Large cities and metropolitan areas have long been hubs of economic activity and prosperity in the United States. Places like Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York, and San Francisco are home to large employers that can afford to pay enough to attract top talent from around the country. As a result, these cities, and many others like them, have a high concentration of high-income residents. (Here is a look at the cities where wages will rise the most by 2060.)
While some American cities stand out for the economic opportunity they offer, many others are notable for the opposite reason. There are 384 metropolitan areas in the United States, and in dozens of them, incomes are far lower than average, and serious financial hardship is widespread.
Using metro area level data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified America’s poorest big cities. Metro areas are ranked by median household income in 2021. Supplemental measures are also from the ACS.
Among the places on this list, which are disproportionately concentrated in the South, median household incomes range from just under $52,000 down to $38,700. For context, the typical American household earned $69,717 in 2021. In all but one of these metro areas, the share of residents living below the poverty line exceeds the national poverty rate of 12.8%.
A college education is a primary driver of upward economic mobility in the United States and to higher incomes. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical worker with a four-year college degree earns about 65% more than the typical worker with just a high school diploma. Low incomes in many of the cities on this list are likely tied to lower educational attainment. The share of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher exceeds the 35% national share in only one metro area on this list.
Low incomes in many of these places are also tied to a lack of employment opportunities. According to ACS estimates, the 2021 unemployment rate exceeded the national rate of 6.3% in the majority of metropolitan areas on this list. (Here is a look at the states recovering the fastest from high unemployment.)
Click here for America’s poorest big cities.
50. Laredo, TX
> Median household income: $51,867
> Poverty rate: 22.4% — 10th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 10.3% — 17th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.6% — 40th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 6.4% — 123rd highest of 384 metros
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49. El Centro, CA
> Median household income: $51,809
> Poverty rate: 16.4% — 89th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 8.2% — 63rd highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.5% — 2nd lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 14.5% — 2nd highest of 384 metros
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48. Rocky Mount, NC
> Median household income: $51,769
> Poverty rate: 15.1% — 113th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 8.9% — 37th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.2% — 50th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 5.7% — 176th highest of 384 metros
47. Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
> Median household income: $51,639
> Poverty rate: 17.4% — 59th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 7.6% — 85th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.8% — 106th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 3.8% — 55th lowest of 384 metros
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46. Lima, OH
> Median household income: $51,497
> Poverty rate: 15.5% — 105th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 6.4% — 154th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.5% — 21st lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 8.2% — 37th highest of 384 metros
45. Cumberland, MD-WV
> Median household income: $51,440
> Poverty rate: 13.5% — 170th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 6.8% — 126th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.8% — 68th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 5.3% — 173rd lowest of 384 metros
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44. Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA
> Median household income: $51,194
> Poverty rate: 16.6% — 84th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 8.7% — 44th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.0% — 111th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 6.0% — 150th highest of 384 metros
43. Mansfield, OH
> Median household income: $51,158
> Poverty rate: 12.3% — 165th lowest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 7.2% — 105th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.4% — 11th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 5.2% — 167th lowest of 384 metros
42. Johnson City, TN
> Median household income: $51,119
> Poverty rate: 15.1% — 117th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 8.1% — 65th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 29.8% — 185th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 5.9% — 157th highest of 384 metros
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41. El Paso, TX
> Median household income: $51,002
> Poverty rate: 20.1% — 23rd highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 8.7% — 43rd highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.0% — 121st lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 7.9% — 43rd highest of 384 metros
40. Carbondale-Marion, IL
> Median household income: $50,953
> Poverty rate: 17.1% — 66th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 9.0% — 36th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 28.9% — 167th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 7.7% — 51st highest of 384 metros
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39. Saginaw, MI
> Median household income: $50,606
> Poverty rate: 21.8% — 13th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 10.2% — 18th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.5% — 65th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 8.1% — 39th highest of 384 metros
38. Muncie, IN
> Median household income: $50,497
> Poverty rate: 18.1% — 48th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 8.8% — 42nd highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.5% — 98th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 8.7% — 30th highest of 384 metros
37. Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
> Median household income: $50,456
> Poverty rate: 17.3% — 61st highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 9.2% — 31st highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.7% — 67th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 6.7% — 105th highest of 384 metros
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36. Terre Haute, IN
> Median household income: $50,440
> Poverty rate: 18.0% — 50th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 9.3% — 26th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.7% — 28th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 6.3% — 125th highest of 384 metros
35. Texarkana, TX-AR
> Median household income: $50,070
> Poverty rate: 18.1% — 47th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 9.3% — 28th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.9% — 45th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 5.1% — 157th lowest of 384 metros
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34. College Station-Bryan, TX
> Median household income: $49,927
> Poverty rate: 23.4% — 7th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 11.0% — 14th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 38.1% — 83rd highest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 5.8% — 166th highest of 384 metros
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33. Hinesville, GA
> Median household income: $49,733
> Poverty rate: 19.3% — 36th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 9.3% — 27th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.8% — 42nd lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 5.5% — 189th highest of 384 metros
32. æFlorence, SC
> Median household income: $49,724
> Poverty rate: 19.3% — 37th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 10.1% — 19th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.4% — 52nd lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 5.1% — 156th lowest of 384 metros
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31. Mobile, AL
> Median household income: $49,691
> Poverty rate: 17.9% — 53rd highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 9.2% — 32nd highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.3% — 62nd lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 7.0% — 86th highest of 384 metros
30. Lawton, OK
> Median household income: $49,422
> Poverty rate: 20.1% — 22nd highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 7.5% — 93rd highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.3% — 94th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 7.5% — 63rd highest of 384 metros
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29. Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH
> Median household income: $49,362
> Poverty rate: 16.9% — 77th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 7.9% — 77th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.5% — 64th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 7.7% — 49th highest of 384 metros
28. Danville, IL
> Median household income: $49,091
> Poverty rate: 20.9% — 17th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 7.5% — 91st highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.9% — 6th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 6.6% — 109th highest of 384 metros
27. Fort Smith, AR-OK
> Median household income: $49,065
> Poverty rate: 19.6% — 27th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 8.5% — 54th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.3% — 33rd lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 5.8% — 165th highest of 384 metros
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26. Grants Pass, OR
> Median household income: $48,785
> Poverty rate: 16.7% — 80th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 5.5% — 146th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.0% — 46th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 9.7% — 16th highest of 384 metros
25. Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
> Median household income: $48,771
> Poverty rate: 16.9% — 74th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 8.8% — 41st highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.9% — 59th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 6.6% — 108th highest of 384 metros
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24. Albany, GA
> Median household income: $48,659
> Poverty rate: 18.7% — 41st highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 8.4% — 56th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.0% — 71st lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 7.6% — 56th highest of 384 metros
23. Sebring-Avon Park, FL
> Median household income: $48,564
> Poverty rate: 13.4% — 172nd highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 5.9% — 185th lowest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.3% — 17th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 9.3% — 20th highest of 384 metros
22. Shreveport-Bossier City, LA
> Median household income: $48,164
> Poverty rate: 21.4% — 15th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 7.8% — 79th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.8% — 118th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 8.9% — 25th highest of 384 metros
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.jpg "Brownsville-Harlingen, TX, TX, USA - panoramio (2) by Eric Friedebach")
21. Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
> Median household income: $48,115
> Poverty rate: 24.7% — 5th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 8.5% — 46th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.6% — 39th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 8.1% — 38th highest of 384 metros
20. Jonesboro, AR
> Median household income: $47,935
> Poverty rate: 21.0% — 16th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 8.9% — 38th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 28.7% — 163rd lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 6.2% — 144th highest of 384 metros
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19. Farmington, NM
> Median household income: $47,819
> Poverty rate: 26.7% — 4th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 11.9% — 6th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.6% — 5th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 10.5% — 9th highest of 384 metros
18. Hot Springs, AR
> Median household income: $47,694
> Poverty rate: 13.4% — 173rd highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 7.2% — 107th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.8% — 83rd lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 6.8% — 99th highest of 384 metros
17. Dothan, AL
> Median household income: $47,665
> Poverty rate: 19.5% — 31st highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 8.3% — 58th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.5% — 38th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 4.6% — 110th lowest of 384 metros
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16. Goldsboro, NC
> Median household income: $47,595
> Poverty rate: 19.9% — 24th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 6.7% — 137th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.3% — 34th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 4.6% — 109th lowest of 384 metros
15. Homosassa Springs, FL
> Median household income: $47,197
> Poverty rate: 16.1% — 94th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 8.6% — 45th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.8% — 43rd lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 10.4% — 10th highest of 384 metros
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14. Alexandria, LA
> Median household income: $47,032
> Poverty rate: 19.9% — 25th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 7.5% — 94th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.6% — 56th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 7.0% — 85th highest of 384 metros
13. Pine Bluff, AR
> Median household income: $46,826
> Poverty rate: 15.0% — 120th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 6.1% — 183rd highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.3% — 74th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 8.5% — 35th highest of 384 metros
12. Decatur, IL
> Median household income: $46,807
> Poverty rate: 17.6% — 58th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 11.2% — 10th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.0% — 24th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 11.1% — 5th highest of 384 metros
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11. Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ
> Median household income: $46,616
> Poverty rate: 18.2% — 46th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 8.5% — 48th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.1% — 4th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 8.6% — 31st highest of 384 metros
10. Anniston-Oxford, AL
> Median household income: $46,524
> Poverty rate: 19.8% — 26th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 9.8% — 22nd highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.4% — 26th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 5.8% — 162nd highest of 384 metros
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9. Gadsden, AL
> Median household income: $45,298
> Poverty rate: 16.8% — 78th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 8.1% — 68th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.2% — 16th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 7.5% — 65th highest of 384 metros
8. Las Cruces, NM
> Median household income: $45,178
> Poverty rate: 19.4% — 35th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 11.3% — 8th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 30.1% — 191st lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 7.2% — 78th highest of 384 metros
7. Monroe, LA
> Median household income: $45,001
> Poverty rate: 27.2% — 3rd highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 14.9% — 2nd highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.9% — 90th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 10.0% — 14th highest of 384 metros
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6. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
> Median household income: $44,818
> Poverty rate: 29.3% — the highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 10.3% — 16th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.0% — 30th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 9.0% — 23rd highest of 384 metros
5. Greenville, NC
> Median household income: $44,450
> Poverty rate: 22.5% — 9th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 12.5% — 5th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 33.6% — 145th highest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 9.2% — 21st highest of 384 metros
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4. Morristown, TN
> Median household income: $43,213
> Poverty rate: 19.5% — 29th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 6.4% — 155th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.2% — 15th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 6.8% — 98th highest of 384 metrosææ
3. Sumter, SC
> Median household income: $43,210
> Poverty rate: 20.3% — 21st highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 13.3% — 4th highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.0% — 60th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 8.6% — 33rd highest of 384 metros
2. Valdosta, GA
> Median household income: $42,233
> Poverty rate: 27.6% — 2nd highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 17.1% — the highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.3% — 63rd lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 7.1% — 81st highest of 384 metros
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1. Beckley, WV
> Median household income: $38,737
> Poverty rate: 22.7% — 8th highest of 384 metros
> Households with annual incomes under $10,000: 13.4% — 3rd highest of 384 metros
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.4% — 35th lowest of 382 metros
> 2021 unemployment: 7.0% — 88th highest of 384 metros
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