The United States is one of the most advanced countries around the globe, with a highly developed and mixed economy, that exhibits both capitalism and socialism. As one of the wealthiest nations in the world, it has one of the largest economies as well as purchasing power parity and ranks p ten of 195 nations with the highest per capita GDP. Thirty-eight percent of the world’s billionaires call America home.
With all that wealth, it may be surprising to see that it is also a nation with a large population of homeless people. According to point-in-time estimates from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, there were more than 650,000 people who experienced homelessness on a single night in 2023, which is a 12% increase (or about 70,650 more people) from 2022 and the highest since reporting began in 2007. (These are American Cities Hit Hardest By Extreme Poverty.)
Many people became homeless for the first time, which is attributed to the sharp increase in homelessness, and is likely due to the expiration of pandemic-era measures, “the worsening affordable housing crisis, and recent changes in the rental housing market,” the HUD explains. Though broken during the pandemic, the increase continues the pre-pandemic trend from 2016 to 2020. Among the unhoused, 60% were staying in sheltered locations, while 40% were experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed homelessness data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to find the states with the most homeless people. All 50 states and the District of Columbia were ranked using point-in-time estimates of homelessness by state in 2023 divided by state population totals to get to the rate of homelessness per 10,000 people. States and D.C. are ranked by this rate from lowest to highest. All homelessness data is from the HUD. State population totals are from the Census Bureau Vintage 2023.
Nationwide, nearly 20 people experienced homelessness for every 10,000 Americans. The rate of homelessness per 10,000 people in U.S. states ranges from 3.3 to 72.5. The 10 places with the highest homelessness rates are all either in the Northeast or West regions, as well as the two noncontiguous states, Hawaii and Alaska. On the contrary, the 10 states with the lowest rate of people who experience homelessness are mostly Southern, though three are in the Midwest and one in the Northeast. (This is the county with the highest poverty rate in every state.)
51. Mississippi
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 3.3 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 982 — 3rd lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 538; Unsheltered: 444
- Total state population, 2023: 2,939,690
50. Alabama
Source: Shackleford-Photography / iStock via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 6.5 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 3,304 — 19th lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 1,848; Unsheltered: 1,456
- Total state population, 2023: 5,108,468
49. Louisiana
Source: sfe-co2 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 6.9 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 3,169 — 17th lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 1,770; Unsheltered: 1,399
- Total state population, 2023: 4,573,749
48. South Carolina
Source: ShutterWorx / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 7.5 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 4,053 — 22nd lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 2,726; Unsheltered: 1,327
- Total state population, 2023: 5,373,555
47. Virginia
Source: John M. Chase / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 7.8 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 6,761 — 20th highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 5,427; Unsheltered: 1,334
- Total state population, 2023: 8,715,698
46. West Virginia
Source: Wirestock / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 8.0 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 1,416 — 6th lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 960; Unsheltered: 456
- Total state population, 2023: 1,770,071
45. Wisconsin
Source: midnightcomm / Flickr
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 8.2 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 4,861 — 26th highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 4,403; Unsheltered: 458
- Total state population, 2023: 5,910,955
44. Iowa
Source: alan-light / Flickr
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 8.3 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 2,653 — 15th lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 2,197; Unsheltered: 456
- Total state population, 2023: 3,207,004
43. Connecticut
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 8.3 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 3,015 — 16th lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 2,514; Unsheltered: 501
- Total state population, 2023: 3,617,176
42. Arkansas
Source: eschipul / Flickr
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 8.5 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 2,609 — 12th lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 1,287; Unsheltered: 1,322
- Total state population, 2023: 3,067,732
41. Indiana
Source: damircudic / iStock via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 8.8 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 6,017 — 23rd highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 4,856; Unsheltered: 1,161
- Total state population, 2023: 6,862,199
40. Michigan
Source: Bill Pugliano / Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 9.0 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 8,997 — 17th highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 7,662; Unsheltered: 1,335
- Total state population, 2023: 10,037,261
39. Kansas
Source: bodnarchuk / iStock via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 9.0 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 2,636 — 14th lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 1,881; Unsheltered: 755
- Total state population, 2023: 2,940,546
38. Texas
Source: nakrnsm / Flickr
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 9.0 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 27,377 — 5th highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 15,691; Unsheltered: 11,686
- Total state population, 2023: 30,503,301
37. North Carolina
Source: Hagercod42 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 9.0 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 9,754 — 15th highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 6,311; Unsheltered: 3,443
- Total state population, 2023: 10,835,491
36. Wyoming
Source: damircudic / iStock via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 9.1 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 532 — the lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 474; Unsheltered: 58
- Total state population, 2023: 584,057
35. Maryland
Source: daquellamanera / Flickr
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 9.5 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 5,865 — 24th highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 4,913; Unsheltered: 952
- Total state population, 2023: 6,180,253
34. Illinois
Source: davidwilson1949 / Flickr
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 9.5 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 11,947 — 12th highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 10,328; Unsheltered: 1,619
- Total state population, 2023: 12,549,689
33. Ohio
Source: Jason Whitman / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 9.7 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 11,386 — 13th highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 8,983; Unsheltered: 2,403
- Total state population, 2023: 11,785,935
32. Pennsylvania
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 9.7 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 12,556 — 10th highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 10,792; Unsheltered: 1,764
- Total state population, 2023: 12,961,683
31. North Dakota
Source: Paul Bradbury / Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 10.0 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 784 — 2nd lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 608; Unsheltered: 176
- Total state population, 2023: 783,926
30. Kentucky
Source: JerryGrugin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 10.5 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 4,766 — 25th lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 3,296; Unsheltered: 1,470
- Total state population, 2023: 4,526,154
29. Utah
Source: Joey Ingelhart / iStock via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 10.8 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 3,687 — 20th lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 2,707; Unsheltered: 980
- Total state population, 2023: 3,417,734
28. Missouri
Source: komunews / Flickr
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 10.8 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 6,708 — 21st highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 4,695; Unsheltered: 2,013
- Total state population, 2023: 6,196,156
27. New Jersey
Source: amygdala_imagery / iStock via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 11.0 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 10,264 — 14th highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 8,856; Unsheltered: 1,408
- Total state population, 2023: 9,290,841
26. Georgia
Source: editor / Flickr
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 11.1 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 12,294 — 11th highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 6,466; Unsheltered: 5,828
- Total state population, 2023: 11,029,227
25. Oklahoma
Source: Brett Deering / Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 11.5 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 4,648 — 24th lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 2,743; Unsheltered: 1,905
- Total state population, 2023: 4,053,824
24. Idaho
Source: juefraphoto / Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 11.7 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 2,298 — 9th lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 1,240; Unsheltered: 1,058
- Total state population, 2023: 1,964,726
23. Delaware
Source: powerofforever / Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 12.1 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 1,245 — 4th lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 1,047; Unsheltered: 198
- Total state population, 2023: 1,031,890
22. Nebraska
Source: Wanda Jewell / iStock via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 12.4 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 2,462 — 11th lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 2,150; Unsheltered: 312Total state population, 2023: 1,978,379
21. Tennessee
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 12.9 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 9,215 — 16th highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 4,694; Unsheltered: 4,521
- Total state population, 2023: 7,126,489
20. Florida
Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 13.6 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 30,756 — 3rd highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 15,274; Unsheltered: 15,482
- Total state population, 2023: 22,610,726
19. South Dakota
Source: Stas_V / iStock via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 13.9 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 1,282 — 5th lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 972; Unsheltered: 310
- Total state population, 2023: 919,318
18. Minnesota
Source: Stephen Maturen / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 14.6 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 8,393 — 19th highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 6,717; Unsheltered: 1,676
- Total state population, 2023: 5,737,915
17. Rhode Island
Source: Matthew Horwood / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 16.5 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 1,810 — 7th lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 1,476; Unsheltered: 334
- Total state population, 2023: 1,095,962
16. New Hampshire
Source: BravissimoS / Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 17.4 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 2,441 — 10th lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 2,103; Unsheltered: 338
- Total state population, 2023: 1,402,054
15. New Mexico
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 18.2 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 3,842 — 21st lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 2,242; Unsheltered: 1,600
- Total state population, 2023: 2,114,371
14. Arizona
Source: Gregory Clifford / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 19.2 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 14,237 — 9th highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 6,622; Unsheltered: 7,615
- Total state population, 2023: 7,431,344
13. Montana
Source: austinvalley / Flickr
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 19.2 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 2,178 — 8th lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 1,682; Unsheltered: 496
- Total state population, 2023: 1,132,812
12. Colorado
Source: Peeter Viisimaa / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 24.6 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 14,439 — 8th highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 9,694; Unsheltered: 4,745
- Total state population, 2023: 5,877,610
11. Nevada
Source: Max Whittaker / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 27.1 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 8,666 — 18th highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 4,111; Unsheltered: 4,555
- Total state population, 2023: 3,194,176
10. Massachusetts
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 27.3 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 19,141 — 7th highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 17,779; Unsheltered: 1,362
- Total state population, 2023: 7,001,399
9. Maine
Source: Paul Bradbury / Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 30.5 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 4,258 — 23rd lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 3,959; Unsheltered: 299
- Total state population, 2023: 1,395,722
8. Alaska
Source: lippyjr / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 35.6 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 2,614 — 13th lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 2,146; Unsheltered: 468
- Total state population, 2023: 733,406
7. Washington
Source: George Rose / Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 35.9 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 28,036 — 4th highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 14,083; Unsheltered: 13,953
- Total state population, 2023: 7,812,880
6. Hawaii
Source: nojustice / iStock via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 43.4 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 6,223 — 22nd highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 2,316; Unsheltered: 3,907
- Total state population, 2023: 1,435,138
5. California
Source: David McNew / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 46.6 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 181,399 — the highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 57,976; Unsheltered: 123,423
- Total state population, 2023: 38,965,193
4. Oregon
Source: John Gress / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 47.6 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 20,142 — 6th highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 7,138; Unsheltered: 13,004
- Total state population, 2023: 4,233,358
3. Vermont
Source: bodnarchuk / iStock via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 50.9 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 3,295 — 18th lowest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 3,158; Unsheltered: 137
- Total state population, 2023: 647,464
2. New York
Source: Eric Kitayama / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 52.7 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 103,200 — 2nd highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 98,193; Unsheltered: 5,007
- Total state population, 2023: 19,571,216
1. District of Columbia
Source: Bettmann / Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness, 2023: 72.5 per 10,000 people
- Total homelessness, 2023: 4,922 — 25th highest
- Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 4,097; Unsheltered: 825
- Total state population, 2023: 678,972
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