Income

The Poorest Town in Every State in America

24/7 Wall St. Staff

Published: April 15, 2024 9:20 am

The United States is home to nearly 40% of the world’s millionaires, according to a report from Credit Suisse, a Zurich-based investment bank. However, in a country with one of the largest gaps in wealth inequality, many Americans do not have access to this prosperity. As the middle class diminishes, the number of communities characterized by limited economic opportunity and widespread financial hardship grows. (Here is a look at the county with the least expensive housing market in every state.)

These communities tend to share several common characteristics. Education, for example, has long been linked with higher earning potential and upward economic mobility, but in every town on this list, residents are far less likely than the typical American to have gone to college. Nationwide, about 35% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher. In most of these towns, the bachelor’s degree attainment rate is less than half that. (Here is a look at the colleges with the most upward mobility.)

Using five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified the poorest town in each state. We considered any city, town, or unincorporated community with populations between 1,000 and 25,000 people and ranked them by median household income. The typical household earns between $28,900 and $71,100 less than the state’s annual median household income. 

Here is the poorest town in every state in America. All information is for 2022.

Alabama: Fort Deposit

Source: Rivers Langley; SaveRivers / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $20,542 (Alabama: $59,609)
• Poverty rate: 43.8% (Alabama: 15.7%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 5.5% (Alabama: 27.2%)
• Home value (median): $65,400 (Alabama: $179,400)
• Population: 1,734

Alaska: Susitna North

Source: prospective56 / iStock via Getty Images

• Household income (median): $38,323 (Alaska: $86,370)
• Poverty rate: 15.7% (Alaska: 10.5%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.7% (Alaska: 30.7%)
• Home value (median): $208,700 (Alaska: $318,000)
• Population: 1,543

Arizona: Cibecue

Source: Greudin / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $18,250 (Arizona: $72,581)
• Poverty rate: 76.1% (Arizona: 13.1%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.1% (Arizona: 31.8%)
• Home value (median): $72,400 (Arizona: $321,400)
• Population: 1,419

Arkansas: Marianna

Source: Brandonrush / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $21,057 (Arkansas: $56,335)
• Poverty rate: 38.6% (Arkansas: 16.2%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.9% (Arkansas: 24.7%)
• Home value (median): $76,200 (Arkansas: $162,400)
• Population: 3,575

California: Weedpatch

Source: GeorgeLouis at English Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $21,651 (California: $91,905)
• Poverty rate: 48.0% (California: 12.1%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 0.5% (California: 35.9%)
• Home value (median): $126,500 (California: $659,300)
• Population: 2,788

Colorado: Rocky Ford

Source: ablokhin / iStock via Getty Images

• Household income (median): $31,418 (Colorado: $87,598)
• Poverty rate: 46.1% (Colorado: 9.6%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 9.1% (Colorado: 43.7%)
• Home value (median): $101,200 (Colorado: $465,900)
• Population: 3,850

Connecticut: Canaan

Source: Richard Cavalleri / Shutterstock.com

• Household income (median): $31,130 (Connecticut: $90,213)
• Poverty rate: 40.5% (Connecticut: 10.1%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.4% (Connecticut: 41.4%)
• Home value (median): $188,900 (Connecticut: $323,700)
• Population: 1,353

Delaware: Rodney Village

Source: David Osberg / Getty Images

• Household income (median): $33,534 (Delaware: $79,325)
• Poverty rate: 19.9% (Delaware: 11.1%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.9% (Delaware: 34.5%)
• Home value (median): $151,400 (Delaware: $305,200)
• Population: 1,304

Florida: Gifford

Source: Nhaagenson / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $23,969 (Florida: $67,917)
• Poverty rate: 62.2% (Florida: 12.9%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.0% (Florida: 32.3%)
• Home value (median): $175,200 (Florida: $292,200)
• Population: 4,868

Georgia: Marshallville

Source: HughStoneIan / iStock via Getty Images

• Household income (median): $18,839 (Georgia: $71,355)
• Poverty rate: 41.6% (Georgia: 13.5%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.0% (Georgia: 33.6%)
• Home value (median): $64,800 (Georgia: $245,900)
• Population: 1,014

Hawaii: Leilani Estates

Hawaii National Guard (CC BY 2.0) by The National Guard

• Household income (median): $23,750 (Hawaii: $94,814)
• Poverty rate: 36.8% (Hawaii: 9.6%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 29.8% (Hawaii: 34.7%)
• Home value (median): $226,300 (Hawaii: $764,800)
• Population: 1,611

Idaho: Kamiah

Source: Jessica Torres / Getty Images

• Household income (median): $34,803 (Idaho: $70,214)
• Poverty rate: 22.6% (Idaho: 11.0%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.9% (Idaho: 30.2%)
• Home value (median): $193,200 (Idaho: $331,600)
• Population: 1,210

Illinois: Phoenix

Source: stevegeer / iStock via Getty Images

• Household income (median): $24,491 (Illinois: $78,433)
• Poverty rate: 30.0% (Illinois: 11.8%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.6% (Illinois: 36.7%)
• Home value (median): $82,800 (Illinois: $239,100)
• Population: 1,278

Indiana: English

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $26,599 (Indiana: $67,173)
• Poverty rate: 51.3% (Indiana: 12.3%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 2.3% (Indiana: 28.2%)
• Home value (median): $84,600 (Indiana: $183,600)
• Population: 1,101

Iowa: Oelwein

Source: Jim Roberts / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $41,629 (Iowa: $70,571)
• Poverty rate: 17.5% (Iowa: 11.1%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.7% (Iowa: 30.3%)
• Home value (median): $97,000 (Iowa: $181,600)
• Population: 5,934

Kansas: Chetopa

Source: usacetulsa / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $23,750 (Kansas: $69,747)
• Poverty rate: 26.1% (Kansas: 11.6%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.4% (Kansas: 34.7%)
• Home value (median): $60,500 (Kansas: $189,300)
• Population: 1,022

Kentucky: Clarkson

Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

• Household income (median): $21,250 (Kentucky: $60,183)
• Poverty rate: 39.6% (Kentucky: 16.1%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.1% (Kentucky: 26.5%)
• Home value (median): $97,000 (Kentucky: $177,000)
• Population: 1,218

Louisiana: Oil City

Oil City, L... (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Billy Hathorn

• Household income (median): $18,790 (Louisiana: $57,852)
• Poverty rate: 49.6% (Louisiana: 18.7%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.6% (Louisiana: 26.1%)
• Home value (median): $60,900 (Louisiana: $198,300)
• Population: 1,093

Maine: Machias

Source: Zedmaster375 / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $25,278 (Maine: $68,251)
• Poverty rate: 36.3% (Maine: 10.9%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.0% (Maine: 34.1%)
• Home value (median): $111,800 (Maine: $244,800)
• Population: 1,331

Maryland: Eden

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $28,808 (Maryland: $98,461)
• Poverty rate: 33.6% (Maryland: 9.3%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.2% (Maryland: 42.2%)
• Home value (median): N/A (Maryland: $380,500)
• Population: 1,008

Massachusetts: Ware

Source: jjbers / Flickr

• Household income (median): $44,107 (Massachusetts: $96,505)
• Poverty rate: 15.4% (Massachusetts: 9.9%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.8% (Massachusetts: 45.9%)
• Home value (median): $201,100 (Massachusetts: $483,900)
• Population: 6,253

Michigan: Baldwin

Source: Purdue9394 / iStock via Getty Images

• Household income (median): $25,587 (Michigan: $68,505)
• Poverty rate: 39.2% (Michigan: 13.1%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.8% (Michigan: 31.1%)
• Home value (median): $94,000 (Michigan: $201,100)
• Population: 1,030

Minnesota: Aitkin

Source: McGhiever / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $37,177 (Minnesota: $84,313)
• Poverty rate: 20.5% (Minnesota: 9.3%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.2% (Minnesota: 38.2%)
• Home value (median): $166,900 (Minnesota: $286,800)
• Population: 2,153

Mississippi: Rosedale

Source: Chillin662 / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $17,940 (Mississippi: $52,985)
• Poverty rate: 53.0% (Mississippi: 19.2%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.4% (Mississippi: 23.9%)
• Home value (median): $95,300 (Mississippi: $151,000)
• Population: 1,871

Missouri: Van Buren

Source: Brandonrush / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $22,143 (Missouri: $65,920)
• Poverty rate: 41.9% (Missouri: 12.8%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 5.8% (Missouri: 31.2%)
• Home value (median): $107,800 (Missouri: $199,400)
• Population: 1,125

Montana: Plains

Source: corradobarattaphotos / iStock via Getty Images

• Household income (median): $25,313 (Montana: $66,341)
• Poverty rate: 20.0% (Montana: 12.4%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.3% (Montana: 34.0%)
• Home value (median): $196,000 (Montana: $305,700)
• Population: 1,181

Nebraska: Falls City

Source: Ichabod / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $40,222 (Nebraska: $71,722)
• Poverty rate: 13.3% (Nebraska: 10.4%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.8% (Nebraska: 33.5%)
• Home value (median): $86,900 (Nebraska: $205,600)
• Population: 4,124

Nevada: Tonopah

Source: Famartin / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $35,931 (Nevada: $71,646)
• Poverty rate: 20.1% (Nevada: 12.7%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.5% (Nevada: 26.5%)
• Home value (median): $163,100 (Nevada: $373,800)
• Population: 1,777

New Hampshire: Ashland

Source: P199 / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $40,559 (New Hampshire: $90,845)
• Poverty rate: 32.5% (New Hampshire: 7.3%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.6% (New Hampshire: 39.0%)
• Home value (median): $163,600 (New Hampshire: $337,100)
• Population: 1,520

New Jersey: Penns Grove

Source: davidwilson1949 / Flickr

• Household income (median): $29,821 (New Jersey: $97,126)
• Poverty rate: 40.5% (New Jersey: 9.7%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.3% (New Jersey: 42.3%)
• Home value (median): $143,400 (New Jersey: $401,400)
• Population: 4,841

New Mexico: Alamo

Source: Picturesque Japan / iStock via Getty Images

• Household income (median): $24,118 (New Mexico: $58,722)
• Poverty rate: 69.8% (New Mexico: 18.3%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.4% (New Mexico: 29.1%)
• Home value (median): $9,999 (New Mexico: $216,000)
• Population: 1,081

New York: New Square

New York State Route 45 (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Adam Moss

• Household income (median): $27,488 (New York: $81,386)
• Poverty rate: 64.2% (New York: 13.6%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 2.4% (New York: 38.8%)
• Home value (median): $562,500 (New York: $384,100)
• Population: 9,578

North Carolina: Brunswick

Columbus County, NC (CC BY-SA 2.0) by gerrydincher

• Household income (median): $16,643 (North Carolina: $66,186)
• Poverty rate: 64.2% (North Carolina: 13.3%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.2% (North Carolina: 33.9%)
• Home value (median): $112,500 (North Carolina: $234,900)
• Population: 1,233

North Dakota: Fort Totten

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $30,234 (North Dakota: $73,959)
• Poverty rate: 41.7% (North Dakota: 10.8%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 0.0% (North Dakota: 31.4%)
• Home value (median): $36,200 (North Dakota: $232,500)
• Population: 1,042

Ohio: Lincoln Heights

Source: Nyttend / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $14,676 (Ohio: $66,990)
• Poverty rate: 62.9% (Ohio: 13.3%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.2% (Ohio: 30.4%)
• Home value (median): $74,800 (Ohio: $183,300)
• Population: 3,140

Oklahoma: Antlers

Source: Photolitherland at English Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $27,798 (Oklahoma: $61,364)
• Poverty rate: 30.7% (Oklahoma: 15.2%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.5% (Oklahoma: 27.3%)
• Home value (median): $85,400 (Oklahoma: $170,500)
• Population: 2,361

Oregon: Oakridge

Source: Chris Phan ("functoruser") / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $29,336 (Oregon: $76,632)
• Poverty rate: 31.6% (Oregon: 11.9%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.4% (Oregon: 35.5%)
• Home value (median): $192,400 (Oregon: $423,100)
• Population: 3,208

Pennsylvania: Braddock

Source: Althom / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Household income (median): $27,212 (Pennsylvania: $73,170)
• Poverty rate: 30.9% (Pennsylvania: 11.8%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.7% (Pennsylvania: 33.8%)
• Home value (median): $43,800 (Pennsylvania: $226,200)
• Population: 1,814

Rhode Island: Central Falls

Source: jjbers / Flickr

• Household income (median): $43,092 (Rhode Island: $81,370)
• Poverty rate: 24.4% (Rhode Island: 11.2%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 9.1% (Rhode Island: 36.3%)
• Home value (median): $244,100 (Rhode Island: $343,100)
• Population: 22,359

South Carolina: Buffalo

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $19,770 (South Carolina: $63,623)
• Poverty rate: 38.0% (South Carolina: 14.4%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.2% (South Carolina: 30.6%)
• Home value (median): $45,500 (South Carolina: $216,200)
• Population: 1,159

South Dakota: Porcupine

Source: Kalaniana_Island / iStock via Getty Images

• Household income (median): $18,750 (South Dakota: $69,457)
• Poverty rate: 91.5% (South Dakota: 12.3%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.1% (South Dakota: 30.4%)
• Home value (median): N/A (South Dakota: $219,500)
• Population: 1,021

Tennessee: Sneedville

Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

• Household income (median): $23,897 (Tennessee: $64,035)
• Poverty rate: 43.4% (Tennessee: 14.0%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 6.5% (Tennessee: 29.7%)
• Home value (median): $82,300 (Tennessee: $232,100)
• Population: 1,590

Texas: Rancho Alegre

Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

• Household income (median): $18,289 (Texas: $73,035)
• Poverty rate: 56.4% (Texas: 13.9%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.6% (Texas: 32.3%)
• Home value (median): $28,700 (Texas: $238,000)
• Population: 1,099

Utah: Spring Glen

Old school Spring... (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Tricia Simpson

• Household income (median): $41,780 (Utah: $86,833)
• Poverty rate: 33.5% (Utah: 8.5%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.9% (Utah: 36.1%)
• Home value (median): $204,600 (Utah: $408,500)
• Population: 1,070

Vermont: West Brattleboro

Source: Robert_Ford / iStock via Getty Images

• Household income (median): $40,446 (Vermont: $74,014)
• Poverty rate: 21.2% (Vermont: 10.4%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 27.6% (Vermont: 41.7%)
• Home value (median): $210,900 (Vermont: $272,400)
• Population: 2,817

Virginia: Jonesville

Source: Nyttend / Public Domain / Nyttend / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $16,830 (Virginia: $87,249)
• Poverty rate: 55.7% (Virginia: 10.0%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.7% (Virginia: 41.0%)
• Home value (median): $113,900 (Virginia: $339,800)
• Population: 1,259

Washington: Oroville

Source: Kyle Pearce from Vancouver, Canada / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $34,750 (Washington: $90,325)
• Poverty rate: 32.7% (Washington: 9.9%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.7% (Washington: 38.0%)
• Home value (median): $160,900 (Washington: $473,400)
• Population: 1,753

West Virginia: Williamson

Source: 6381380 / iStock via Getty Images

• Household income (median): $23,173 (West Virginia: $55,217)
• Poverty rate: 32.0% (West Virginia: 16.8%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.2% (West Virginia: 22.7%)
• Home value (median): $96,900 (West Virginia: $145,800)
• Population: 3,035

Wisconsin: Lac du Flambeau

Source: Riffsyphon1024 / Wikimedia Commons

• Household income (median): $29,375 (Wisconsin: $72,458)
• Poverty rate: 35.2% (Wisconsin: 10.7%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.6% (Wisconsin: 32.0%)
• Home value (median): $89,000 (Wisconsin: $231,400)
• Population: 1,755

Wyoming: Fort Washakie

Sacajawea Cemetery, Fort Washa... (CC BY 2.0) by Dan Nevill

• Household income (median): $40,000 (Wyoming: $72,495)
• Poverty rate: 27.1% (Wyoming: 10.7%)
• Residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.1% (Wyoming: 29.0%)
• Home value (median): $160,700 (Wyoming: $269,900)
• Population: 1,481

Methodology

To identify the poorest town in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of median household income from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey.

We used census “place” geographies — a category that includes incorporated legal entities and census-designated statistical entities. We defined towns based on population thresholds — having at least 1,000 people and less than 25,000 people.

Towns were excluded if median household income was not available in the 2022 ACS or if the sampling error associated with a town’s data was deemed too high. The presence of a major college or university can also 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.

Additional data on median home values, educational attainment, poverty, and population are also five-year estimates from the 2022 ACS.