Inflation has driven up the prices of nearly all goods and services, including necessary items such as groceries. The cost of a gallon of milk is up 25% compared to pre-pandemic prices. According to a report by Moody’s Analytics, American families pay $311 more each month, on average, for essential goods compared to one year ago. To survive the price hikes, millions of Americans may have to rely on the government’s food assistance benefits, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
As of 2020, roughly 13.8 million American households, about one in 10, received SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps. At the more local level, SNAP recipiency rates can be much higher.
To rank the 50 cities with the highest SNAP recipiency rates, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of the share of households that received SNAP benefits in the past 12 months from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey. We defined cities based on a population threshold — places with at least 25,000 in population.
As of 2020, 11.4% of U.S. households received SNAP benefits. Among the 50 places on this list, that share ranges from 28.7% to 46.6%. Florida has by far the most cities with the highest SNAP recipiency, with 13, followed by Pennsylvania and New York, each with seven.
While factors such as assets and household composition impact whether a household qualifies, SNAP recipiency is primarily determined by income. So, as might be expected, cities with higher poverty rates also tend to have more households receiving benefits. In 2020, 12.8% of Americans lived below the poverty line. Of the 50 cities on this list, 46 have a poverty rate of at least 20%, and in the case of Kiryas Joel, New York, the poverty rate is 41.3%, the third highest of the roughly 1,700 American places with populations of at least 25,000. This is the city where the most people live in poverty in every state.
Because income is the primary determinant for SNAP recipiency, unemployment is a major determinant in how many people receive benefits, as those Americans who are out of a job are likely to have little to no income. Nearly all of the cities on this list have five-year average unemployment rates higher than the U.S. five-year average unemployment rate of 5.3%. Flint, Michigan, which has the seventh highest SNAP recipiency among cities, has a five-year unemployment rate of 19.5%, the second highest of any place in the U.S. with at least 25,000 people. These are the states with the worst spikes in unemployment since the pandemic began.
Click here to see cities where the most families need food stamps
Cities were excluded if the SNAP recipiency rate was not available in the 2020 ACS, if there were fewer than 500 households, or if the sampling error associated with a city’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 city’s SNAP recipiency rate was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all cities’ SNAP recipiency rates. We similarly excluded cities that had a sampling error too high for their population, using the same definition.
Cities were ranked based on the share of households that received SNAP benefits in the past 12 months. To break ties, we used the number of households that received SNAP benefits in the past 12 months.
Additional information on poverty rate, median household income, and unemployment rate are also five-year estimates from the 2020 ACS.
50. Syracuse, New York
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 28.7%
> Poverty rate: 30.3% — 44th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $38,893 — 85th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 9.6% — 84th highest of 1,703 cities
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49. Waterbury, Connecticut
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 28.8%
> Poverty rate: 21.3% — 247th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $46,329 — 257th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 9.3% — 99th highest of 1,703 cities
48. Golden Glades, Florida
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 28.8%
> Poverty rate: 18.5% — 377th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $44,126 — 204th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 9.2% — 110th highest of 1,703 cities
47. Pontiac, Michigan
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 28.9%
> Poverty rate: 27.9% — 65th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $34,673 — 35th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 11.0% — 40th highest of 1,703 cities
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46. Kissimmee, Florida
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 29.0%
> Poverty rate: 25.1% — 127th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $41,399 — 130th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 6.0% — 596th highest of 1,703 cities
45. Miami, Florida
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 29.0%
> Poverty rate: 21.5% — 241st highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $44,268 — 208th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 5.7% — 665th highest of 1,703 cities
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44. Princeton, Florida
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 29.0%
> Poverty rate: 10.8% — 757th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $64,901 — 844th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 5.1% — 843rd lowest of 1,703 cities
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43. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 29.2%
> Poverty rate: 23.3% — 177th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $40,505 — 110th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 9.3% — 107th highest of 1,703 cities
42. Watertown, New York
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 29.2%
> Poverty rate: 21.6% — 237th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $41,918 — 144th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 5.9% — 616th highest of 1,703 cities
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41. Elmira, New York
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 29.4%
> Poverty rate: 24.9% — 134th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $36,543 — 52nd lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 8.9% — 125th highest of 1,703 cities
40. Calexico, California
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 29.6%
> Poverty rate: 20.0% — 298th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $42,732 — 167th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 15.4% — 4th highest of 1,703 cities
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39. Williamsport, Pennsylvania
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 30.1%
> Poverty rate: 27.7% — 71st highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $41,190 — 127th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 5.6% — 691st highest of 1,703 cities
38. Providence, Rhode Island
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 30.1%
> Poverty rate: 23.0% — 196th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $49,065 — 358th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 7.1% — 329th highest of 1,703 cities
37. Miami Gardens, Florida
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 30.4%
> Poverty rate: 17.3% — 439th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $46,760 — 271st lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 8.7% — 134th highest of 1,703 cities
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36. Buffalo, New York
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 30.7%
> Poverty rate: 28.3% — 61st highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $39,677 — 94th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 7.5% — 253rd highest of 1,703 cities
35. New Britain, Connecticut
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 31.2%
> Poverty rate: 20.9% — 258th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $47,393 — 298th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 9.5% — 88th highest of 1,703 cities
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34. East Chicago, Indiana
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 31.2%
> Poverty rate: 30.6% — 39th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $35,396 — 42nd lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 8.4% — 157th highest of 1,703 cities
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33. Fort Pierce, Florida
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 31.4%
> Poverty rate: 28.6% — 57th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $37,624 — 70th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 7.8% — 217th highest of 1,703 cities
32. Zanesville, Ohio
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 31.6%
> Poverty rate: 27.2% — 79th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $33,158 — 23rd lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 8.4% — 158th highest of 1,703 cities
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31. Lebanon, Pennsylvania
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 31.6%
> Poverty rate: 23.8% — 163rd highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $40,380 — 108th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 11.2% — 36th highest of 1,703 cities
30. Homestead, Florida
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 31.6%
> Poverty rate: 23.0% — 201st highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $50,723 — 420th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 6.3% — 511th highest of 1,703 cities
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29. Allentown, Pennsylvania
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 31.6%
> Poverty rate: 25.6% — 109th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $43,816 — 196th lowest of 1,703 cities (tied)
> Unemployment rate: 10.0% — 65th highest of 1,703 cities
28. Rochester, New York
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 31.8%
> Poverty rate: 30.4% — 43rd highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $37,395 — 64th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 8.9% — 124th highest of 1,703 cities
27. South Miami Heights, Florida
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 31.9%
> Poverty rate: 16.8% — 469th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $47,670 — 308th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 5.6% — 705th highest of 1,703 cities
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26. Cleveland, Ohio
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 32.0%
> Poverty rate: 32.0% — 30th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $31,838 — 15th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 12.4% — 19th highest of 1,703 cities
25. Pharr, Texas
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 33.1%
> Poverty rate: 28.3% — 59th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $40,513 — 111th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 5.1% — 848th lowest of 1,703 cities
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24. Paterson, New Jersey
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 33.4%
> Poverty rate: 25.2% — 123rd highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $45,141 — 228th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 7.4% — 265th highest of 1,703 cities
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23. Jamestown, New York
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 34.0%
> Poverty rate: 28.5% — 58th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $34,767 — 36th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 6.8% — 392nd highest of 1,703 cities
22. San Luis, Arizona
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 34.1%
> Poverty rate: 23.1% — 186th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $41,648 — 134th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 10.2% — 62nd highest of 1,703 cities
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21. Holyoke, Massachusetts
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 34.2%
> Poverty rate: 27.5% — 72nd highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $42,537 — 159th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 7.1% — 333rd highest of 1,703 cities
20. Springfield, Massachusetts
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 34.4%
> Poverty rate: 25.5% — 113th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $41,571 — 132nd lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 8.8% — 126th highest of 1,703 cities
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19. Youngstown, Ohio
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 34.5%
> Poverty rate: 34.9% — 14th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $30,129 — 9th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 13.6% — 13th highest of 1,703 cities
18. Pine Hills, Florida
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 35.6%
> Poverty rate: 22.1% — 220th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $43,387 — 185th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 10.7% — 49th highest of 1,703 cities
17. Adelanto, California
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 35.8%
> Poverty rate: 25.3% — 117th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $49,493 — 379th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 12.2% — 21st highest of 1,703 cities
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16. York, Pennsylvania
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 36.2%
> Poverty rate: 27.7% — 70th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $36,320 — 51st lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 11.8% — 27th highest of 1,703 cities
15. Immokalee, Florida
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 36.2%
> Poverty rate: 31.7% — 32nd highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $33,249 — 24th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 8.1% — 178th highest of 1,703 cities
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14. Detroit, Michigan
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 36.4%
> Poverty rate: 33.2% — 23rd highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $32,498 — 18th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 14.9% — 5th highest of 1,703 cities
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13. West Little River, Florida
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 37.1%
> Poverty rate: 20.3% — 280th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $40,955 — 120th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 6.9% — 371st highest of 1,703 cities
12. Passaic, New Jersey
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 37.7%
> Poverty rate: 27.1% — 81st highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $44,779 — 218th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 10.1% — 64th highest of 1,703 cities
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11. Hartford, Connecticut
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 38.2%
> Poverty rate: 28.0% — 64th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $36,154 — 49th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 11.3% — 34th highest of 1,703 cities
10. Camden, New Jersey
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 38.9%
> Poverty rate: 33.6% — 20th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $28,623 — 4th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 13.9% — 9th highest of 1,703 cities
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9. Saginaw, Michigan
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 38.9%
> Poverty rate: 34.6% — 16th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $30,845 — 12th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 11.1% — 39th highest of 1,703 cities
8. Lawrence, Massachusetts
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 39.0%
> Poverty rate: 21.0% — 252nd highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $45,045 — 224th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 11.0% — 41st highest of 1,703 cities
7. Flint, Michigan
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 39.5%
> Poverty rate: 37.3% — 8th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $30,383 — 11th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 19.5% — 2nd highest of 1,703 cities
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6. East St. Louis, Illinois
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 40.8%
> Poverty rate: 30.6% — 37th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $24,009 — the lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 13.1% — 15th highest of 1,703 cities
5. Reading, Pennsylvania
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 41.2%
> Poverty rate: 30.9% — 36th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $35,745 — 45th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 11.4% — 31st highest of 1,703 cities
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4. Chester, Pennsylvania
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 41.4%
> Poverty rate: 30.4% — 42nd highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $32,867 — 21st lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 14.3% — 7th highest of 1,703 cities
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3. Hialeah, Florida
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 41.5%
> Poverty rate: 19.6% — 326th highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $38,471 — 79th lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 4.1% — 448th lowest of 1,703 cities
2. Leisure City, Florida
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 43.8%
> Poverty rate: 23.5% — 172nd highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $36,611 — 53rd lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 8.0% — 191st highest of 1,703 cities
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1. Kiryas Joel, New York
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 46.6%
> Poverty rate: 41.3% — 3rd highest of 1,703 cities
> Median household income: $35,437 — 43rd lowest of 1,703 cities
> Unemployment rate: 3.5% — 231st lowest of 1,703 cities
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