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 Illinois, 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 Illinois, 11.8% 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 Illinois 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 19.4% to 41.2%, and in each of these places, the typical household earns less than the statewide median household income of $78,433.

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 5.9% jobless rate across Illinois.

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 36.7% 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. Litchfield

• Poverty rate: 19.4%
• Median household income: $50,443
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.2%
• Population: 6,937

34. Wood River

• Poverty rate: 19.5%
• Median household income: $58,813
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.2%
• Population: 10,313

33. LaSalle

• Poverty rate: 19.7%
• Median household income: $49,583
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.7%
• Population: 9,562

32. Carmi

• Poverty rate: 20.0%
• Median household income: $50,116
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 1.9%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.8%
• Population: 5,042

31. Kewanee

• Poverty rate: 20.0%
• Median household income: $46,305
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.9%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.1%
• Population: 12,179

30. Chester

• Poverty rate: 20.1%
• Median household income: $68,826
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 3.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 7.8%
• Population: 6,941

29. Dolton

• Poverty rate: 20.2%
• Median household income: $54,748
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 12.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.1%
• Population: 21,283

28. Vandalia

• Poverty rate: 20.3%
• Median household income: $37,380
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 3.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.9%
• Population: 6,058

27. Pinckneyville

• Poverty rate: 20.3%
• Median household income: $36,893
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 1.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.0%
• Population: 5,104

26. Rantoul

• Poverty rate: 20.5%
• Median household income: $46,078
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.4%
• Population: 12,544

25. Galesburg

• Poverty rate: 20.6%
• Median household income: $42,346
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.2%
• Population: 29,923

24. Salem

• Poverty rate: 20.9%
• Median household income: $55,536
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.5%
• Population: 7,228

23. Mattoon

• Poverty rate: 21.1%
• Median household income: $45,953
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.9%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.9%
• Population: 16,830

22. Calumet City

• Poverty rate: 21.3%
• Median household income: $56,727
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.8%
• Population: 35,708

21. Justice

• Poverty rate: 21.9%
• Median household income: $60,083
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.6%
• Population: 12,525

20. North Chicago

• Poverty rate: 21.9%
• Median household income: $52,011
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.2%
• Population: 30,890

19. Rock Falls

• Poverty rate: 22.0%
• Median household income: $48,390
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.3%
• Population: 8,904

18. Streator

• Poverty rate: 22.0%
• Median household income: $46,615
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.8%
• Population: 12,279

17. Rock Island

• Poverty rate: 22.7%
• Median household income: $55,732
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.5%
• Population: 37,264

16. Hazel Crest

• Poverty rate: 22.7%
• Median household income: $57,247
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 13.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 28.4%
• Population: 13,737

15. Markham

• Poverty rate: 23.2%
• Median household income: $47,955
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 14.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.9%
• Population: 11,592

14. Chicago Heights

• Poverty rate: 23.3%
• Median household income: $56,755
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 13.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.6%
• Population: 27,366

13. Centralia

• Poverty rate: 23.4%
• Median household income: $46,468
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 12.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.2%
• Population: 12,096

12. Harrisburg

• Poverty rate: 24.1%
• Median household income: $38,937
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.8%
• Population: 8,380

11. Harvey

• Poverty rate: 24.3%
• Median household income: $40,898
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 14.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.7%
• Population: 20,035

10. Alton

• Poverty rate: 24.5%
• Median household income: $49,439
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.1%
• Population: 25,642

9. Danville

• Poverty rate: 25.4%
• Median household income: $42,424
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.2%
• Population: 29,100

8. Carlinville

• Poverty rate: 25.7%
• Median household income: $53,583
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 0.9%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.9%
• Population: 5,724

7. Du Quoin

• Poverty rate: 27.1%
• Median household income: $48,770
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 9.4%
• Population: 5,822

6. Sauk Village

• Poverty rate: 28.3%
• Median household income: $50,393
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 15.9%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.6%
• Population: 9,862

5. Kankakee

• Poverty rate: 28.7%
• Median household income: $42,180
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.1%
• Population: 24,795

4. West Frankfort

• Poverty rate: 29.5%
• Median household income: $41,974
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 12.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.5%
• Population: 7,168

3. Riverdale

• Poverty rate: 31.4%
• Median household income: $41,144
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 16.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.0%
• Population: 10,528

2. East St. Louis

• Poverty rate: 31.6%
• Median household income: $28,519
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 13.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.4%
• Population: 18,796

1. Cahokia Heights

• Poverty rate: 41.2%
• Median household income: $30,488
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.1%
• Population: 17,753

Rank	Place	Poverty rate (%)	Median household income ($)	Unemployment rate (%)	Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (%)	Total population
1	Cahokia Heights, Illinois	41.2	30,488	11.3	12.1	17,753
2	East St. Louis, Illinois	31.6	28,519	13.0	12.4	18,796
3	Riverdale, Illinois	31.4	41,144	16.3	16.0	10,528
4	West Frankfort, Illinois	29.5	41,974	12.8	10.5	7,168
5	Kankakee, Illinois	28.7	42,180	7.4	13.1	24,795
6	Sauk Village, Illinois	28.3	50,393	15.9	17.6	9,862
7	Du Quoin, Illinois	27.1	48,770	11.6	9.4	5,822
8	Carlinville, Illinois	25.7	53,583	0.9	25.9	5,724
9	Danville, Illinois	25.4	42,424	9.2	17.2	29,100
10	Alton, Illinois	24.5	49,439	6.6	20.1	25,642
11	Harvey, Illinois	24.3	40,898	14.6	10.7	20,035
12	Harrisburg, Illinois	24.1	38,937	7.7	19.8	8,380
13	Centralia, Illinois	23.4	46,468	12.4	18.2	12,096
14	Chicago Heights, Illinois	23.3	56,755	13.8	19.6	27,366
15	Markham, Illinois	23.2	47,955	14.0	15.9	11,592
16	Hazel Crest, Illinois	22.7	57,247	13.7	28.4	13,737
17	Rock Island, Illinois	22.7	55,732	7.3	22.5	37,264
18	Streator, Illinois	22.0	46,615	9.1	13.8	12,279
19	Rock Falls, Illinois	22.0	48,390	4.4	14.3	8,904
20	North Chicago, Illinois	21.9	52,011	5.5	21.2	30,890
21	Justice, Illinois	21.9	60,083	5.0	16.6	12,525
22	Calumet City, Illinois	21.3	56,727	9.1	19.8	35,708
23	Mattoon, Illinois	21.1	45,953	7.9	18.9	16,830
24	Salem, Illinois	20.9	55,536	4.5	14.5	7,228
25	Galesburg, Illinois	20.6	42,346	5.2	19.2	29,923
26	Rantoul, Illinois	20.5	46,078	5.3	12.4	12,544
27	Pinckneyville, Illinois	20.3	36,893	1.8	10.0	5,104
28	Vandalia, Illinois	20.3	37,380	3.1	10.9	6,058
29	Dolton, Illinois	20.2	54,748	12.7	23.1	21,283
30	Chester, Illinois	20.1	68,826	3.7	7.8	6,941
31	Kewanee, Illinois	20.0	46,305	6.9	14.1	12,179
32	Carmi, Illinois	20.0	50,116	1.9	11.8	5,042
33	LaSalle, Illinois	19.7	49,583	5.3	12.7	9,562
34	Wood River, Illinois	19.5	58,813	6.1	14.2	10,313
35	Litchfield, Illinois	19.4	50,443	5.1	20.2	6,937

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