60,183)
- Poverty rate: 36.8% (Kentucky: 16.1%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 5.6% (Kentucky: 3.9%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 7.0% (Kentucky: 26.5%)
- Total population in county: 6,573
- County seat: Campton
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 120
Louisiana: East Carroll
- Household income (median): $30,856 (Louisiana: $57,852)
- Poverty rate: 40.3% (Louisiana: 18.7%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 7.9% (Louisiana: 3.7%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.8% (Louisiana: 26.1%)
- Total population in county: 7,371
- Parish seat: Lake Providence
- Parishes and parish equivalents used in the study: 64
Maine: Aroostook
- Household income (median): $50,843 (Maine: $68,251)
- Poverty rate: 14.9% (Maine: 10.9%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 4.1% (Maine: 3.0%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.4% (Maine: 34.1%)
- Total population in county: 67,237
- County seat: Houlton
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 16
Maryland: Somerset
- Household income (median): $52,149 (Maryland: $98,461)
- Poverty rate: 19.8% (Maryland: 9.3%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 4.8% (Maryland: 3.2%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.8% (Maryland: 42.2%)
- Total population in county: 24,672
- County seat: Princess Anne
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 24
Massachusetts: Hampden
- Household income (median): $66,619 (Massachusetts: $96,505)
- Poverty rate: 15.8% (Massachusetts: 9.9%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 4.9% (Massachusetts: 3.8%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 28.6% (Massachusetts: 45.9%)
- Total population in county: 464,575
- County seat: Springfield
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 14
Michigan: Lake
- Household income (median): $45,946 (Michigan: $68,505)
- Poverty rate: 20.3% (Michigan: 13.1%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 7.1% (Michigan: 4.2%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.2% (Michigan: 31.1%)
- Total population in county: 12,285
- County seat: Baldwin
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 83
Minnesota: Mahnomen
- Household income (median): $52,739 (Minnesota: $84,313)
- Poverty rate: 20.6% (Minnesota: 9.3%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 4.9% (Minnesota: 2.7%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.7% (Minnesota: 38.2%)
- Total population in county: 5,389
- County seat: Mahnomen
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 87
Mississippi: Issaquena
- Household income (median): $17,900 (Mississippi: $52,985)
- Poverty rate: 20.6% (Mississippi: 19.2%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 7.3% (Mississippi: 3.9%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 5.2% (Mississippi: 23.9%)
- Total population in county: 1,206
- County seat: Mayersville
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 82
Missouri: Hickory
- Household income (median): $33,302 (Missouri: $65,920)
- Poverty rate: 17.6% (Missouri: 12.8%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 2.7% (Missouri: 2.5%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.1% (Missouri: 31.2%)
- Total population in county: 8,452
- County seat: Hermitage
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 115
Montana: Glacier
- Household income (median): $41,078 (Montana: $66,341)
- Poverty rate: 29.4% (Montana: 12.4%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 5.0% (Montana: 2.6%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.5% (Montana: 34.0%)
- Total population in county: 13,781
- County seat: Cut Bank
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 56
Nebraska: Hooker
- Household income (median): $43,333 (Nebraska: $71,722)
- Poverty rate: 8.1% (Nebraska: 10.4%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 2.7% (Nebraska: 2.3%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 27.1% (Nebraska: 33.5%)
- Total population in county: 659
- County seat: Mullen
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 93
Nevada: Esmeralda
- Household income (median): $40,694 (Nevada: $71,646)
- Poverty rate: 16.1% (Nevada: 12.7%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 3.7% (Nevada: 5.4%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.3% (Nevada: 26.5%)
- Total population in county: 980
- County seat: Goldfield
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 17
New Hampshire: Coos
- Household income (median): $55,247 (New Hampshire: $90,845)
- Poverty rate: 11.6% (New Hampshire: 7.3%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 3.3% (New Hampshire: 2.5%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.4% (New Hampshire: 39.0%)
- Total population in county: 31,430
- County seat: Lancaster
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 10
New Jersey: Cumberland
- Household income (median): $62,310 (New Jersey: $97,126)
- Poverty rate: 15.5% (New Jersey: 9.7%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 5.1% (New Jersey: 3.7%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.3% (New Jersey: 42.3%)
- Total population in county: 153,588
- County seat: Bridgeton
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 21
New Mexico: De Baca
- Household income (median): $34,702 (New Mexico: $58,722)
- Poverty rate: 16.3% (New Mexico: 18.3%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 3.4% (New Mexico: 4.0%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 9.2% (New Mexico: 29.1%)
- Total population in county: 1,695
- County seat: Fort Sumner
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 33
New York: Bronx
- Household income (median): $47,036 (New York: $81,386)
- Poverty rate: 26.9% (New York: 13.6%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 7.8% (New York: 4.3%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.2% (New York: 38.8%)
- Total population in county: 1,443,229
- County seat: N/A
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 62
North Carolina: Washington
- Household income (median): $38,927 (North Carolina: $66,186)
- Poverty rate: 21.6% (North Carolina: 13.3%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 5.1% (North Carolina: 3.7%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.1% (North Carolina: 33.9%)
- Total population in county: 11,051
- County seat: Plymouth
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 100
North Dakota: Sioux
- Household income (median): $41,201 (North Dakota: $73,959)
- Poverty rate: 39.7% (North Dakota: 10.8%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 2.6% (North Dakota: 2.1%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.5% (North Dakota: 31.4%)
- Total population in county: 3,896
- County seat: Fort Yates
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 53
Ohio: Adams
- Household income (median): $46,234 (Ohio: $66,990)
- Poverty rate: 19.6% (Ohio: 13.3%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 5.4% (Ohio: 4.0%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.2% (Ohio: 30.4%)
- Total population in county: 27,509
- County seat: West Union
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 88
Oklahoma: Pushmataha
- Household income (median): $42,274 (Oklahoma: $61,364)
- Poverty rate: 21.7% (Oklahoma: 15.2%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 3.8% (Oklahoma: 3.0%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.0% (Oklahoma: 27.3%)
- Total population in county: 10,845
- County seat: Antlers
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 77
Oregon: Harney
- Household income (median): $45,462 (Oregon: $76,632)
- Poverty rate: 12.1% (Oregon: 11.9%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 4.9% (Oregon: 4.2%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.2% (Oregon: 35.5%)
- Total population in county: 7,496
- County seat: Burns
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 36
Pennsylvania: Cameron
- Household income (median): $46,186 (Pennsylvania: $73,170)
- Poverty rate: 15.0% (Pennsylvania: 11.8%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 5.7% (Pennsylvania: 4.4%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.9% (Pennsylvania: 33.8%)
- Total population in county: 4,536
- County seat: Emporium
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 67
Rhode Island: Providence
- Household income (median): $72,579 (Rhode Island: $81,370)
- Poverty rate: 13.6% (Rhode Island: 11.2%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 3.5% (Rhode Island: 3.2%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 31.2% (Rhode Island: 36.3%)
- Total population in county: 657,984
- County seat: Providence
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 5
South Carolina: Marlboro
- Household income (median): $34,275 (South Carolina: $63,623)
- Poverty rate: 27.8% (South Carolina: 14.4%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 6.5% (South Carolina: 3.2%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.3% (South Carolina: 30.6%)
- Total population in county: 26,585
- County seat: Bennettsville
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 46
South Dakota: Jackson
- Household income (median): $26,078 (South Dakota: $69,457)
- Poverty rate: 38.4% (South Dakota: 12.3%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 3.0% (South Dakota: 2.1%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.6% (South Dakota: 30.4%)
- Total population in county: 2,838
- County seat: Kadoka
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 66
Tennessee: Hancock
- Household income (median): $31,809 (Tennessee: $64,035)
- Poverty rate: 32.3% (Tennessee: 14.0%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 4.2% (Tennessee: 3.4%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 9.9% (Tennessee: 29.7%)
- Total population in county: 6,726
- County seat: Sneedville
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 95
Texas: Dimmit
- Household income (median): $27,374 (Texas: $73,035)
- Poverty rate: 43.6% (Texas: 13.9%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 3.8% (Texas: 3.9%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.6% (Texas: 32.3%)
- Total population in county: 8,672
- County seat: Carrizo Springs
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 253
Utah: Piute
- Household income (median): $33,359 (Utah: $86,833)
- Poverty rate: 20.9% (Utah: 8.5%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 4.1% (Utah: 2.3%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.6% (Utah: 36.1%)
- Total population in county: 1,764
- County seat: Junction
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 29
Vermont: Essex
- Household income (median): $55,247 (Vermont: $74,014)
- Poverty rate: 13.2% (Vermont: 10.4%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 4.0% (Vermont: 2.6%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.2% (Vermont: 41.7%)
- Total population in county: 5,976
- County seat: Guildhall
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 14
Virginia: Norton
- Household income (median): $36,974 (Virginia: $87,249)
- Poverty rate: 29.1% (Virginia: 10.0%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 3.8% (Virginia: 2.9%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.4% (Virginia: 41.0%)
- Total population in county: 3,668
- County seat: N/A
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 133
Washington: Whitman
- Household income (median): $49,345 (Washington: $90,325)
- Poverty rate: 23.9% (Washington: 9.9%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 4.7% (Washington: 4.2%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 50.9% (Washington: 38.0%)
- Total population in county: 47,141
- County seat: Colfax
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 39
West Virginia: McDowell
- Household income (median): $28,235 (West Virginia: $55,217)
- Poverty rate: 33.3% (West Virginia: 16.8%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 6.3% (West Virginia: 3.9%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 6.6% (West Virginia: 22.7%)
- Total population in county: 18,911
- County seat: Welch
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 55
Wisconsin: Langlade
- Household income (median): $55,091 (Wisconsin: $72,458)
- Poverty rate: 12.2% (Wisconsin: 10.7%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 3.6% (Wisconsin: 2.9%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.8% (Wisconsin: 32.0%)
- Total population in county: 19,512
- County seat: Antigo
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 72
Wyoming: Niobrara
- Household income (median): $54,375 (Wyoming: $72,495)
- Poverty rate: 18.3% (Wyoming: 10.7%)
- Rate of Unemployment, 2022: 2.9% (Wyoming: 3.6%)
- % Adults with bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.0% (Wyoming: 29.0%)
- Total population in county: 2,460
- County seat: Lusk
- Counties and county equivalents used in the study: 23
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