More than 60 years have passed since President Lyndon Johnson declared war on poverty, and yet, poverty remains endemic in the United States. In any given year over the last three decades, anywhere from 31.6 million to 48.8 million Americans were living below the poverty line. Over that period, the annual U.S. poverty rate climbed as high as 15.9%, and never fell below 11.3%.
The effects of poverty extend far beyond economics. According to the latest Pulse Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau, 38% of American adults earning less than $25,000 reported feeling depressed or hopeless on most days, compared to 17% of all adults. Additionally, 27% of adults in the lowest income bracket reported not having enough to eat within the last week, three times the food insufficiency rate among all adults.
In most of the country, including California, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sets the poverty line at an annual income of $15,060 for individuals and $31,200 for a family of four. In California, 12.1% of the population live below these thresholds — and in many towns across the state, the poverty rate is far higher.
Using five-year estimates from the Census’ 2022 American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified the towns in California with the highest poverty rates. We considered all places — including cities, towns, and unincorporated communities — with populations between 5,000 and 50,000. Because the presence of colleges and universities can distort economic realities in a given area, places where 20% or more of the population are enrolled in a post-secondary institution were excluded from analysis.
Among the 35 places on this list, poverty rates range from 23.3% to 46.5%, and in each of these places, the typical household earns less than the statewide median household income of $91,905.
Widespread financial hardship in these areas is partially attributable to a lack of economic opportunity. In most places on this list, the five-year average unemployment rate is higher than the comparable 6.4% jobless rate across California.
Incomes and job security tend to rise with educational attainment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical worker with a bachelor’s degree earns 66% more than those with no more than a high school diploma. Additionally, workers with only a high school education are far more likely to be unemployed than college graduates. In every town on this list, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree is below the 35.9% statewide bachelor’s degree attainment rate.
Why It Matters
Source: Steve Debenport / Getty Images
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, more than one in every 10 Americans have been living below the poverty line for decades. For those facing serious financial hardship, the effects are far reaching. Poverty can negatively impact mental health, social relationships, and life expectancy.
35. Oroville
Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 23.3%
- Median household income: $46,362
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.5%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.1%
- Population: 20,283
34. Bell
Source: Justefrain / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 23.4%
- Median household income: $56,685
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.5%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.8%
- Population: 33,377
33. West Modesto
Source: Hike395 / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 23.4%
- Median household income: $55,500
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.7%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 7.1%
- Population: 5,438
32. Brawley
Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 23.6%
- Median household income: $56,229
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 18.1%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.2%
- Population: 26,509
31. Bell Gardens
- Poverty rate: 23.6%
- Median household income: $53,935
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.7%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 6.1%
- Population: 39,263
30. Holtville
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 23.7%
- Median household income: $44,939
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.2%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.6%
- Population: 5,620
29. Marysville
Source: jmoor17 / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 24.2%
- Median household income: $52,012
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.5%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.7%
- Population: 12,681
28. Potomac Park
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 24.5%
- Median household income: $51,739
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 13.7%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.2%
- Population: 10,697
27. Woodlake
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 24.5%
- Median household income: $44,719
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.1%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.4%
- Population: 7,495
26. Farmersville
Source: Raymondcmacareno / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 24.6%
- Median household income: $52,714
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.8%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.5%
- Population: 10,393
25. Clearlake
Source: lovefishn / Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 24.7%
- Median household income: $41,047
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 16.7%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 7.8%
- Population: 16,612
24. Willows
Source: JeffGoulden / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 25.3%
- Median household income: $61,806
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.2%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.8%
- Population: 6,201
23. Orosi
Source: Bobak Ha'Eri / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 25.9%
- Median household income: $52,692
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.6%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 5.7%
- Population: 9,100
22. Cudahy
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 26.7%
- Median household income: $49,596
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.2%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 5.3%
- Population: 22,657
21. McFarland
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 26.8%
- Median household income: $42,641
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.4%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.0%
- Population: 13,971
20. Parlier
Source: Fruitianslip / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 27.4%
- Median household income: $50,026
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.9%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.9%
- Population: 14,625
19. Guadalupe
Source: Geographer / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 27.6%
- Median household income: $66,026
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.5%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.8%
- Population: 8,272
18. Corcoran
- Poverty rate: 27.6%
- Median household income: $53,103
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.2%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.9%
- Population: 22,808
17. Keyes
Source: Wisler42 / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 27.7%
- Median household income: $57,710
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.9%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 6.0%
- Population: 5,827
16. Dinuba
Source: Topographic map(OTM) / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 27.8%
- Median household income: $54,590
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.0%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.3%
- Population: 24,713
15. East Niles
Source: adamkaz / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 28.3%
- Median household income: $50,668
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.6%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 7.6%
- Population: 29,981
14. Calipatria
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 28.6%
- Median household income: $43,095
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 14.5%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 1.4%
- Population: 6,579
13. Arvin
Source: DakotaSmith / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 28.7%
- Median household income: $47,997
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.1%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.9%
- Population: 19,613
12. Oildale
Source: Antandrus / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 29.1%
- Median household income: $45,976
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.4%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.4%
- Population: 34,796
11. Lemon Hill
Source: Dicklyon / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 29.3%
- Median household income: $47,080
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.0%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.5%
- Population: 14,824
10. Huron
- Poverty rate: 32.1%
- Median household income: $43,664
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 12.4%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 2.9%
- Population: 6,260
9. Lamont
Source: By GeorgeLouis at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32927920 / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 32.4%
- Median household income: $37,164
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.5%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 2.7%
- Population: 13,715
8. Lucerne Valley
Source: Jared Quentin / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 32.4%
- Median household income: $45,444
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 21.7%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.3%
- Population: 6,212
7. Mendota
- Poverty rate: 32.7%
- Median household income: $43,315
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.4%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.6%
- Population: 12,603
6. Fruitridge Pocket
Source: DemocraticLuntz / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 33.1%
- Median household income: $47,604
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.4%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.6%
- Population: 5,596
5. Lindsay
Source: Tatyler / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 33.9%
- Median household income: $44,816
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 17.1%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.7%
- Population: 12,581
4. East Porterville
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 41.8%
- Median household income: $31,816
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 25.4%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 2.1%
- Population: 5,424
3. Firebaugh
Source: Cavan Images / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 43.3%
- Median household income: $36,078
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 18.3%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.9%
- Population: 8,139
2. East Bakersfield
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 45.6%
- Median household income: $31,323
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 13.8%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 2.4%
- Population: 10,754
1. Orange Cove
- Poverty rate: 46.5%
- Median household income: $33,671
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 13.7%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 6.7%
- Population: 9,635
| Rank | Place | Poverty rate (%) | Median household income ($) | Unemployment rate (%) | Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (%) | Total population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orange Cove, California | 46.5 | 33,671 | 13.7 | 6.7 | 9,635 |
| 2 | East Bakersfield, California | 45.6 | 31,323 | 13.8 | 2.4 | 10,754 |
| 3 | Firebaugh, California | 43.3 | 36,078 | 18.3 | 3.9 | 8,139 |
| 4 | East Porterville, California | 41.8 | 31,816 | 25.4 | 2.1 | 5,424 |
| 5 | Lindsay, California | 33.9 | 44,816 | 17.1 | 4.7 | 12,581 |
| 6 | Fruitridge Pocket, California | 33.1 | 47,604 | 6.4 | 18.6 | 5,596 |
| 7 | Mendota, California | 32.7 | 43,315 | 11.4 | 3.6 | 12,603 |
| 8 | Lucerne Valley, California | 32.4 | 45,444 | 21.7 | 16.3 | 6,212 |
| 9 | Lamont, California | 32.4 | 37,164 | 9.5 | 2.7 | 13,715 |
| 10 | Huron, California | 32.1 | 43,664 | 12.4 | 2.9 | 6,260 |
| 11 | Lemon Hill, California | 29.3 | 47,080 | 9.0 | 8.5 | 14,824 |
| 12 | Oildale, California | 29.1 | 45,976 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 34,796 |
| 13 | Arvin, California | 28.7 | 47,997 | 11.1 | 3.9 | 19,613 |
| 14 | Calipatria, California | 28.6 | 43,095 | 14.5 | 1.4 | 6,579 |
| 15 | East Niles, California | 28.3 | 50,668 | 8.6 | 7.6 | 29,981 |
| 16 | Dinuba, California | 27.8 | 54,590 | 11.0 | 12.3 | 24,713 |
| 17 | Keyes, California | 27.7 | 57,710 | 8.9 | 6.0 | 5,827 |
| 18 | Corcoran, California | 27.6 | 53,103 | 11.2 | 3.9 | 22,808 |
| 19 | Guadalupe, California | 27.6 | 66,026 | 9.5 | 8.8 | 8,272 |
| 20 | Parlier, California | 27.4 | 50,026 | 6.9 | 4.9 | 14,625 |
| 21 | McFarland, California | 26.8 | 42,641 | 6.4 | 4.0 | 13,971 |
| 22 | Cudahy, California | 26.7 | 49,596 | 9.2 | 5.3 | 22,657 |
| 23 | Orosi, California | 25.9 | 52,692 | 10.6 | 5.7 | 9,100 |
| 24 | Willows, California | 25.3 | 61,806 | 9.2 | 16.8 | 6,201 |
| 25 | Clearlake, California | 24.7 | 41,047 | 16.7 | 7.8 | 16,612 |
| 26 | Farmersville, California | 24.6 | 52,714 | 9.8 | 4.5 | 10,393 |
| 27 | Woodlake, California | 24.5 | 44,719 | 9.1 | 11.4 | 7,495 |
| 28 | Potomac Park, California | 24.5 | 51,739 | 13.7 | 4.2 | 10,697 |
| 29 | Marysville, California | 24.2 | 52,012 | 7.5 | 14.7 | 12,681 |
| 30 | Holtville, California | 23.7 | 44,939 | 11.2 | 11.6 | 5,620 |
| 31 | Bell Gardens, California | 23.6 | 53,935 | 5.7 | 6.1 | 39,263 |
| 32 | Brawley, California | 23.6 | 56,229 | 18.1 | 15.2 | 26,509 |
| 33 | West Modesto, California | 23.4 | 55,500 | 9.7 | 7.1 | 5,438 |
| 34 | Bell, California | 23.4 | 56,685 | 6.5 | 8.8 | 33,377 |
| 35 | Oroville, California | 23.3 | 46,362 | 7.5 | 14.1 | 20,283 |
The Easy Way To Retire Early
You can retire early from the lottery, luck, or loving family member who leaves you a fortune.
But for the rest of us, there are dividends. While everyone chases big name dividend kings, they’re missing the real royalty: dividend legends.
It’s a rare class of overlooked income machines that you could buy and hold – forever.
Click here now to see two that could help you retire early, without any luck required.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
