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 Texas, 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 Texas, 13.9% 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 Texas 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 28.0% to 66.7%, and in each of these places, the typical household earns less than the statewide median household income of $73,035.

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 5.2% jobless rate across Texas.

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 32.3% 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. Pearsall

• Poverty rate: 28.0%
• Median household income: $41,761
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 7.0%
• Population: 8,870

34. Bacliff

• Poverty rate: 28.1%
• Median household income: $52,246
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.4%
• Population: 10,313

33. Alton

• Poverty rate: 28.1%
• Median household income: $44,317
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.5%
• Population: 18,493

32. Lamesa

• Poverty rate: 28.4%
• Median household income: $39,434
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.3%
• Population: 8,571

31. La Homa

• Poverty rate: 28.4%
• Median household income: $38,365
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 13.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.2%
• Population: 10,661

30. Fort Stockton

• Poverty rate: 28.4%
• Median household income: $65,657
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 1.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.5%
• Population: 8,404

29. San Elizario

• Poverty rate: 28.5%
• Median household income: $46,486
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 7.8%
• Population: 10,072

28. Bay City

• Poverty rate: 28.6%
• Median household income: $50,212
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.1%
• Population: 17,869

27. Uvalde

• Poverty rate: 28.7%
• Median household income: $47,289
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 1.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.3%
• Population: 15,342

26. Mercedes

• Poverty rate: 29.2%
• Median household income: $43,243
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.4%
• Population: 16,361

25. San Benito

• Poverty rate: 29.8%
• Median household income: $38,100
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.4%
• Population: 24,766

24. Rio Grande City

• Poverty rate: 30.0%
• Median household income: $44,307
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.9%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.6%
• Population: 15,256

23. Robstown

• Poverty rate: 30.4%
• Median household income: $35,417
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 9.0%
• Population: 10,246

22. Crystal City

• Poverty rate: 30.4%
• Median household income: $49,211
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.1%
• Population: 6,332

21. Galena Park

• Poverty rate: 30.4%
• Median household income: $45,614
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 14.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 6.9%
• Population: 10,641

20. Jasper

• Poverty rate: 31.1%
• Median household income: $38,796
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.0%
• Population: 7,131

19. Center

• Poverty rate: 31.2%
• Median household income: $57,875
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 3.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.8%
• Population: 5,221

18. La Feria

• Poverty rate: 31.5%
• Median household income: $38,656
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 1.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.9%
• Population: 6,848

17. Olivarez

• Poverty rate: 31.6%
• Median household income: $61,740
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 3.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 9.9%
• Population: 6,853

16. Gladewater

• Poverty rate: 31.7%
• Median household income: $47,749
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 2.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.2%
• Population: 6,166

15. Raymondville

• Poverty rate: 33.1%
• Median household income: $42,109
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 12.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 7.7%
• Population: 10,301

14. Kingsville

• Poverty rate: 33.1%
• Median household income: $50,963
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.3%
• Population: 25,265

13. Roma

• Poverty rate: 33.7%
• Median household income: $26,951
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 14.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.6%
• Population: 11,531

12. Aldine

• Poverty rate: 33.7%
• Median household income: $38,239
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.9%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.1%
• Population: 15,511

11. Los Fresnos

• Poverty rate: 34.6%
• Median household income: $39,536
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.9%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.5%
• Population: 8,081

10. Sinton

• Poverty rate: 34.6%
• Median household income: $46,411
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.0%
• Population: 5,505

9. Canutillo

• Poverty rate: 35.8%
• Median household income: $40,655
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 2.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.0%
• Population: 6,800

8. Mexia

• Poverty rate: 36.6%
• Median household income: $33,239
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 3.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 9.9%
• Population: 6,907

7. Donna

• Poverty rate: 38.0%
• Median household income: $34,049
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.7%
• Population: 16,742

6. Mila Doce

• Poverty rate: 38.9%
• Median household income: $39,247
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.5%
• Population: 7,554

5. Doffing

• Poverty rate: 40.8%
• Median household income: $24,404
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.0%
• Population: 5,209

4. Cameron Park

• Poverty rate: 46.7%
• Median household income: $34,248
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 5.8%
• Population: 5,830

3. Doolittle

• Poverty rate: 55.8%
• Median household income: $33,326
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 22.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.3%
• Population: 6,019

2. Sparks

• Poverty rate: 58.2%
• Median household income: $30,848
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.7%
• Population: 5,212

1. Salida del Sol Estates

• Poverty rate: 66.7%
• Median household income: $20,613
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 1.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.2%
• Population: 6,172

Rank	Place	Poverty rate (%)	Median household income ($)	Unemployment rate (%)	Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (%)	Total population
1	Salida del Sol Estates, Texas	66.7	20,613	1.6	3.2	6,172
2	Sparks, Texas	58.2	30,848	10.7	8.7	5,212
3	Doolittle, Texas	55.8	33,326	22.3	3.3	6,019
4	Cameron Park, Texas	46.7	34,248	10.2	5.8	5,830
5	Doffing, Texas	40.8	24,404	5.4	10.0	5,209
6	Mila Doce, Texas	38.9	39,247	6.4	3.5	7,554
7	Donna, Texas	38.0	34,049	4.2	12.7	16,742
8	Mexia, Texas	36.6	33,239	3.8	9.9	6,907
9	Canutillo, Texas	35.8	40,655	2.8	19.0	6,800
10	Sinton, Texas	34.6	46,411	8.2	8.0	5,505
11	Los Fresnos, Texas	34.6	39,536	5.9	15.5	8,081
12	Aldine, Texas	33.7	38,239	7.9	4.1	15,511
13	Roma, Texas	33.7	26,951	14.0	15.6	11,531
14	Kingsville, Texas	33.1	50,963	8.0	22.3	25,265
15	Raymondville, Texas	33.1	42,109	12.5	7.7	10,301
16	Gladewater, Texas	31.7	47,749	2.8	12.2	6,166
17	Olivarez, Texas	31.6	61,740	3.7	9.9	6,853
18	La Feria, Texas	31.5	38,656	1.8	16.9	6,848
19	Center, Texas	31.2	57,875	3.6	12.8	5,221
20	Jasper, Texas	31.1	38,796	9.7	13.0	7,131
21	Galena Park, Texas	30.4	45,614	14.3	6.9	10,641
22	Crystal City, Texas	30.4	49,211	4.7	14.1	6,332
23	Robstown, Texas	30.4	35,417	10.3	9.0	10,246
24	Rio Grande City, Texas	30.0	44,307	8.9	18.6	15,256
25	San Benito, Texas	29.8	38,100	5.3	12.4	24,766
26	Mercedes, Texas	29.2	43,243	8.3	15.4	16,361
27	Uvalde, Texas	28.7	47,289	1.1	16.3	15,342
28	Bay City, Texas	28.6	50,212	11.1	20.1	17,869
29	San Elizario, Texas	28.5	46,486	4.8	7.8	10,072
30	Fort Stockton, Texas	28.4	65,657	1.2	12.5	8,404
31	La Homa, Texas	28.4	38,365	13.3	8.2	10,661
32	Lamesa, Texas	28.4	39,434	11.0	14.3	8,571
33	Alton, Texas	28.1	44,317	9.3	10.5	18,493
34	Bacliff, Texas	28.1	52,246	7.1	19.4	10,313
35	Pearsall, Texas	28.0	41,761	4.5	7.0	8,870

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