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 Ohio, 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 Ohio, 13.3% 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 Ohio 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 20.7% to nearly 40%, and in each of these places, the typical household earns less than the statewide median household income of $66,990.

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 5.0% jobless rate across Ohio.

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 30.4% 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. Warrensville Heights

• Poverty rate: 20.7%
• Median household income: $43,848
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.6%
• Population: 13,659

34. Port Clinton

• Poverty rate: 20.7%
• Median household income: $55,534
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.0%
• Population: 6,024

33. Fostoria

• Poverty rate: 21.0%
• Median household income: $53,145
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.2%
• Population: 12,904

32. Wilmington

• Poverty rate: 21.1%
• Median household income: $48,407
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.2%
• Population: 12,669

31. New Carlisle

• Poverty rate: 21.4%
• Median household income: $56,744
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 17.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.4%
• Population: 5,579

30. Maple Heights

• Poverty rate: 21.6%
• Median household income: $49,877
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.7%
• Population: 23,473

29. Marion

• Poverty rate: 21.8%
• Median household income: $44,879
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.1%
• Population: 35,927

28. Garfield Heights

• Poverty rate: 22.0%
• Median household income: $49,864
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.0%
• Population: 29,497

27. Marietta

• Poverty rate: 22.0%
• Median household income: $44,401
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 30.0%
• Population: 13,366

26. Jackson

• Poverty rate: 22.1%
• Median household income: $51,864
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.5%
• Population: 6,222

25. Wellston

• Poverty rate: 22.3%
• Median household income: $51,597
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 7.0%
• Population: 5,420

24. Uhrichsville

• Poverty rate: 22.5%
• Median household income: $42,155
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.5%
• Population: 5,238

23. Alliance

• Poverty rate: 23.1%
• Median household income: $51,721
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.0%
• Population: 21,603

22. Hillsboro

• Poverty rate: 23.1%
• Median household income: $44,731
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.8%
• Population: 6,492

21. Lima

• Poverty rate: 23.1%
• Median household income: $41,824
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.7%
• Population: 35,555

20. Circleville

• Poverty rate: 23.2%
• Median household income: $51,830
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.4%
• Population: 14,017

19. Coshocton

• Poverty rate: 23.2%
• Median household income: $47,184
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.8%
• Population: 11,054

18. Trotwood

• Poverty rate: 23.8%
• Median household income: $46,442
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.3%
• Population: 23,125

17. Shiloh

• Poverty rate: 23.8%
• Median household income: $43,256
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.9%
• Population: 10,539

16. North College Hill

• Poverty rate: 24.2%
• Median household income: $51,971
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.0%
• Population: 9,602

15. Ironton

• Poverty rate: 24.6%
• Median household income: $43,702
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.0%
• Population: 10,597

14. Mansfield

• Poverty rate: 25.0%
• Median household income: $40,996
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.9%
• Population: 47,630

13. Zanesville

• Poverty rate: 25.2%
• Median household income: $40,927
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.0%
• Population: 24,772

12. Moraine

• Poverty rate: 25.5%
• Median household income: $40,793
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.5%
• Population: 6,484

11. New Burlington

• Poverty rate: 25.6%
• Median household income: $58,092
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 2.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 27.0%
• Population: 5,321

10. Logan

• Poverty rate: 25.7%
• Median household income: $46,762
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 3.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.3%
• Population: 7,168

9. Steubenville

• Poverty rate: 27.9%
• Median household income: $42,725
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 28.4%
• Population: 18,175

8. Campbell

• Poverty rate: 28.7%
• Median household income: $43,176
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 13.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.2%
• Population: 7,819

7. Cambridge

• Poverty rate: 30.2%
• Median household income: $39,589
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 2.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.4%
• Population: 10,087

6. East Liverpool

• Poverty rate: 31.6%
• Median household income: $34,560
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.1%
• Population: 9,969

5. Martins Ferry

• Poverty rate: 32.4%
• Median household income: $39,195
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 20.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.7%
• Population: 6,283

4. Ashtabula

• Poverty rate: 32.7%
• Median household income: $39,053
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 13.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.6%
• Population: 18,003

3. Warren

• Poverty rate: 35.0%
• Median household income: $33,296
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.2%
• Population: 39,204

2. Portsmouth

• Poverty rate: 35.4%
• Median household income: $36,051
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.7%
• Population: 18,130

1. East Cleveland

• Poverty rate: 39.5%
• Median household income: $23,004
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 19.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.9%
• Population: 13,926

Rank	Place	Poverty rate (%)	Median household income ($)	Unemployment rate (%)	Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (%)	Total population
1	East Cleveland, Ohio	39.5	23,004	19.3	14.9	13,926
2	Portsmouth, Ohio	35.4	36,051	11.5	16.7	18,130
3	Warren, Ohio	35.0	33,296	8.6	15.2	39,204
4	Ashtabula, Ohio	32.7	39,053	13.6	11.6	18,003
5	Martins Ferry, Ohio	32.4	39,195	20.8	10.7	6,283
6	East Liverpool, Ohio	31.6	34,560	6.1	8.1	9,969
7	Cambridge, Ohio	30.2	39,589	2.5	13.4	10,087
8	Campbell, Ohio	28.7	43,176	13.5	17.2	7,819
9	Steubenville, Ohio	27.9	42,725	7.6	28.4	18,175
10	Logan, Ohio	25.7	46,762	3.0	13.3	7,168
11	New Burlington, Ohio	25.6	58,092	2.0	27.0	5,321
12	Moraine, Ohio	25.5	40,793	4.4	14.5	6,484
13	Zanesville, Ohio	25.2	40,927	8.5	13.0	24,772
14	Mansfield, Ohio	25.0	40,996	7.8	15.9	47,630
15	Ironton, Ohio	24.6	43,702	6.4	20.0	10,597
16	North College Hill, Ohio	24.2	51,971	8.8	17.0	9,602
17	Shiloh, Ohio	23.8	43,256	8.2	25.9	10,539
18	Trotwood, Ohio	23.8	46,442	8.4	18.3	23,125
19	Coshocton, Ohio	23.2	47,184	9.2	19.8	11,054
20	Circleville, Ohio	23.2	51,830	9.3	19.4	14,017
21	Lima, Ohio	23.1	41,824	8.6	10.7	35,555
22	Hillsboro, Ohio	23.1	44,731	5.0	16.8	6,492
23	Alliance, Ohio	23.1	51,721	4.0	18.0	21,603
24	Uhrichsville, Ohio	22.5	42,155	10.2	10.5	5,238
25	Wellston, Ohio	22.3	51,597	5.6	7.0	5,420
26	Jackson, Ohio	22.1	51,864	4.8	16.5	6,222
27	Marietta, Ohio	22.0	44,401	5.6	30.0	13,366
28	Garfield Heights, Ohio	22.0	49,864	9.8	15.0	29,497
29	Marion, Ohio	21.8	44,879	8.7	10.1	35,927
30	Maple Heights, Ohio	21.6	49,877	8.3	15.7	23,473
31	New Carlisle, Ohio	21.4	56,744	17.1	13.4	5,579
32	Wilmington, Ohio	21.1	48,407	5.0	22.2	12,669
33	Fostoria, Ohio	21.0	53,145	5.8	11.2	12,904
34	Port Clinton, Ohio	20.7	55,534	5.2	18.0	6,024
35	Warrensville Heights, Ohio	20.7	43,848	10.2	19.6	13,659

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