For the first time in nearly a decade, poverty is on the rise in the United States. The number of Americans living below the poverty line climbed from 38.4 million in 2020 to 41.4 million in 2021, a 7.9% increase. The rapid rise came after seven consecutive years of declines in the number of people living in poverty, and is the largest single-year increase since the Great Recession of 2008 and 2009.
Currently, the federal poverty threshold stands at an annual income of $14,580 for an individual and $30,000 for a family of four, with slightly higher thresholds in Alaska and Hawaii. The consequences for those living in poverty are devastating and far reaching. And for the 12.2 million American children living below the poverty line, some negative effects can last a lifetime.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey, the national poverty rate is 12.8%. In some major U.S. cities, however, the share of the population living below the poverty line is far higher.
Using metro area-level data from the 2021 ACS, 24/7 Wall St. identified the U.S. cities with the highest poverty rates. Metro areas are ranked on the share of the population living below the poverty line in 2021.
Among the 50 cities on this list, the poverty rate ranges from 18% to more than 29%. The majority of the metro areas with nation-leading poverty rates – 35 in total – are in the South, including eight in Texas, six in Georgia, and another six in Louisiana. (Here is a look at the poorest town in every state.)
Likely not surprising given the high levels of poverty in these metro areas, incomes are also relatively low in these areas. In every city on this list, most households make less than $65,000 a year, while nationwide, most households make over $69,000 annually. In fact, the majority of metro areas have among the 50 lowest median household incomes of the 386 metros considered.
Incomes, as well as financial security, tend to rise with educational attainment in the United States. In most metro areas on this list, fewer than one in every four adults have a four-year college degree, compared to more than one in every three adults nationwide. (Here is a look at the highest paying college majors.)
Click here to see the American cities where the most people live in poverty.
Click here to read our detailed methodology.
50. Terre Haute, IN
> Poverty rate: 18.0%
> Median household income: $50,440 — 36th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.5%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.7% — 28th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 186,369
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49. Abilene, TX
> Poverty rate: 18.1%
> Median household income: $54,037 — 68th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.4%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.7% — 104th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 178,608
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48. Muncie, IN
> Poverty rate: 18.1%
> Median household income: $50,497 — 38th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.5%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.5% — 98th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 111,871
47. Texarkana, TX-AR
> Poverty rate: 18.1%
> Median household income: $50,070 — 35th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.3%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.9% — 45th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 146,424
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46. Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ
> Poverty rate: 18.2%
> Median household income: $46,616 — 11th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.5%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.1% — 4th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 217,692
45. New Orleans-Metairie, LA
> Poverty rate: 18.4%
> Median household income: $56,837 — 98th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.8%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 33.6% — 144th highest of 382 metros
> Total population: 1,261,726
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44. Lewiston, ID-WA
> Poverty rate: 18.5%
> Median household income: $57,610 — 113th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.0%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.9% — 87th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 64,851
43. Visalia, CA
> Poverty rate: 18.6%
> Median household income: $58,209 — 119th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 8.2%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.2% — 7th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 477,054
42. Bakersfield, CA
> Poverty rate: 18.6%
> Median household income: $58,217 — 121st lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 6.9%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.6% — 22nd lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 917,673
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41. Albany, GA
> Poverty rate: 18.7%
> Median household income: $48,659 — 24th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.8%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.0% — 71st lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 146,961
40. Lake Charles, LA
> Poverty rate: 18.7%
> Median household income: $58,736 — 130th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.5%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.9% — 120th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 208,680
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39. Jackson, MS
> Poverty rate: 18.7%
> Median household income: $54,123 — 69th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.5%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 33.0% — 155th highest of 382 metros
> Total population: 586,758
38. Gainesville, FL
> Poverty rate: 19.0%
> Median household income: $53,728 — 64th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 2.8%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 40.1% — 63rd highest of 382 metros
> Total population: 344,881
37. Florence, SC
> Poverty rate: 19.3%
> Median household income: $49,724 — 32nd lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.3%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.4% — 52nd lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 199,259
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36. Hinesville, GA
> Poverty rate: 19.3%
> Median household income: $49,733 — 33rd lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.2%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.8% — 42nd lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 79,371
35. Las Cruces, NM
> Poverty rate: 19.4%
> Median household income: $45,178 — 8th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.4%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 30.1% — 191st lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 221,508
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34. Corvallis, OR
> Poverty rate: 19.4%
> Median household income: $64,163 — 167th highest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.6%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 54.9% — 4th highest of 382 metros
> Total population: 96,017
33. Auburn-Opelika, AL
> Poverty rate: 19.4%
> Median household income: $52,424 — 53rd lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 2.4%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 40.6% — 54th highest of 382 metros
> Total population: 177,218
32. Columbus, GA-AL
> Poverty rate: 19.5%
> Median household income: $52,802 — 58th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.6%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 27.5% — 146th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 326,491
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31. Dothan, AL
> Poverty rate: 19.5%
> Median household income: $47,665 — 17th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 2.6%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.5% — 38th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 151,618
30. Fresno, CA
> Poverty rate: 19.5%
> Median household income: $63,656 — 178th highest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 6.4%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.0% — 91st lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 1,013,581
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29. Morristown, TN
> Poverty rate: 19.5%
> Median household income: $43,213 — 4th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.6%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.2% — 15th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 143,855
28. Lafayette, LA
> Poverty rate: 19.6%
> Median household income: $53,931 — 65th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.4%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.4% — 95th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 479,212
27. Fort Smith, AR-OK
> Poverty rate: 19.6%
> Median household income: $49,065 — 27th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.3%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.3% — 33rd lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 247,661
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26. Anniston-Oxford, AL
> Poverty rate: 19.8%
> Median household income: $46,524 — 10th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.0%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.4% — 26th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 115,972
25. Alexandria, LA
> Poverty rate: 19.9%
> Median household income: $47,032 — 14th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.2%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.6% — 56th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 150,890
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24. Goldsboro, NC
> Poverty rate: 19.9%
> Median household income: $47,595 — 16th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.0%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.3% — 34th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 116,835
23. El Paso, TX
> Poverty rate: 20.1%
> Median household income: $51,002 — 41st lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.3%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.0% — 121st lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 871,727
22. Lawton, OK
> Poverty rate: 20.1%
> Median household income: $49,422 — 30th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.6%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.3% — 94th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 127,078
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21. Sumter, SC
> Poverty rate: 20.3%
> Median household income: $43,210 — 3rd lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.8%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.0% — 60th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 135,782
20. Bloomington, IN
> Poverty rate: 20.7%
> Median household income: $52,588 — 54th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 2.8%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 43.9% — 33rd highest of 382 metros
> Total population: 161,321
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19. Odessa, TX
> Poverty rate: 20.8%
> Median household income: $57,473 — 110th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.9%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.2% — 8th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 161,091
18. Macon-Bibb County, GA
> Poverty rate: 20.8%
> Median household income: $53,397 — 61st lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.5%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.4% — 97th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 232,775
17. Danville, IL
> Poverty rate: 20.9%
> Median household income: $49,091 — 28th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 5.0%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.9% — 6th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 73,095
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16. Jonesboro, AR
> Poverty rate: 21.0%
> Median household income: $47,935 — 20th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 2.8%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 28.7% — 163rd lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 134,878
15. Shreveport-Bossier City, LA
> Poverty rate: 21.4%
> Median household income: $48,164 — 22nd lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.7%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.8% — 118th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 389,155
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14. Madera, CA
> Poverty rate: 21.8%
> Median household income: $63,454 — 180th highest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 6.1%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.7% — 12th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 159,410
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13. Saginaw, MI
> Poverty rate: 21.8%
> Median household income: $50,606 — 39th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 5.6%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.5% — 65th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 189,591
12. Brunswick, GA
> Poverty rate: 21.8%
> Median household income: $54,561 — 73rd lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.0%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.6% — 116th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 115,033
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11. Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA
> Poverty rate: 22.3%
> Median household income: $54,737 — 75th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 2.9%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 36.2% — 103rd highest of 382 metros
> Total population: 168,404
10. Laredo, TX
> Poverty rate: 22.4%
> Median household income: $51,867 — 50th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.1%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.6% — 40th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 267,945
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9. Greenville, NC
> Poverty rate: 22.5%
> Median household income: $44,450 — 5th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.1%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 33.6% — 145th highest of 382 metros
> Total population: 172,169
8. Beckley, WV
> Poverty rate: 22.7%
> Median household income: $38,737 — the lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.0%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.4% — 35th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 113,698
7. College Station-Bryan, TX
> Poverty rate: 23.4%
> Median household income: $49,927 — 34th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.2%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 38.1% — 83rd highest of 382 metros
> Total population: 271,026
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6. Merced, CA
> Poverty rate: 23.5%
> Median household income: $53,992 — 66th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 7.7%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.4% — 3rd lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 286,461
.jpg "Brownsville-Harlingen, TX, TX, USA - panoramio (2) by Eric Friedebach")
5. Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
> Poverty rate: 24.7%
> Median household income: $48,115 — 21st lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 5.7%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.6% — 39th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 423,029
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4. Farmington, NM
> Poverty rate: 26.7%
> Median household income: $47,819 — 19th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.6%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.6% — 5th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 120,993
3. Monroe, LA
> Poverty rate: 27.2%
> Median household income: $45,001 — 7th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.7%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.9% — 90th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 204,884
2. Valdosta, GA
> Poverty rate: 27.6%
> Median household income: $42,233 — 2nd lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.2%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.3% — 63rd lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 147,916
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1. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
> Poverty rate: 29.3%
> Median household income: $44,818 — 6th lowest of 384 metros
> 2022 unemployment rate: 6.5%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.0% — 30th lowest of 382 metros
> Total population: 880,356
Methodology
To determine the metro areas 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 2021 American Community Survey.
We used the 386 metropolitan statistical areas with available data as delineated by the United States Office of Management and Budget and used by the Census Bureau as our definition of metros.
Additional information on the total population, median household income, and educational attainment are also from the 2021 ACS. Unemployment rates for 2022 are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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