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 New York state, 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 New York, 13.6% 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 New York 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 18.8% to over 60%, and in all but one of these places, the typical household earns less than the statewide median household income of $81,386.

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 6.2% jobless rate across New York.

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 nearly every town on this list, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree is below the 38.8% 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.

35. Hornell

• Poverty rate: 18.8%
• Median household income: $47,632
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.3%
• Population: 8,208

34. Watertown

• Poverty rate: 19.5%
• Median household income: $49,722
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.3%
• Population: 24,859

33. Cohoes

• Poverty rate: 19.6%
• Median household income: $62,679
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.4%
• Population: 17,960

32. Rensselaer

• Poverty rate: 19.9%
• Median household income: $68,284
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 2.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 27.9%
• Population: 9,252

31. Auburn

• Poverty rate: 19.9%
• Median household income: $48,203
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.9%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.1%
• Population: 26,674

30. Watervliet

• Poverty rate: 20.2%
• Median household income: $51,092
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.9%
• Population: 10,325

29. Johnson City

• Poverty rate: 20.3%
• Median household income: $50,611
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 28.1%
• Population: 15,229

28. Mechanicville

• Poverty rate: 20.7%
• Median household income: $45,686
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.2%
• Population: 5,177

27. Gloversville

• Poverty rate: 20.7%
• Median household income: $47,205
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.3%
• Population: 15,113

26. Flanders

• Poverty rate: 21.0%
• Median household income: $79,100
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 2.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.5%
• Population: 6,411

25. Lackawanna

• Poverty rate: 21.5%
• Median household income: $46,869
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.8%
• Population: 19,762

24. Massena

• Poverty rate: 21.6%
• Median household income: $48,161
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.0%
• Population: 10,218

23. Plattsburgh

• Poverty rate: 21.7%
• Median household income: $55,049
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 39.8%
• Population: 19,907

22. Amsterdam

• Poverty rate: 22.0%
• Median household income: $46,338
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.4%
• Population: 18,244

21. Hudson

• Poverty rate: 23.3%
• Median household income: $46,293
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 12.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 34.0%
• Population: 5,923

20. Port Jervis

• Poverty rate: 23.6%
• Median household income: $38,804
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.9%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.8%
• Population: 8,725

19. Olean

• Poverty rate: 23.8%
• Median household income: $45,078
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.7%
• Population: 13,890

18. Fulton

• Poverty rate: 23.9%
• Median household income: $51,243
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.6%
• Population: 11,381

17. Dunkirk

• Poverty rate: 24.9%
• Median household income: $46,800
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.9%
• Population: 12,668

16. Niagara Falls

• Poverty rate: 25.1%
• Median household income: $45,932
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.0%
• Population: 48,502

15. Spring Valley

• Poverty rate: 25.3%
• Median household income: $50,749
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.5%
• Population: 32,963

14. Oswego

• Poverty rate: 25.4%
• Median household income: $50,266
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 27.8%
• Population: 17,092

13. Viola

• Poverty rate: 25.5%
• Median household income: $93,844
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 12.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 35.3%
• Population: 7,385

12. Monticello

• Poverty rate: 25.6%
• Median household income: $45,531
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.0%
• Population: 7,224

11. Salamanca

• Poverty rate: 25.8%
• Median household income: $38,472
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.2%
• Population: 5,906

10. Malone

• Poverty rate: 26.3%
• Median household income: $49,531
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 2.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.7%
• Population: 5,507

9. Newburgh

• Poverty rate: 26.5%
• Median household income: $48,555
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.7%
• Population: 28,751

8. Elmira

• Poverty rate: 27.6%
• Median household income: $41,073
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.1%
• Population: 26,494

7. Jamestown

• Poverty rate: 28.2%
• Median household income: $39,507
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.0%
• Population: 28,679

6. Endicott

• Poverty rate: 29.5%
• Median household income: $43,509
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.1%
• Population: 13,540

5. Binghamton

• Poverty rate: 31.7%
• Median household income: $42,031
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 30.7%
• Population: 47,617

4. Kiryas Joel

• Poverty rate: 43.3%
• Median household income: $40,218
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 3.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 6.3%
• Population: 34,368

3. Monsey

• Poverty rate: 45.8%
• Median household income: $49,630
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.2%
• Population: 28,287

2. Kaser

• Poverty rate: 60.4%
• Median household income: $30,320
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 5.0%
• Population: 5,501

1. New Square

• Poverty rate: 64.2%
• Median household income: $27,488
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 2.4%
• Population: 9,578

Rank	Place	Poverty rate (%)	Median household income ($)	Unemployment rate (%)	Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (%)	Total population
1	New Square, New York	64.2	27,488	8.1	2.4	9,578
2	Kaser, New York	60.4	30,320	7.2	5.0	5,501
3	Monsey, New York	45.8	49,630	8.2	14.2	28,287
4	Kiryas Joel, New York	43.3	40,218	3.4	6.3	34,368
5	Binghamton, New York	31.7	42,031	10.1	30.7	47,617
6	Endicott, New York	29.5	43,509	7.5	19.1	13,540
7	Jamestown, New York	28.2	39,507	9.1	21.0	28,679
8	Elmira, New York	27.6	41,073	9.8	17.1	26,494
9	Newburgh, New York	26.5	48,555	7.8	19.7	28,751
10	Malone, New York	26.3	49,531	2.7	25.7	5,507
11	Salamanca, New York	25.8	38,472	7.8	14.2	5,906
12	Monticello, New York	25.6	45,531	9.3	18.0	7,224
13	Viola, New York	25.5	93,844	12.5	35.3	7,385
14	Oswego, New York	25.4	50,266	10.6	27.8	17,092
15	Spring Valley, New York	25.3	50,749	5.6	18.5	32,963
16	Niagara Falls, New York	25.1	45,932	9.1	22.0	48,502
17	Dunkirk, New York	24.9	46,800	4.6	16.9	12,668
18	Fulton, New York	23.9	51,243	9.0	15.6	11,381
19	Olean, New York	23.8	45,078	6.6	26.7	13,890
20	Port Jervis, New York	23.6	38,804	7.9	14.8	8,725
21	Hudson, New York	23.3	46,293	12.8	34.0	5,923
22	Amsterdam, New York	22.0	46,338	9.2	19.4	18,244
23	Plattsburgh, New York	21.7	55,049	6.0	39.8	19,907
24	Massena, New York	21.6	48,161	6.7	26.0	10,218
25	Lackawanna, New York	21.5	46,869	5.4	19.8	19,762
26	Flanders, New York	21.0	79,100	2.6	16.5	6,411
27	Gloversville, New York	20.7	47,205	7.2	15.3	15,113
28	Mechanicville, New York	20.7	45,686	6.4	20.2	5,177
29	Johnson City, New York	20.3	50,611	11.2	28.1	15,229
30	Watervliet, New York	20.2	51,092	4.7	18.9	10,325
31	Auburn, New York	19.9	48,203	5.9	19.1	26,674
32	Rensselaer, New York	19.9	68,284	2.7	27.9	9,252
33	Cohoes, New York	19.6	62,679	7.3	26.4	17,960
34	Watertown, New York	19.5	49,722	5.8	25.3	24,859
35	Hornell, New York	18.8	47,632	8.5	16.3	8,208

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