Town With The Highest Poverty Rate In Every State

Author: Sam Stebbins
Source

The United States is, in many ways, the center of gravity of the global economy. The U.S. dollar has been the world’s leading reserve currency since the end of World War II, and American gross domestic product accounts for over a quarter of economic activity worldwide. Despite these advantages, serious financial hardship is widespread among much of the U.S. population.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sets the poverty line at an annual income of $14,580 for individuals and $30,000 for a family of four, with slightly higher thresholds in Alaska and Hawaii. Based on the latest estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, more than 40.5 million Americans are living on such low incomes — or about 12.5% of the population.

Many of the root causes of poverty are related to broad social and economic conditions, and partially as a result, poverty in the U.S. is often geographically concentrated. (Here is a look at the fastest shrinking local economy in every state.)

Using five-year estimates from the Census’ 2022 ACS, 24/7 Wall St. identified the town with the highest poverty rate in every state. We considered all cities, towns, villages, and unincorporated communities with populations between 1,000 and 25,000 in our analysis.

Among the 50 towns on this list, poverty rates range from 23.3% to over 90% — and are anywhere between 13 to 82 percentage points higher than the poverty rate across the state.

The high poverty rates in many of these places are linked to weak job markets. In half of the towns on this list, the five-year average unemployment rate is over 10%. For those who are able to find work, many of the available jobs are not especially well paying. In most of these towns, the typical household earns less than $40,000 a year. (This is what you need to actually earn to be middle class in your state.)

Federal aid initiatives, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, are designed to reduce poverty and alleviate some of the hardships associated with it. Not surprisingly, the share of households receiving SNAP benefits exceeds the statewide recipiency rate in nearly every town on this list.

Here is the town with the highest poverty rate in every state.

Alabama: Uniontown

Poverty rate: 53.9% (Alabama: 15.7%)
Median household income: $24,355 (Alabama: $59,609)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 60.1% (Alabama: 13.3%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 21.0% (Alabama: 5.1%)
No. of towns in Alabama considered: 288

Alaska: Alakanuk

Poverty rate: 39.3% (Alaska: 10.5%)
Median household income: $41,875 (Alaska: $86,370)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 46.7% (Alaska: 10.5%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 27.5% (Alaska: 6.0%)
No. of towns in Alaska considered: 70

Arizona: Cibecue

Poverty rate: 76.1% (Arizona: 13.1%)
Median household income: $18,250 (Arizona: $72,581)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 54.1% (Arizona: 10.1%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 16.3% (Arizona: 5.3%)
No. of towns in Arizona considered: 169

Arkansas: McAlmont

Poverty rate: 65.3% (Arkansas: 16.2%)
Median household income: $30,517 (Arkansas: $56,335)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 22.9% (Arkansas: 11.0%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 46.9% (Arkansas: 5.1%)
No. of towns in Arkansas considered: 189

California: Bodfish

Poverty rate: 51.2% (California: 12.1%)
Median household income: $27,215 (California: $91,905)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 35.1% (California: 10.3%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 21.2% (California: 6.4%)
No. of towns in California considered: 748

Colorado: Rocky Ford

Poverty rate: 46.1% (Colorado: 9.6%)
Median household income: $31,418 (Colorado: $87,598)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 38.0% (Colorado: 7.6%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 10.9% (Colorado: 4.5%)
No. of towns in Colorado considered: 186

Connecticut: Canaan

Poverty rate: 40.5% (Connecticut: 10.1%)
Median household income: $31,130 (Connecticut: $90,213)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 26.1% (Connecticut: 11.4%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 12.6% (Connecticut: 5.9%)
No. of towns in Connecticut considered: 131

Delaware: Laurel

Poverty rate: 39.6% (Delaware: 11.1%)
Median household income: $42,710 (Delaware: $79,325)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 40.5% (Delaware: 10.7%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 13.9% (Delaware: 5.4%)
No. of towns in Delaware considered: 52

Florida: Homestead Base

Poverty rate: 83.0% (Florida: 12.9%)
Median household income: $N/A (Florida: $67,917)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 89.5% (Florida: 13.0%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 48.5% (Florida: 5.0%)
No. of towns in Florida considered: 603

Georgia: Remerton

Poverty rate: 53.7% (Georgia: 13.5%)
Median household income: $25,052 (Georgia: $71,355)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 24.2% (Georgia: 12.1%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 7.3% (Georgia: 5.2%)
No. of towns in Georgia considered: 320

Hawaii: Leilani Estates

Poverty rate: 36.8% (Hawaii: 9.6%)
Median household income: $23,750 (Hawaii: $94,814)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 25.7% (Hawaii: 10.9%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 19.2% (Hawaii: 4.7%)
No. of towns in Hawaii considered: 112

Idaho: Glenns Ferry

Poverty rate: 37.7% (Idaho: 11.0%)
Median household income: $36,413 (Idaho: $70,214)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 24.8% (Idaho: 8.3%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 2.4% (Idaho: 3.7%)
No. of towns in Idaho considered: 89

Illinois: Washington Park

Poverty rate: 42.2% (Illinois: 11.8%)
Median household income: $33,036 (Illinois: $78,433)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 40.3% (Illinois: 13.0%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 15.9% (Illinois: 5.9%)
No. of towns in Illinois considered: 607

Indiana: English

Poverty rate: 51.3% (Indiana: 12.3%)
Median household income: $26,599 (Indiana: $67,173)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 23.8% (Indiana: 9.0%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 3.0% (Indiana: 4.5%)
No. of towns in Indiana considered: 306

Iowa: Postville

Poverty rate: 25.7% (Iowa: 11.1%)
Median household income: $46,522 (Iowa: $70,571)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 10.5% (Iowa: 9.4%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 6.9% (Iowa: 3.8%)
No. of towns in Iowa considered: 259

Kansas: Pittsburg

Poverty rate: 29.4% (Kansas: 11.6%)
Median household income: $42,371 (Kansas: $69,747)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 14.1% (Kansas: 7.0%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 4.0% (Kansas: 4.0%)
No. of towns in Kansas considered: 183

Kentucky: Cumberland

Poverty rate: 59.8% (Kentucky: 16.1%)
Median household income: $32,716 (Kentucky: $60,183)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 42.7% (Kentucky: 12.6%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 42.5% (Kentucky: 5.1%)
No. of towns in Kentucky considered: 224

Louisiana: Ferriday

Poverty rate: 64.0% (Louisiana: 18.7%)
Median household income: $26,513 (Louisiana: $57,852)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 39.8% (Louisiana: 16.1%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 23.2% (Louisiana: 6.5%)
No. of towns in Louisiana considered: 251

Maine: Machias

Poverty rate: 36.3% (Maine: 10.9%)
Median household income: $25,278 (Maine: $68,251)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 29.6% (Maine: 11.7%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 8.6% (Maine: 4.0%)
No. of towns in Maine considered: 98

Maryland: Eden

Poverty rate: 33.6% (Maryland: 9.3%)
Median household income: $28,808 (Maryland: $98,461)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 51.7% (Maryland: 10.8%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 10.3% (Maryland: 5.1%)
No. of towns in Maryland considered: 274

Massachusetts: Monson Center

Poverty rate: 28.2% (Massachusetts: 9.9%)
Median household income: $51,902 (Massachusetts: $96,505)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 22.9% (Massachusetts: 12.9%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 16.6% (Massachusetts: 5.3%)
No. of towns in Massachusetts considered: 156

Michigan: Benton Harbor

Poverty rate: 44.2% (Michigan: 13.1%)
Median household income: $26,592 (Michigan: $68,505)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 51.5% (Michigan: 12.7%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 20.2% (Michigan: 6.0%)
No. of towns in Michigan considered: 371

Minnesota: Moose Lake

Poverty rate: 49.5% (Minnesota: 9.3%)
Median household income: $49,722 (Minnesota: $84,313)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 13.9% (Minnesota: 7.4%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 0.9% (Minnesota: 4.0%)
No. of towns in Minnesota considered: 312

Mississippi: Renova

Poverty rate: 54.9% (Mississippi: 19.2%)
Median household income: $25,974 (Mississippi: $52,985)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 39.8% (Mississippi: 13.8%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 8.0% (Mississippi: 6.4%)
No. of towns in Mississippi considered: 168

Missouri: Flordell Hills

Poverty rate: 50.2% (Missouri: 12.8%)
Median household income: $32,906 (Missouri: $65,920)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 41.6% (Missouri: 10.0%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 31.7% (Missouri: 4.3%)
No. of towns in Missouri considered: 336

Montana: Lame Deer

Poverty rate: 47.5% (Montana: 12.4%)
Median household income: $31,250 (Montana: $66,341)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 21.1% (Montana: 8.6%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 25.8% (Montana: 3.9%)
No. of towns in Montana considered: 88

Nebraska: Fullerton

Poverty rate: 23.3% (Nebraska: 10.4%)
Median household income: $51,466 (Nebraska: $71,722)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 10.2% (Nebraska: 8.0%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 6.0% (Nebraska: 3.1%)
No. of towns in Nebraska considered: 104

Nevada: Wells

Poverty rate: 43.3% (Nevada: 12.7%)
Median household income: $55,917 (Nevada: $71,646)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 2.3% (Nevada: 11.9%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 0.4% (Nevada: 7.0%)
No. of towns in Nevada considered: 50

New Hampshire: Winchester

Poverty rate: 33.1% (New Hampshire: 7.3%)
Median household income: $45,298 (New Hampshire: $90,845)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 13.7% (New Hampshire: 6.0%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 6.0% (New Hampshire: 3.6%)
No. of towns in New Hampshire considered: 53

New Jersey: Penns Grove

Poverty rate: 40.5% (New Jersey: 9.7%)
Median household income: $29,821 (New Jersey: $97,126)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 41.6% (New Jersey: 8.5%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 15.5% (New Jersey: 6.2%)
No. of towns in New Jersey considered: 501

New Mexico: Alamo

Poverty rate: 69.8% (New Mexico: 18.3%)
Median household income: $24,118 (New Mexico: $58,722)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 37.7% (New Mexico: 18.1%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 22.5% (New Mexico: 6.1%)
No. of towns in New Mexico considered: 144

New York: New Square

Poverty rate: 64.2% (New York: 13.6%)
Median household income: $27,488 (New York: $81,386)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 64.4% (New York: 14.6%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 8.1% (New York: 6.2%)
No. of towns in New York considered: 750

North Carolina: Bonnetsville

Poverty rate: 53.0% (North Carolina: 13.3%)
Median household income: $41,135 (North Carolina: $66,186)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 30.1% (North Carolina: 12.3%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 4.5% (North Carolina: 5.0%)
No. of towns in North Carolina considered: 393

North Dakota: Fort Totten

Poverty rate: 41.7% (North Dakota: 10.8%)
Median household income: $30,234 (North Dakota: $73,959)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 52.4% (North Dakota: 6.3%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 6.2% (North Dakota: 2.9%)
No. of towns in North Dakota considered: 45

Ohio: Lincoln Heights

Poverty rate: 62.9% (Ohio: 13.3%)
Median household income: $14,676 (Ohio: $66,990)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 65.4% (Ohio: 12.2%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 26.5% (Ohio: 5.0%)
No. of towns in Ohio considered: 611

Oklahoma: Tyrone

Poverty rate: 48.9% (Oklahoma: 15.2%)
Median household income: $N/A (Oklahoma: $61,364)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 4.7% (Oklahoma: 13.0%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: N/A% (Oklahoma: 4.8%)
No. of towns in Oklahoma considered: 217

Oregon: Grand Ronde

Poverty rate: 37.5% (Oregon: 11.9%)
Median household income: $29,674 (Oregon: $76,632)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 52.7% (Oregon: 14.9%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 7.5% (Oregon: 5.5%)
No. of towns in Oregon considered: 202

Pennsylvania: Ashley

Poverty rate: 39.7% (Pennsylvania: 11.8%)
Median household income: $39,234 (Pennsylvania: $73,170)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 30.3% (Pennsylvania: 13.6%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 7.6% (Pennsylvania: 5.4%)
No. of towns in Pennsylvania considered: 922

Rhode Island: Central Falls

Poverty rate: 24.4% (Rhode Island: 11.2%)
Median household income: $43,092 (Rhode Island: $81,370)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 32.7% (Rhode Island: 14.5%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 8.3% (Rhode Island: 5.8%)
No. of towns in Rhode Island considered: 19

South Carolina: Saxon

Poverty rate: 48.7% (South Carolina: 14.4%)
Median household income: $25,231 (South Carolina: $63,623)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 32.4% (South Carolina: 10.5%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 11.6% (South Carolina: 5.1%)
No. of towns in South Carolina considered: 234

South Dakota: Rosebud

Poverty rate: 57.2% (South Dakota: 12.3%)
Median household income: $47,813 (South Dakota: $69,457)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 42.1% (South Dakota: 8.1%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 19.8% (South Dakota: 3.1%)
No. of towns in South Dakota considered: 70

Tennessee: Red Boiling Springs

Poverty rate: 43.8% (Tennessee: 14.0%)
Median household income: $30,046 (Tennessee: $64,035)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 50.9% (Tennessee: 11.7%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 10.0% (Tennessee: 5.0%)
No. of towns in Tennessee considered: 268

Texas: Carrizo Hill

Poverty rate: 96.0% (Texas: 13.9%)
Median household income: $N/A (Texas: $73,035)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 25.1% (Texas: 11.5%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: N/A% (Texas: 5.2%)
No. of towns in Texas considered: 894

Utah: Hideout

Poverty rate: 36.4% (Utah: 8.5%)
Median household income: $73,472 (Utah: $86,833)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 8.8% (Utah: 5.5%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: N/A% (Utah: 3.3%)
No. of towns in Utah considered: 133

Vermont: Brattleboro

Poverty rate: 26.1% (Vermont: 10.4%)
Median household income: $42,776 (Vermont: $74,014)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 21.9% (Vermont: 10.3%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 9.2% (Vermont: 3.8%)
No. of towns in Vermont considered: 41

Virginia: Elliston

Poverty rate: 59.8% (Virginia: 10.0%)
Median household income: $33,870 (Virginia: $87,249)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 9.0% (Virginia: 8.3%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: N/A% (Virginia: 4.3%)
No. of towns in Virginia considered: 329

Washington: Moses Lake North

Poverty rate: 37.2% (Washington: 9.9%)
Median household income: $52,977 (Washington: $90,325)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 38.7% (Washington: 11.1%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 4.7% (Washington: 4.9%)
No. of towns in Washington considered: 342

West Virginia: Rupert

Poverty rate: 43.5% (West Virginia: 16.8%)
Median household income: $27,244 (West Virginia: $55,217)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 32.4% (West Virginia: 16.6%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 2.4% (West Virginia: 6.0%)
No. of towns in West Virginia considered: 138

Wisconsin: Keshena

Poverty rate: 38.7% (Wisconsin: 10.7%)
Median household income: $43,000 (Wisconsin: $72,458)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 49.4% (Wisconsin: 10.4%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 8.4% (Wisconsin: 3.4%)
No. of towns in Wisconsin considered: 348

Wyoming: Fort Washakie

Poverty rate: 27.1% (Wyoming: 10.7%)
Median household income: $40,000 (Wyoming: $72,495)
Households receiving SNAP benefits: 18.8% (Wyoming: 4.8%)
Avg. 5-yr. unemployment rate: 18.5% (Wyoming: 3.8%)
No. of towns in Wyoming considered: 52

Methodology

To determine the town with the highest poverty rate in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of the percentage of people living below the poverty line in towns nationwide from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey.

We considered all cities, towns, villages, and unincorporated communities with available data and populations between 1,000 and 25,000. The presence of a major college or university can distort economic realities of a given area, and as a result, places where 25% or more of the population are enrolled in college or graduate school were excluded. We also excluded places where the population for whom the poverty status was determined totaled less than 1,000.

Additional data on median household income, educational attainment, SNAP recipiency, and unemployment are also five-year estimates from the 2022 ACS.

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