More than 40 million Americans live below the poverty line – an income threshold of about $35 per day, or $1,073 a month. Of those facing such extreme financial hardship, children are disproportionately affected, as the United States has one of the worst child poverty rates among wealthy, developed countries. Nearly 12.6 million Americans under age 18 live in households with poverty level income.
Not only are children at higher risk of poverty, but they are also especially vulnerable to poverty’s harmful effects, both in the immediate and long-term.
Childhood poverty can negatively impact brain development and has been linked with a greater likelihood of chronic illness, shorter life expectancy, and poor emotional and behavioral health. Those who spend some or all of their childhood in poverty are also less likely to be successful academically, or, later in life, economically.
Nationwide, an estimated 17.5% of children under age 18 live below the poverty line. This share varies from place to place, however, and in some parts of the country, child poverty is far more common than average. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 50 U.S. towns – defined as places with populations between 1,000 and 25,000 – with the highest child poverty rates.
Among the places on this list, child poverty rates range from 69.3% to over 90%. The majority of towns on this list are in the South, including nine in Louisiana. Here is a look at the income a family needs to cover normal living expenses in every state.
Children raised in mother-only households are far more likely to live in poverty than those in two-adult households, and in the vast majority of towns on this list, the share of households headed by single mothers exceeds the 11.7% share nationwide. Additionally, in every town on this list, families are more likely to depend on government assistance to afford basic necessities. In each of these 50 towns, the share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits, or food stamps, exceeds the 18.2% national share. Here is a look at the cities with the most people on food stamps.
Click here to see the towns with the highest child poverty rates
Click here to read our detailed methodology
50. Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania
> Child poverty rate: 69.3%
> Median family income, households with children: N/A
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 48.3% — 498th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 35.5% — 164th highest of 8,589 towns
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49. Wadesboro, North Carolina
> Child poverty rate: 69.5%
> Median family income, households with children: $22,869 — 138th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 86.2% — 5th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 32.3% — 266th highest of 8,589 towns
48. Brent, Alabama
> Child poverty rate: 70.0%
> Median family income, households with children: N/A
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 68.9% — 50th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 38.8% — 110th highest of 8,589 towns
47. Vado, New Mexico
> Child poverty rate: 70.2%
> Median family income, households with children: N/A
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 65.1% — 89th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 18.8% — 1,791st highest of 8,589 towns
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46. Macon, Mississippi
> Child poverty rate: 70.3%
> Median family income, households with children: $18,992 — 57th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 51.4% — 370th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 42.5% — 64th highest of 8,589 towns
45. Eufaula, Oklahoma
> Child poverty rate: 70.3%
> Median family income, households with children: $23,790 — 162nd lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 46.2% — 598th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 13.1% — 3,618th highest of 8,589 towns (tied)
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44. Winona, Mississippi
> Child poverty rate: 70.4%
> Median family income, households with children: $20,736 — 90th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 50.1% — 417th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 29.9% — 387th highest of 8,589 towns
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43. Camilla, Georgia
> Child poverty rate: 70.4%
> Median family income, households with children: $18,292 — 46th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 70.6% — 40th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 52.1% — 18th highest of 8,589 towns
42. Pennington Gap, Virginia
> Child poverty rate: 70.9%
> Median family income, households with children: $32,128 — 532nd lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 53.8% — 307th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 35.1% — 179th highest of 8,589 towns
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41. Van Horn, Texas
> Child poverty rate: 70.9%
> Median family income, households with children: $27,297 — 280th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 47.0% — 548th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 30.7% — 334th highest of 8,589 towns
40. Horse Cave, Kentucky
> Child poverty rate: 71.1%
> Median family income, households with children: $24,643 — 192nd lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 45.5% — 627th highest of 8,589 towns (tied)
> Households headed by single mothers: 24.4% — 842nd highest of 8,589 towns
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39. Homer, Louisiana
> Child poverty rate: 71.1%
> Median family income, households with children: $17,083 — 39th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 57.3% — 215th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 31.5% — 303rd highest of 8,589 towns
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38. Chinle, Arizona
> Child poverty rate: 71.2%
> Median family income, households with children: $14,635 — 19th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 51.7% — 359th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 36.9% — 140th highest of 8,589 towns
37. Shaw, Mississippi
> Child poverty rate: 71.6%
> Median family income, households with children: $16,167 — 26th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 65.1% — 86th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 30.1% — 373rd highest of 8,589 towns
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36. Ringgold, Louisiana
> Child poverty rate: 71.6%
> Median family income, households with children: $14,267 — 16th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 61.1% — 135th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 31.8% — 291st highest of 8,589 towns
35. White Castle, Louisiana
> Child poverty rate: 71.9%
> Median family income, households with children: $2,500- — the lowest of 8,278 towns (tied)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 83.4% — 7th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 55.7% — 11th highest of 8,589 towns
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34. Escobares, Texas
> Child poverty rate: 72.4%
> Median family income, households with children: $20,625 — 85th lowest of 8,278 towns (tied)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 58.0% — 200th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 21.5% — 1,258th highest of 8,589 towns
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33. McRae-Helena, Georgia
> Child poverty rate: 72.5%
> Median family income, households with children: N/A
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 39.9% — 995th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 19.2% — 1,699th highest of 8,589 towns
32. Donaldsonville, Louisiana
> Child poverty rate: 72.5%
> Median family income, households with children: $15,024 — 20th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 40.5% — 945th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 39.8% — 91st highest of 8,589 towns
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31. Colfax, Louisiana
> Child poverty rate: 73.1%
> Median family income, households with children: N/A
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 69.0% — 49th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 41.0% — 78th highest of 8,589 towns
30. Mission, South Dakota
> Child poverty rate: 73.2%
> Median family income, households with children: $16,667 — 34th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 51.2% — 374th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 39.0% — 105th highest of 8,589 towns
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29. Red Springs, North Carolina
> Child poverty rate: 73.4%
> Median family income, households with children: N/A
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 45.9% — 610th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 13.9% — 3,299th highest of 8,589 towns
24/7 Wall St.28. Haynesville, Louisiana
> Child poverty rate: 74.5%
> Median family income, households with children: N/A
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 74.8% — 21st highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 21.5% — 1,251st highest of 8,589 towns
27. Oasis, California
> Child poverty rate: 74.9%
> Median family income, households with children: $23,044 — 142nd lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 35.0% — 1,440th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 10.5% — 3,826th lowest of 8,589 towns
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26. Rio, Virginia
> Child poverty rate: 75.0%
> Median family income, households with children: $15,219 — 23rd lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 56.8% — 227th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 53.8% — 13th highest of 8,589 towns
25. Lake Providence, Louisiana
> Child poverty rate: 75.3%
> Median family income, households with children: N/A
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 64.1% — 100th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 30.5% — 342nd highest of 8,589 towns
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24. Navajo, New Mexico
> Child poverty rate: 75.9%
> Median family income, households with children: $19,018 — 58th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 66.5% — 72nd highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 51.2% — 23rd highest of 8,589 towns
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23. Skyline Acres, Ohio
> Child poverty rate: 76.0%
> Median family income, households with children: N/A
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 54.6% — 287th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 45.6% — 39th highest of 8,589 towns
22. Ware Shoals, South Carolina
> Child poverty rate: 77.3%
> Median family income, households with children: $30,595 — 417th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 39.2% — 1,060th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 10.2% — 3,679th lowest of 8,589 towns
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21. Ashley, Pennsylvania
> Child poverty rate: 78.1%
> Median family income, households with children: $23,361 — 150th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 60.3% — 151st highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 24.8% — 782nd highest of 8,589 towns
20. Indian Hills, Texas
> Child poverty rate: 78.2%
> Median family income, households with children: $22,963 — 140th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 88.9% — 3rd highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 14.5% — 3,060th highest of 8,589 towns
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19. Centreville, Illinois
> Child poverty rate: 78.3%
> Median family income, households with children: $9,503 — 5th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 91.3% — 2nd highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 45.3% — 42nd highest of 8,589 towns
18. Siesta Shores, Texas
> Child poverty rate: 78.9%
> Median family income, households with children: N/A
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 32.4% — 1,721st highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 8.7% — 2,969th lowest of 8,589 towns
17. Vienna, Georgia
> Child poverty rate: 79.7%
> Median family income, households with children: $32,819 — 578th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 42.9% — 779th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 18.5% — 1,862nd highest of 8,589 towns
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16. Bodfish, California
> Child poverty rate: 80.6%
> Median family income, households with children: $16,616 — 32nd lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 83.6% — 6th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 6.7% — 2,068th lowest of 8,589 towns
15. Brinkley, Arkansas
> Child poverty rate: 80.7%
> Median family income, households with children: $13,682 — 13th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 77.3% — 18th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 36.1% — 156th highest of 8,589 towns
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14. Williston, South Carolina
> Child poverty rate: 81.4%
> Median family income, households with children: N/A
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 34.2% — 1,527th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 28.8% — 447th highest of 8,589 towns
13. Lincoln Heights, Ohio
> Child poverty rate: 81.4%
> Median family income, households with children: $2,500- — the lowest of 8,278 towns (tied)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 80.2% — 12th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 61.7% — 8th highest of 8,589 towns
12. Washington Park, Illinois
> Child poverty rate: 81.5%
> Median family income, households with children: $16,489 — 29th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 96.2% — the highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 32.5% — 262nd highest of 8,589 towns
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11. Cottonwood (Kern County), California
> Child poverty rate: 82.1%
> Median family income, households with children: $23,369 — 152nd lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 55.9% — 248th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 25.2% — 739th highest of 8,589 towns
10. Rosebud, South Dakota
> Child poverty rate: 82.7%
> Median family income, households with children: N/A
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 51.5% — 366th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 65.3% — 5th highest of 8,589 towns
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9. Uniontown, Alabama
> Child poverty rate: 83.0%
> Median family income, households with children: $20,558 — 84th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 79.6% — 14th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 33.2% — 238th highest of 8,589 towns
8. Coushatta, Louisiana
> Child poverty rate: 83.3%
> Median family income, households with children: $20,625 — 85th lowest of 8,278 towns (tied)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 57.6% — 210th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 24.2% — 865th highest of 8,589 towns
7. Union Springs, Alabama
> Child poverty rate: 83.7%
> Median family income, households with children: N/A
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 50.2% — 408th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 50.1% — 24th highest of 8,589 towns
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6. South Rosemary, North Carolina
> Child poverty rate: 84.4%
> Median family income, households with children: $12,183 — 8th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 49.3% — 454th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 30.4% — 349th highest of 8,589 towns
5. Cumberland, Kentucky
> Child poverty rate: 84.5%
> Median family income, households with children: $30,675 — 420th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 64.7% — 93rd highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 18.8% — 1,780th highest of 8,589 towns
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4. Batesville, Texas
> Child poverty rate: 85.5%
> Median family income, households with children: N/A
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 42.2% — 831st highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 25.5% — 718th highest of 8,589 towns
3. Erwinville, Louisiana
> Child poverty rate: 86.0%
> Median family income, households with children: $41,290 — 1,233rd lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 47.9% — 516th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 19.6% — 1,612th highest of 8,589 towns
2. Presidio, Texas
> Child poverty rate: 86.9%
> Median family income, households with children: $15,101 — 21st lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 64.7% — 91st highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 18.2% — 1,931st highest of 8,589 towns
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1. Alorton, Illinois
> Child poverty rate: 95.3%
> Median family income, households with children: $11,174 — 7th lowest of 8,278 towns
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 83.0% — 8th highest of 8,589 towns
> Households headed by single mothers: 39.4% — 97th highest of 8,589 towns
Methodology
To determine the towns where the most children live in poverty, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of child poverty rates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey.
We used census “place” geographies — a category that includes incorporated legal entities and census-designated statistical entities. We defined towns based on population thresholds — having at least 1,000 people and less than 25,000 people.
Towns were excluded if the child poverty rate was not available in the 2020 ACS, if the number of children for whom poverty status was determined was lower than 500, or if the sampling error associated with a town’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 town’s child poverty rate was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all towns’ child poverty rates. We similarly excluded towns that had a sampling error too high for their population, using the same definition.
Towns were ranked based on the share of children living in poverty. To break ties, we used the number of children living in poverty.
Additional information on median income for families with children, the share of households with children receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the share of households headed by single mothers are also five-year estimates from the 2020 ACS.
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