More than 60 years have passed since President Lyndon Johnson declared war on poverty, and yet, poverty remains endemic in the United States. In any given year over the last three decades, anywhere from 31.6 million to 48.8 million Americans were living below the poverty line. Over that period, the annual U.S. poverty rate climbed as high as 15.9%, and never fell below 11.3%.

The effects of poverty extend far beyond economics. According to the latest Pulse Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau, 38% of American adults earning less than $25,000 reported feeling depressed or hopeless on most days, compared to 17% of all adults. Additionally, 27% of adults in the lowest income bracket reported not having enough to eat within the last week, three times the food insufficiency rate among all adults.

In most of the country, including Arizona, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sets the poverty line at an annual income of $15,060 for individuals and $31,200 for a family of four. In Arizona, 13.1% of the population live below these thresholds — and in many towns across the state, the poverty rate is far higher.

Using five-year estimates from the Census’ 2022 American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified the towns in Arizona with the highest poverty rates. We considered all places — including cities, towns, and unincorporated communities — with populations between 5,000 and 50,000. Because the presence of colleges and universities can distort economic realities in a given area, places where 20% or more of the population are enrolled in a post-secondary institution were excluded from analysis.

Among the 32 places on this list, poverty rates range from 13.4% to over 30%, and in nearly all of them, the typical household earns less than the statewide median household income of $72,581.

Widespread financial hardship in these areas is partially attributable to a lack of economic opportunity. In most places on this list, the five-year average unemployment rate is higher than the comparable 5.3% jobless rate across Arizona.

Incomes and job security tend to rise with educational attainment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical worker with a bachelor’s degree earns 66% more than those with no more than a high school diploma. Additionally, workers with only a high school education are far more likely to be unemployed than college graduates. In every town on this list, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher is below the 31.8% statewide bachelor’s degree attainment rate.

Why It Matters

The United States is, in many ways, the center of gravity of the global economy. The U.S. dollar has been the world’s leading reserve currency since the end of World War II, and American gross domestic product accounts for over a quarter of economic activity worldwide. Despite these advantages, more than one in every 10 Americans have been living below the poverty line for decades. For those facing serious financial hardship, the effects are far reaching. Poverty can negatively impact mental health, social relationships, and life expectancy.

32. El Mirage

• Poverty rate: 13.4%
• Median household income: $72,134
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.3%
• Population: 35,652

31. Kingman

• Poverty rate: 13.4%
• Median household income: $56,360
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.0%
• Population: 33,052

30. Arizona City

• Poverty rate: 13.4%
• Median household income: $50,218
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 3.9%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.5%
• Population: 8,541

29. Wickenburg

• Poverty rate: 14.2%
• Median household income: $63,301
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 1.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 29.5%
• Population: 7,600

28. Fort Mohave

• Poverty rate: 14.3%
• Median household income: $66,702
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.8%
• Population: 16,038

27. Safford

• Poverty rate: 14.6%
• Median household income: $64,860
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.8%
• Population: 10,112

26. Thatcher

• Poverty rate: 14.7%
• Median household income: $71,591
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.6%
• Population: 5,281

25. Valencia West

• Poverty rate: 14.8%
• Median household income: $77,969
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 3.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.9%
• Population: 13,692

24. Drexel Heights

• Poverty rate: 15.9%
• Median household income: $72,567
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.3%
• Population: 30,254

23. Picture Rocks

• Poverty rate: 16.1%
• Median household income: $57,376
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 3.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.2%
• Population: 9,258

22. Rio Rico

• Poverty rate: 16.5%
• Median household income: $62,537
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.7%
• Population: 21,447

21. Somerton

• Poverty rate: 16.8%
• Median household income: $64,180
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.2%
• Population: 14,278

20. Globe

• Poverty rate: 17.5%
• Median household income: $64,516
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 3.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.0%
• Population: 7,230

19. Eloy

• Poverty rate: 18.9%
• Median household income: $57,364
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.0%
• Population: 16,075

18. Bullhead City

• Poverty rate: 18.9%
• Median household income: $47,129
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.1%
• Population: 41,593

17. Snowflake

• Poverty rate: 19.0%
• Median household income: $71,029
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.9%
• Population: 6,192

16. Avra Valley

• Poverty rate: 20.3%
• Median household income: $51,415
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.1%
• Population: 6,281

15. Cottonwood

• Poverty rate: 20.5%
• Median household income: $43,273
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 2.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.1%
• Population: 12,314

14. Coolidge

• Poverty rate: 21.6%
• Median household income: $60,682
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 18.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.0%
• Population: 14,175

13. New Kingman-Butler

• Poverty rate: 21.8%
• Median household income: $42,541
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 3.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 5.8%
• Population: 13,247

12. Tolleson

• Poverty rate: 22.0%
• Median household income: $47,875
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 2.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 6.4%
• Population: 7,221

11. Flowing Wells

• Poverty rate: 22.3%
• Median household income: $37,092
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.5%
• Population: 17,188

10. Golden Valley

• Poverty rate: 22.7%
• Median household income: $45,427
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 5.0%
• Population: 7,900

9. Tuba City

• Poverty rate: 22.8%
• Median household income: $62,136
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.4%
• Population: 8,372

8. Camp Verde

• Poverty rate: 23.0%
• Median household income: $50,247
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.4%
• Population: 12,132

7. Guadalupe

• Poverty rate: 23.3%
• Median household income: $56,423
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.5%
• Population: 5,335

6. San Luis

• Poverty rate: 24.9%
• Median household income: $46,747
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.8%
• Population: 35,189

5. Nogales

• Poverty rate: 27.7%
• Median household income: $36,682
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 13.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.1%
• Population: 19,761

4. Douglas

• Poverty rate: 29.1%
• Median household income: $41,594
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 12.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.9%
• Population: 16,301

3. Kayenta

• Poverty rate: 29.6%
• Median household income: $54,051
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.6%
• Population: 5,366

2. Winslow

• Poverty rate: 31.6%
• Median household income: $43,918
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.5%
• Population: 8,943

1. Summit

• Poverty rate: 31.8%
• Median household income: $42,133
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 27.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.9%
• Population: 5,022

Rank	Place	Poverty rate (%)	Median household income ($)	Unemployment rate (%)	Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (%)	Total population
1	Summit, Arizona	31.8	42,133	27.8	3.9	5,022
2	Winslow, Arizona	31.6	43,918	9.6	8.5	8,943
3	Kayenta, Arizona	29.6	54,051	7.3	13.6	5,366
4	Douglas, Arizona	29.1	41,594	12.0	10.9	16,301
5	Nogales, Arizona	27.7	36,682	13.1	17.1	19,761
6	San Luis, Arizona	24.9	46,747	10.1	8.8	35,189
7	Guadalupe, Arizona	23.3	56,423	4.5	11.5	5,335
8	Camp Verde, Arizona	23.0	50,247	5.4	19.4	12,132
9	Tuba City, Arizona	22.8	62,136	10.4	20.4	8,372
10	Golden Valley, Arizona	22.7	45,427	7.2	5.0	7,900
11	Flowing Wells, Arizona	22.3	37,092	10.4	13.5	17,188
12	Tolleson, Arizona	22.0	47,875	2.4	6.4	7,221
13	New Kingman-Butler, Arizona	21.8	42,541	3.4	5.8	13,247
14	Coolidge, Arizona	21.6	60,682	18.0	14.0	14,175
15	Cottonwood, Arizona	20.5	43,273	2.8	25.1	12,314
16	Avra Valley, Arizona	20.3	51,415	9.3	11.1	6,281
17	Snowflake, Arizona	19.0	71,029	7.7	23.9	6,192
18	Bullhead City, Arizona	18.9	47,129	10.0	12.1	41,593
19	Eloy, Arizona	18.9	57,364	8.2	10.0	16,075
20	Globe, Arizona	17.5	64,516	3.1	18.0	7,230
21	Somerton, Arizona	16.8	64,180	6.0	17.2	14,278
22	Rio Rico, Arizona	16.5	62,537	7.6	23.7	21,447
23	Picture Rocks, Arizona	16.1	57,376	3.5	14.2	9,258
24	Drexel Heights, Arizona	15.9	72,567	4.6	15.3	30,254
25	Valencia West, Arizona	14.8	77,969	3.2	16.9	13,692
26	Thatcher, Arizona	14.7	71,591	5.6	17.6	5,281
27	Safford, Arizona	14.6	64,860	5.2	17.8	10,112
28	Fort Mohave, Arizona	14.3	66,702	9.7	10.8	16,038
29	Wickenburg, Arizona	14.2	63,301	1.0	29.5	7,600
30	Arizona City, Arizona	13.4	50,218	3.9	10.5	8,541
31	Kingman, Arizona	13.4	56,360	6.2	20.0	33,052
32	El Mirage, Arizona	13.4	72,134	5.8	15.3	35,652

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