Special Report
The Metros Where The Most People Live Below The Poverty Line
Published:
Last Updated:
The American economy has made considerable inroads, but it is still to fully recover from the effects of the pandemic. Many Americans owe months of back rent, and millions face an unstable job situation or ongoing unemployment. Worse still, different aids and laws enacted to assist Americans through COVID-19 are set to expire in coming months. For example, some pandemic unemployment benefit programs are set to expire in September, while the moratorium on eviction is set to expire in October. If neither is extended, many more Americans could find themselves in dire economic circumstances.
This could mean that the U.S. poverty rate, which was 12.3% in 2019, would likely increase. And in historically impoverished metropolitan areas that were reportedly affected disproportionately by the virus, the poverty rate could rise even more.
To determine the metros with the highest poverty rates in the nation, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed one-year estimates of the percentage of people who live below the poverty line in each metropolitan area from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.
For reference, the Department of Health and Human services sets the official poverty threshold at an annual income of no more than approximately $26,000 for a family of four.
In comparison to the 2019 poverty rates, the 50 metros on this list have poverty rates of at least 17.9% and as high as 27.3%.
People struggling with poverty can be found all over the country, but the places where poverty is especially common are concentrated in three regions — the West, the Midwest, and notably the South, which is home to 30 of the 50 metropolitan areas on this list. The state of Texas is home to seven of the 50 metros on this list, followed by Louisiana, with six.
While poverty rates do not correspond perfectly with median incomes, counties with higher poverty rates tend to have lower incomes. They also tend to have higher shares of residents receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, formerly known as food stamps.
Click here to see the metros where the most people live below the poverty line.
Click here to see our detailed methodology.
50. Beckley, WV
> Poverty rate: 17.9%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 19,952 — 97th lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 22.0% — 7th highest of 368 metros
> Median household income: $44,785 — 12th lowest of 368 metros
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49. Corvallis, OR
> Poverty rate: 17.9%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 15,662 — 53rd lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 9.7% — 140th lowest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $70,835 — 65th highest of 368 metros
48. Pueblo, CO
> Poverty rate: 17.9%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 29,592 — 157th lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 18.3% — 23rd highest of 368 metros
> Median household income: $51,276 — 78th lowest of 368 metros
47. Fayetteville, NC
> Poverty rate: 17.9%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 90,302 — 74th highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 16.3% — 47th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $47,597 — 27th lowest of 368 metros
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46. Terre Haute, IN
> Poverty rate: 18.0%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 30,770 — 163rd lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 11.9% — 148th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $50,129 — 59th lowest of 368 metros
45. Joplin, MO
> Poverty rate: 18.0%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 31,720 — 166th lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 13.3% — 106th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $48,909 — 44th lowest of 368 metros
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44. Carbondale-Marion, IL
> Poverty rate: 18.1%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 23,329 — 124th lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 13.6% — 100th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $46,882 — 21st lowest of 368 metros
43. Columbia, MO
> Poverty rate: 18.3%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 36,049 — 182nd highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 9.7% — 140th lowest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $57,359 — 159th lowest of 368 metros
42. Lubbock, TX
> Poverty rate: 18.3%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 56,718 — 121st highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 12.3% — 129th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $54,598 — 117th lowest of 368 metros
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41. Lafayette, LA
> Poverty rate: 18.4%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 88,445 — 76th highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 13.1% — 110th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $53,493 — 102nd lowest of 368 metros
40. Gainesville, FL
> Poverty rate: 18.5%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 57,943 — 118th highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 9.0% — 115th lowest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $47,762 — 28th lowest of 368 metros
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39. Manhattan, KS
> Poverty rate: 18.6%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 21,990 — 113th lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 7.7% — 70th lowest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $59,010 — 183rd lowest of 368 metros
24/7 Wall St.
38. Dothan, AL
> Poverty rate: 18.6%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 27,439 — 147th lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 13.2% — 109th highest of 368 metros
> Median household income: $50,010 — 57th lowest of 368 metros
37. El Paso, TX
> Poverty rate: 18.7%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 154,535 — 46th highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 22.3% — 5th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $48,823 — 43rd lowest of 368 metros
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36. Visalia, CA
> Poverty rate: 18.8%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 86,315 — 79th highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 22.3% — 5th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $57,692 — 165th lowest of 368 metros
35. Waco, TX
> Poverty rate: 18.8%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 48,897 — 142nd highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 10.4% — 170th lowest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $50,368 — 63rd lowest of 368 metros
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34. Jonesboro, AR
> Poverty rate: 18.9%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 24,427 — 131st lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 12.8% — 117th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $44,998 — 13th lowest of 368 metros
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33. Saginaw, MI
> Poverty rate: 19.0%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 34,997 — 182nd lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 19.7% — 15th highest of 368 metros
> Median household income: $48,303 — 31st lowest of 368 metros
32. Bakersfield, CA
> Poverty rate: 19.1%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 166,768 — 45th highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 16.9% — 37th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $53,067 — 97th lowest of 368 metros
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31. Macon-Bibb County, GA
> Poverty rate: 19.2%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 42,865 — 157th highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 16.0% — 51st highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $48,435 — 34th lowest of 368 metros
30. Fort Smith, AR-OK
> Poverty rate: 19.4%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 47,501 — 145th highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 11.7% — 155th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $45,157 — 15th lowest of 368 metros
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29. Goldsboro, NC
> Poverty rate: 19.4%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 23,488 — 126th lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 15.0% — 64th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $44,596 — 11th lowest of 368 metros
28. Sumter, SC
> Poverty rate: 19.4%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 26,650 — 145th lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 16.5% — 43rd highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $49,263 — 48th lowest of 368 metros
27. Houma-Thibodaux, LA
> Poverty rate: 19.5%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 39,481 — 172nd highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 14.8% — 70th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $49,874 — 55th lowest of 368 metros
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26. Greenville, NC
> Poverty rate: 19.6%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 33,998 — 174th lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 13.6% — 100th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $53,401 — 99th lowest of 368 metros
25. Gadsden, AL
> Poverty rate: 19.7%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 19,815 — 96th lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 15.0% — 64th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $41,447 — 4th lowest of 368 metros
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24. Champaign-Urbana, IL
> Poverty rate: 20.0%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 42,042 — 160th highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 10.7% — 181st lowest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $53,081 — 98th lowest of 368 metros
23. Morgantown, WV
> Poverty rate: 20.1%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 26,054 — 141st lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 10.3% — 167th lowest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $56,395 — 140th lowest of 368 metros
22. Athens-Clarke County, GA
> Poverty rate: 20.2%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 40,431 — 169th highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 9.9% — 151st lowest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $50,962 — 74th lowest of 368 metros
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21. Lake Charles, LA
> Poverty rate: 20.4%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 42,035 — 161st highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 14.4% — 83rd highest of 368 metros
> Median household income: $51,547 — 81st lowest of 368 metros
20. Tallahassee, FL
> Poverty rate: 20.5%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 74,754 — 95th highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 13.9% — 94th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $52,729 — 96th lowest of 368 metros
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19. Laredo, TX
> Poverty rate: 20.5%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 56,108 — 123rd highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 21.8% — 8th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $56,084 — 136th lowest of 368 metros
18. College Station-Bryan, TX
> Poverty rate: 20.5%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 51,659 — 133rd highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 11.3% — 164th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $55,670 — 129th lowest of 368 metros
17. Fresno, CA
> Poverty rate: 20.6%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 202,698 — 37th highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 17.4% — 32nd highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $57,518 — 163rd lowest of 368 metros
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16. Valdosta, GA
> Poverty rate: 20.9%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 29,333 — 155th lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 16.9% — 37th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $43,787 — 9th lowest of 368 metros
15. Bloomington, IN
> Poverty rate: 20.9%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 31,907 — 167th lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.6% — 38th lowest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $52,526 — 94th lowest of 368 metros
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14. Farmington, NM
> Poverty rate: 21.2%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 25,951 — 140th lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 17.2% — 36th highest of 368 metros
> Median household income: $44,321 — 10th lowest of 368 metros
13. Yuma, AZ
> Poverty rate: 21.4%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 44,400 — 153rd highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 18.4% — 22nd highest of 368 metros
> Median household income: $46,419 — 19th lowest of 368 metros
12. Shreveport-Bossier City, LA
> Poverty rate: 22.2%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 85,823 — 82nd highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 15.4% — 58th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $47,447 — 24th lowest of 368 metros
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11. Hattiesburg, MS
> Poverty rate: 22.5%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 36,946 — 181st highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 12.3% — 129th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $48,359 — 33rd lowest of 368 metros
10. Albany, GA
> Poverty rate: 22.6%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 32,024 — 169th lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 21.2% — 10th highest of 368 metros
> Median household income: $40,625 — 2nd lowest of 368 metros
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9. Muncie, IN
> Poverty rate: 22.8%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 24,266 — 129th lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 13.3% — 106th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $45,065 — 14th lowest of 368 metros
8. Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA
> Poverty rate: 22.9%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 34,759 — 181st lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 7.8% — 75th lowest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $56,092 — 137th lowest of 368 metros
7. Hammond, LA
> Poverty rate: 22.9%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 30,095 — 160th lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 17.6% — 29th highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $47,825 — 29th lowest of 368 metros
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6. Pine Bluff, AR
> Poverty rate: 23.6%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 18,358 — 82nd lowest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 14.7% — 73rd highest of 368 metros (tied)
> Median household income: $41,541 — 5th lowest of 368 metros
5. El Centro, CA
> Poverty rate: 25.1%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 42,687 — 158th highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 19.4% — 17th highest of 368 metros
> Median household income: $48,472 — 35th lowest of 368 metros
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4. Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
> Poverty rate: 25.6%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 107,983 — 64th highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 26.3% — 2nd highest of 368 metros
> Median household income: $41,123 — 3rd lowest of 368 metros
3. Las Cruces, NM
> Poverty rate: 25.9%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 55,037 — 126th highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 22.9% — 4th highest of 368 metros
> Median household income: $43,038 — 7th lowest of 368 metros
2. Monroe, LA
> Poverty rate: 26.0%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 49,828 — 139th highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 20.9% — 11th highest of 368 metros
> Median household income: $40,136 — 1st lowest of 368 metros
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1. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
> Poverty rate: 27.3%
> Number of people living below poverty line: 234,015 — 31st highest of 368 metros
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 27.1% — 1st highest of 368 metros
> Median household income: $41,800 — 6th lowest of 368 metros
Methodology:
To determine the metros with the highest poverty rates in the nation, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed one-year estimates of the percentage of people who live below the poverty line in each metropolitan area from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.
We used the 384 metropolitan statistical areas as delineated by the United States Office of Management and Budget and used by the Census Bureau as our definition of metros.
Metropolitan areas were excluded if 25% or more of a ZIP code’s population were enrolled in undergraduate, professional, or graduate school during the same period, or if the sampling error associated with a metro’s data was deemed too high.
The sampling error was defined as too high if the coefficient of variation — a statistical assessment of how reliable an estimate is — for a metro’s poverty rate was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all metros’ poverty rates. We similarly excluded metros that had a sampling error too high, using the same definition.
The remaining 368 metros were ranked based on their poverty rates. Additional information on the number of people living below the poverty line, median household income, and the share of households receiving SNAP benefits are also one-year estimates from the 2019 ACS.
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