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 California, 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 California, 12.1% 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 California 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 35 places on this list, poverty rates range from 23.3% to 46.5%, and in each of these places, the typical household earns less than the statewide median household income of $91,905.

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 6.4% jobless rate across California.

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 is below the 35.9% 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.

35. Oroville

• Poverty rate: 23.3%
• Median household income: $46,362
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.1%
• Population: 20,283

34. Bell

• Poverty rate: 23.4%
• Median household income: $56,685
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.8%
• Population: 33,377

33. West Modesto

• Poverty rate: 23.4%
• Median household income: $55,500
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 7.1%
• Population: 5,438

32. Brawley

• Poverty rate: 23.6%
• Median household income: $56,229
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 18.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.2%
• Population: 26,509

31. Bell Gardens

• Poverty rate: 23.6%
• Median household income: $53,935
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 6.1%
• Population: 39,263

30. Holtville

• Poverty rate: 23.7%
• Median household income: $44,939
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.6%
• Population: 5,620

29. Marysville

• Poverty rate: 24.2%
• Median household income: $52,012
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.7%
• Population: 12,681

28. Potomac Park

• Poverty rate: 24.5%
• Median household income: $51,739
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 13.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.2%
• Population: 10,697

27. Woodlake

• Poverty rate: 24.5%
• Median household income: $44,719
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.4%
• Population: 7,495

26. Farmersville

• Poverty rate: 24.6%
• Median household income: $52,714
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.5%
• Population: 10,393

25. Clearlake

• Poverty rate: 24.7%
• Median household income: $41,047
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 16.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 7.8%
• Population: 16,612

24. Willows

• Poverty rate: 25.3%
• Median household income: $61,806
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.8%
• Population: 6,201

23. Orosi

• Poverty rate: 25.9%
• Median household income: $52,692
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 5.7%
• Population: 9,100

22. Cudahy

• Poverty rate: 26.7%
• Median household income: $49,596
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 5.3%
• Population: 22,657

21. McFarland

• Poverty rate: 26.8%
• Median household income: $42,641
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.0%
• Population: 13,971

20. Parlier

• Poverty rate: 27.4%
• Median household income: $50,026
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.9%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.9%
• Population: 14,625

19. Guadalupe

• Poverty rate: 27.6%
• Median household income: $66,026
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.8%
• Population: 8,272

18. Corcoran

• Poverty rate: 27.6%
• Median household income: $53,103
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.9%
• Population: 22,808

17. Keyes

• Poverty rate: 27.7%
• Median household income: $57,710
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.9%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 6.0%
• Population: 5,827

16. Dinuba

• Poverty rate: 27.8%
• Median household income: $54,590
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.3%
• Population: 24,713

15. East Niles

• Poverty rate: 28.3%
• Median household income: $50,668
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 7.6%
• Population: 29,981

14. Calipatria

• Poverty rate: 28.6%
• Median household income: $43,095
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 14.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 1.4%
• Population: 6,579

13. Arvin

• Poverty rate: 28.7%
• Median household income: $47,997
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.9%
• Population: 19,613

12. Oildale

• Poverty rate: 29.1%
• Median household income: $45,976
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.4%
• Population: 34,796

11. Lemon Hill

• Poverty rate: 29.3%
• Median household income: $47,080
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.5%
• Population: 14,824

10. Huron

• Poverty rate: 32.1%
• Median household income: $43,664
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 12.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 2.9%
• Population: 6,260

9. Lamont

• Poverty rate: 32.4%
• Median household income: $37,164
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 2.7%
• Population: 13,715

8. Lucerne Valley

• Poverty rate: 32.4%
• Median household income: $45,444
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 21.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.3%
• Population: 6,212

7. Mendota

• Poverty rate: 32.7%
• Median household income: $43,315
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.6%
• Population: 12,603

6. Fruitridge Pocket

• Poverty rate: 33.1%
• Median household income: $47,604
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.6%
• Population: 5,596

5. Lindsay

• Poverty rate: 33.9%
• Median household income: $44,816
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 17.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.7%
• Population: 12,581

4. East Porterville

• Poverty rate: 41.8%
• Median household income: $31,816
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 25.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 2.1%
• Population: 5,424

3. Firebaugh

• Poverty rate: 43.3%
• Median household income: $36,078
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 18.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.9%
• Population: 8,139

2. East Bakersfield

• Poverty rate: 45.6%
• Median household income: $31,323
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 13.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 2.4%
• Population: 10,754

1. Orange Cove

• Poverty rate: 46.5%
• Median household income: $33,671
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 13.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 6.7%
• Population: 9,635

Rank	Place	Poverty rate (%)	Median household income ($)	Unemployment rate (%)	Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (%)	Total population
1	Orange Cove, California	46.5	33,671	13.7	6.7	9,635
2	East Bakersfield, California	45.6	31,323	13.8	2.4	10,754
3	Firebaugh, California	43.3	36,078	18.3	3.9	8,139
4	East Porterville, California	41.8	31,816	25.4	2.1	5,424
5	Lindsay, California	33.9	44,816	17.1	4.7	12,581
6	Fruitridge Pocket, California	33.1	47,604	6.4	18.6	5,596
7	Mendota, California	32.7	43,315	11.4	3.6	12,603
8	Lucerne Valley, California	32.4	45,444	21.7	16.3	6,212
9	Lamont, California	32.4	37,164	9.5	2.7	13,715
10	Huron, California	32.1	43,664	12.4	2.9	6,260
11	Lemon Hill, California	29.3	47,080	9.0	8.5	14,824
12	Oildale, California	29.1	45,976	11.4	11.4	34,796
13	Arvin, California	28.7	47,997	11.1	3.9	19,613
14	Calipatria, California	28.6	43,095	14.5	1.4	6,579
15	East Niles, California	28.3	50,668	8.6	7.6	29,981
16	Dinuba, California	27.8	54,590	11.0	12.3	24,713
17	Keyes, California	27.7	57,710	8.9	6.0	5,827
18	Corcoran, California	27.6	53,103	11.2	3.9	22,808
19	Guadalupe, California	27.6	66,026	9.5	8.8	8,272
20	Parlier, California	27.4	50,026	6.9	4.9	14,625
21	McFarland, California	26.8	42,641	6.4	4.0	13,971
22	Cudahy, California	26.7	49,596	9.2	5.3	22,657
23	Orosi, California	25.9	52,692	10.6	5.7	9,100
24	Willows, California	25.3	61,806	9.2	16.8	6,201
25	Clearlake, California	24.7	41,047	16.7	7.8	16,612
26	Farmersville, California	24.6	52,714	9.8	4.5	10,393
27	Woodlake, California	24.5	44,719	9.1	11.4	7,495
28	Potomac Park, California	24.5	51,739	13.7	4.2	10,697
29	Marysville, California	24.2	52,012	7.5	14.7	12,681
30	Holtville, California	23.7	44,939	11.2	11.6	5,620
31	Bell Gardens, California	23.6	53,935	5.7	6.1	39,263
32	Brawley, California	23.6	56,229	18.1	15.2	26,509
33	West Modesto, California	23.4	55,500	9.7	7.1	5,438
34	Bell, California	23.4	56,685	6.5	8.8	33,377
35	Oroville, California	23.3	46,362	7.5	14.1	20,283

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