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 Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania 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 20.8% to 35.9%, and in each of these places, the typical household earns less than the statewide median household income of $73,170.

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 5.4% jobless rate across Pennsylvania.

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 33.8% 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. Pottsville

• Poverty rate: 20.8%
• Median household income: $46,081
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.5%
• Population: 13,386

34. Collingdale

• Poverty rate: 21.5%
• Median household income: $49,819
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.7%
• Population: 8,865

33. Butler

• Poverty rate: 21.7%
• Median household income: $39,546
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.3%
• Population: 13,387

32. Wilkes-Barre

• Poverty rate: 21.7%
• Median household income: $46,597
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.6%
• Population: 44,123

31. Wilkinsburg

• Poverty rate: 23.0%
• Median household income: $46,013
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 38.1%
• Population: 14,340

30. Clairton

• Poverty rate: 23.1%
• Median household income: $41,301
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.6%
• Population: 6,182

29. Lebanon

• Poverty rate: 23.3%
• Median household income: $47,160
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.5%
• Population: 26,679

28. Tamaqua

• Poverty rate: 23.5%
• Median household income: $48,920
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.7%
• Population: 6,911

27. Aliquippa

• Poverty rate: 23.5%
• Median household income: $42,601
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.2%
• Population: 9,198

26. Titusville

• Poverty rate: 23.7%
• Median household income: $36,071
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.0%
• Population: 5,262

25. Carbondale

• Poverty rate: 24.1%
• Median household income: $52,681
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.8%
• Population: 8,818

24. Jeannette

• Poverty rate: 24.3%
• Median household income: $47,801
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.9%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.8%
• Population: 8,790

23. Coatesville

• Poverty rate: 24.3%
• Median household income: $55,989
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.3%
• Population: 13,316

22. York

• Poverty rate: 24.5%
• Median household income: $42,351
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 12.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.1%
• Population: 44,782

21. Lock Haven

• Poverty rate: 25.1%
• Median household income: $42,930
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.8%
• Population: 8,422

20. Williamsport

• Poverty rate: 25.4%
• Median household income: $48,388
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.9%
• Population: 27,755

19. Corry

• Poverty rate: 25.5%
• Median household income: $44,138
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.8%
• Population: 6,209

18. Hazleton

• Poverty rate: 25.7%
• Median household income: $39,362
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.9%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.2%
• Population: 29,671

17. Duquesne

• Poverty rate: 25.8%
• Median household income: $40,969
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.6%
• Population: 5,241

16. West Hazleton

• Poverty rate: 26.3%
• Median household income: $46,856
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.2%
• Population: 5,130

15. New Castle

• Poverty rate: 26.4%
• Median household income: $39,948
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 15.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.5%
• Population: 21,863

14. Beaver Falls

• Poverty rate: 26.8%
• Median household income: $39,194
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.0%
• Population: 8,934

13. Sharon Hill

• Poverty rate: 26.8%
• Median household income: $66,378
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 17.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.6%
• Population: 5,976

12. Vandergrift

• Poverty rate: 27.3%
• Median household income: $47,530
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.6%
• Population: 5,051

11. Pittston

• Poverty rate: 27.7%
• Median household income: $44,863
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.7%
• Population: 7,601

10. Uniontown

• Poverty rate: 27.7%
• Median household income: $37,886
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 12.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.4%
• Population: 9,913

9. Turtle Creek

• Poverty rate: 27.9%
• Median household income: $42,344
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 14.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.2%
• Population: 5,087

8. Chester

• Poverty rate: 28.3%
• Median household income: $39,193
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 15.9%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.6%
• Population: 33,048

7. Bradford

• Poverty rate: 28.3%
• Median household income: $47,917
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.6%
• Population: 7,847

6. McKeesport

• Poverty rate: 28.9%
• Median household income: $31,635
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.3%
• Population: 17,749

5. Lewistown

• Poverty rate: 31.1%
• Median household income: $36,166
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.7%
• Population: 8,522

4. McKees Rocks

• Poverty rate: 32.6%
• Median household income: $33,958
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 15.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.4%
• Population: 5,893

3. Johnstown

• Poverty rate: 32.9%
• Median household income: $33,466
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.8%
• Population: 18,429

2. Darby

• Poverty rate: 33.8%
• Median household income: $45,511
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 13.9%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.2%
• Population: 10,682

1. Shamokin

• Poverty rate: 35.9%
• Median household income: $32,753
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.1%
• Population: 6,915

Rank	Place	Poverty rate (%)	Median household income ($)	Unemployment rate (%)	Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (%)	Total population
1	Shamokin, Pennsylvania	35.9	32,753	8.7	14.1	6,915
2	Darby, Pennsylvania	33.8	45,511	13.9	17.2	10,682
3	Johnstown, Pennsylvania	32.9	33,466	7.1	13.8	18,429
4	McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania	32.6	33,958	15.5	18.4	5,893
5	Lewistown, Pennsylvania	31.1	36,166	7.3	11.7	8,522
6	McKeesport, Pennsylvania	28.9	31,635	7.8	13.3	17,749
7	Bradford, Pennsylvania	28.3	47,917	5.3	18.6	7,847
8	Chester, Pennsylvania	28.3	39,193	15.9	13.6	33,048
9	Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania	27.9	42,344	14.5	12.2	5,087
10	Uniontown, Pennsylvania	27.7	37,886	12.7	19.4	9,913
11	Pittston, Pennsylvania	27.7	44,863	6.8	19.7	7,601
12	Vandergrift, Pennsylvania	27.3	47,530	10.2	16.6	5,051
13	Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania	26.8	66,378	17.7	26.6	5,976
14	Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania	26.8	39,194	11.5	18.0	8,934
15	New Castle, Pennsylvania	26.4	39,948	15.6	16.5	21,863
16	West Hazleton, Pennsylvania	26.3	46,856	5.6	17.2	5,130
17	Duquesne, Pennsylvania	25.8	40,969	7.8	10.6	5,241
18	Hazleton, Pennsylvania	25.7	39,362	6.9	11.2	29,671
19	Corry, Pennsylvania	25.5	44,138	10.5	20.8	6,209
20	Williamsport, Pennsylvania	25.4	48,388	6.5	26.9	27,755
21	Lock Haven, Pennsylvania	25.1	42,930	7.3	22.8	8,422
22	York, Pennsylvania	24.5	42,351	12.0	16.1	44,782
23	Coatesville, Pennsylvania	24.3	55,989	8.3	15.3	13,316
24	Jeannette, Pennsylvania	24.3	47,801	7.9	18.8	8,790
25	Carbondale, Pennsylvania	24.1	52,681	6.5	18.8	8,818
26	Titusville, Pennsylvania	23.7	36,071	7.7	17.0	5,262
27	Aliquippa, Pennsylvania	23.5	42,601	8.4	19.2	9,198
28	Tamaqua, Pennsylvania	23.5	48,920	5.3	13.7	6,911
29	Lebanon, Pennsylvania	23.3	47,160	10.0	12.5	26,679
30	Clairton, Pennsylvania	23.1	41,301	10.6	19.6	6,182
31	Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania	23.0	46,013	8.5	38.1	14,340
32	Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania	21.7	46,597	8.4	18.6	44,123
33	Butler, Pennsylvania	21.7	39,546	9.4	22.3	13,387
34	Collingdale, Pennsylvania	21.5	49,819	8.6	13.7	8,865
35	Pottsville, Pennsylvania	20.8	46,081	9.5	19.5	13,386

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