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 Georgia, 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 Georgia, 13.5% 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 Georgia 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 21.4% to 46.7%, and in each of these places, the typical household earns less than the statewide median household income of $71,355.
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 5.2% jobless rate across Georgia.
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 all but one town on this list, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree is below the 33.6% statewide bachelor’s degree attainment rate.
Why It Matters
Source: addkm / Shutterstock.com
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. Thomasville
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 21.4%
- Median household income: $45,789
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.5%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.5%
- Population: 18,744
34. St. Marys
Source: elan7t50 / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 21.6%
- Median household income: $68,199
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.7%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.8%
- Population: 18,507
33. Doraville
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 21.8%
- Median household income: $59,636
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 2.0%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 31.2%
- Population: 10,691
32. Irondale
Source: DemocraticLuntz / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 21.9%
- Median household income: $53,598
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.9%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.0%
- Population: 8,305
31. Rome
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 22.2%
- Median household income: $48,512
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.5%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.3%
- Population: 37,621
30. Douglas
Source: Norm Lane / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 23.0%
- Median household income: $39,716
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 2.8%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.6%
- Population: 11,694
29. Country Club Estates
Source: Arkyan / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 23.2%
- Median household income: $57,816
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.9%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.0%
- Population: 9,057
28. Fairburn
Source: Wirestock / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 23.4%
- Median household income: $67,245
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.2%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 37.0%
- Population: 16,469
27. Eastman
Source: By Michael Rivera - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36152297
- Poverty rate: 23.8%
- Median household income: $41,213
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 2.1%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.6%
- Population: 5,635
26. Cairo
Source: Michael Rivera / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 24.0%
- Median household income: $39,784
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.6%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.5%
- Population: 10,091
25. Tifton
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 24.4%
- Median household income: $42,200
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 2.5%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.9%
- Population: 17,059
24. Moultrie
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 24.9%
- Median household income: $41,228
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.3%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.1%
- Population: 14,533
23. Griffin
Source: frotzed / Flickr
- Poverty rate: 25.4%
- Median household income: $42,047
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.5%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.2%
- Population: 23,485
22. LaGrange
Source: LCBallard / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 25.4%
- Median household income: $41,030
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.3%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.1%
- Population: 31,173
21. Adel
Source: Norm Lane / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 26.3%
- Median household income: $26,800
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.2%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.8%
- Population: 5,571
20. Vidalia
- Poverty rate: 26.6%
- Median household income: $47,124
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.4%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.5%
- Population: 10,732
19. Bainbridge
- Poverty rate: 27.1%
- Median household income: $42,093
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.2%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.8%
- Population: 14,234
18. Swainsboro
Source: Jud McCranie / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 27.1%
- Median household income: $44,491
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 13.2%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.6%
- Population: 7,542
17. Americus
Source: davidwilson1949 / Flickr
- Poverty rate: 27.1%
- Median household income: $36,498
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.8%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.5%
- Population: 16,020
16. Fitzgerald
Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 27.2%
- Median household income: $32,500
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.1%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.1%
- Population: 8,972
15. Sylvester
Source: Michael Rivera / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 28.3%
- Median household income: $48,599
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.0%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.5%
- Population: 5,622
14. Blakely
Source: Robbie Honerkamp / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 28.5%
- Median household income: $43,008
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.6%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.2%
- Population: 5,299
13. Clarkston
Source: Thomson200 / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
- Poverty rate: 28.9%
- Median household income: $51,122
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.6%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.0%
- Population: 14,553
12. Jackson
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 29.6%
- Median household income: $43,824
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.3%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.1%
- Population: 5,497
11. Brunswick
Source: BeachcottagePhotography / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 30.8%
- Median household income: $29,781
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.1%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.7%
- Population: 15,243
10. Dock Junction
Source: Michael Rivera / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 31.0%
- Median household income: $44,438
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.6%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.1%
- Population: 8,176
9. Waynesboro
Source: Blastoids / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 32.1%
- Median household income: $41,932
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.8%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.3%
- Population: 5,720
8. Cordele
Source: By Michael Rivera - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24070651
- Poverty rate: 32.3%
- Median household income: $33,166
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.8%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.6%
- Population: 10,210
7. Cedartown
- Poverty rate: 33.8%
- Median household income: $30,655
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.4%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.1%
- Population: 10,166
6. Waycross
Source: Allen Allnoch / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 33.8%
- Median household income: $36,818
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.5%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.8%
- Population: 13,856
5. Dublin
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 35.5%
- Median household income: $37,734
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.5%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.6%
- Population: 15,985
4. Thomaston
Source: LCBallard / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 36.7%
- Median household income: $30,298
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.1%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.5%
- Population: 9,720
3. Monroe
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 41.8%
- Median household income: $45,307
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.2%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.2%
- Population: 15,036
2. McRae-Helena
- Poverty rate: 42.1%
- Median household income: N/A
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 0.9%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 7.4%
- Population: 6,338
1. Camilla
- Poverty rate: 46.7%
- Median household income: $27,306
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.3%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.1%
- Population: 5,163
| Rank | Place | Poverty rate (%) | Median household income ($) | Unemployment rate (%) | Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (%) | Total population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camilla, Georgia | 46.7 | 27,306 | 11.3 | 8.1 | 5,163 |
| 2 | McRae-Helena, Georgia | 42.1 | N/A | 0.9 | 7.4 | 6,338 |
| 3 | Monroe, Georgia | 41.8 | 45,307 | 11.2 | 13.2 | 15,036 |
| 4 | Thomaston, Georgia | 36.7 | 30,298 | 5.1 | 17.5 | 9,720 |
| 5 | Dublin, Georgia | 35.5 | 37,734 | 7.5 | 20.6 | 15,985 |
| 6 | Waycross, Georgia | 33.8 | 36,818 | 6.5 | 17.8 | 13,856 |
| 7 | Cedartown, Georgia | 33.8 | 30,655 | 7.4 | 16.1 | 10,166 |
| 8 | Cordele, Georgia | 32.3 | 33,166 | 8.8 | 13.6 | 10,210 |
| 9 | Waynesboro, Georgia | 32.1 | 41,932 | 4.8 | 16.3 | 5,720 |
| 10 | Dock Junction, Georgia | 31.0 | 44,438 | 4.6 | 13.1 | 8,176 |
| 11 | Brunswick, Georgia | 30.8 | 29,781 | 9.1 | 19.7 | 15,243 |
| 12 | Jackson, Georgia | 29.6 | 43,824 | 6.3 | 12.1 | 5,497 |
| 13 | Clarkston, Georgia | 28.9 | 51,122 | 8.6 | 24.0 | 14,553 |
| 14 | Blakely, Georgia | 28.5 | 43,008 | 5.6 | 11.2 | 5,299 |
| 15 | Sylvester, Georgia | 28.3 | 48,599 | 8.0 | 13.5 | 5,622 |
| 16 | Fitzgerald, Georgia | 27.2 | 32,500 | 6.1 | 14.1 | 8,972 |
| 17 | Americus, Georgia | 27.1 | 36,498 | 6.8 | 21.5 | 16,020 |
| 18 | Swainsboro, Georgia | 27.1 | 44,491 | 13.2 | 11.6 | 7,542 |
| 19 | Bainbridge, Georgia | 27.1 | 42,093 | 9.2 | 17.8 | 14,234 |
| 20 | Vidalia, Georgia | 26.6 | 47,124 | 7.4 | 22.5 | 10,732 |
| 21 | Adel, Georgia | 26.3 | 26,800 | 6.2 | 19.8 | 5,571 |
| 22 | LaGrange, Georgia | 25.4 | 41,030 | 5.3 | 23.1 | 31,173 |
| 23 | Griffin, Georgia | 25.4 | 42,047 | 5.5 | 18.2 | 23,485 |
| 24 | Moultrie, Georgia | 24.9 | 41,228 | 8.3 | 19.1 | 14,533 |
| 25 | Tifton, Georgia | 24.4 | 42,200 | 2.5 | 19.9 | 17,059 |
| 26 | Cairo, Georgia | 24.0 | 39,784 | 7.6 | 13.5 | 10,091 |
| 27 | Eastman, Georgia | 23.8 | 41,213 | 2.1 | 22.6 | 5,635 |
| 28 | Fairburn, Georgia | 23.4 | 67,245 | 5.2 | 37.0 | 16,469 |
| 29 | Country Club Estates, Georgia | 23.2 | 57,816 | 4.9 | 15.0 | 9,057 |
| 30 | Douglas, Georgia | 23.0 | 39,716 | 2.8 | 14.6 | 11,694 |
| 31 | Rome, Georgia | 22.2 | 48,512 | 4.5 | 26.3 | 37,621 |
| 32 | Irondale, Georgia | 21.9 | 53,598 | 5.9 | 19.0 | 8,305 |
| 33 | Doraville, Georgia | 21.8 | 59,636 | 2.0 | 31.2 | 10,691 |
| 34 | St. Marys, Georgia | 21.6 | 68,199 | 5.7 | 24.8 | 18,507 |
| 35 | Thomasville, Georgia | 21.4 | 45,789 | 4.5 | 26.5 | 18,744 |
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