Here's What Life Looks Like in America's Hardest-Hit Places

The COVID-19 pandemic had indelible impacts on American society. In addition to the incredibly high death count associated with the pandemic, American citizens were hard-hit financially. An article from the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, a nonprofit research and grant organization dedicated to broad-based economic growth, shares new research on how emergency income support programs and tax policies made a huge difference for American families. The 2021 expansion of the Child Tax Credit — which failed in Congress in 2024 — reduced child food insecurity by 15%, particularly in households of color and low-income households. However, since many of these programs lapsed in 2022, U.S. poverty (and, more specifically, child poverty) once again rose. This suggests that the U.S. could address poverty measures, at least in some regards, through the implementation of various social support programs.

Despite social and economic changes over the years, and policies designed to support American families, poverty rates continue to rise nationwide. Inflation and widespread global conflict, have also significantly heightened the cost of living. In 2022, the official poverty rate in the U.S. was 11.5%, or 37.9 million people. As of 2024, the federal poverty level (FPL) in the United States is $14,891 for an individual. The poverty line for a family of four is $29,960. In 48 of 50 U.S. states, at least one county or county equivalent has a higher poverty rate than the national average. Using five-year estimates from the USCB’s 2022 American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified the county or county equivalent in each state with the highest poverty rate. We also provided data on unemployment rates and education levels. Income and job security tend to rise with greater education attained. The lack of work in a given area is linked to financial hardships. In the majority of these counties, the average unemployment rate was higher than the comparable average across the state in the last five years. (Homelessness increased by over 155% in this Northeast state.)

Why Are We Writing About Poverty?

According to the most recent Household Pulse Survey from the USCB, nearly 88% of Americans in households earning less than $25,000 annually report at least some difficulty paying for usual expenses, compared to 63% of all Americans. Americans in the lowest income bracket were also more likely to be behind on rent or mortgage payments and nearly three times as likely as the typical American to regularly not have enough to eat. These circumstances contribute to higher rates of mental health problems. In fact, Americans in households earning less than $25,000 a year are more likely than any other income group to report anxiety or uncontrollable worry nearly every day.

Simply living in an already impoverished area, such as one lacking in jobs and social infrastructure, directly impacts the financial status of a person or family. Should a person or family wish to improve their standings, these circumstances set them at a disadvantage from the beginning. When one compounds this disadvantage with a lack of education or mental health struggles, attempts to get out of the situation can be difficult and feel impossible. Understanding the impact of poverty will help one better understand the community’s needs and how to help, should they wish.

It’s time to learn which county in each state has the worst poverty rate: