Special Report

Cities With the Highest Poverty Rates

dirty city streets and old dirty houses, sadness, poverty
Source: Thinkstock
The number of Americans living in poverty fell by 3.5 million to 13.5% of the population in 2015. While the poverty rate is the lowest since 2008, it is still higher than pre-recession levels.

More than 43 million Americans still live in poverty. And while financial hardship exists in every city, some areas have much higher poverty rates than others.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the U.S. Census Bureau to determine the cities with the highest poverty rates. The 56-city list consists of every U.S. metro area where more than one in five residents lives in poverty. The metro area with the highest poverty rate is Brownsville-Harlingen, Texas, with 32.4% of residents living below the poverty line.

Click here to see the cities with the highest poverty rates.

The income threshold that determines the poverty line for a family is determined by family size and composition. For example, the threshold for a family of four consisting of two adults and two children is $24,036 a year — if the household’s total income is below that threshold, it is considered to be living in poverty. For an individual younger than 65 years of age living alone, the poverty threshold drops to $12,331.

Due to many factors, including the pay gap between men and women, single mother households tend to have higher rates of poverty than other types of households. Nationwide, single mother families make up 6.8% of all families. In the most impoverished cities, single mother families are more common. In nine of the 10 cities with the highest poverty rates, the share of single mother households exceeds the national rate.

The poverty threshold does not account for factors like cost of living and is based on income levels before subsidies are received from government assistance programs like SNAP. Because it is cheaper to live in 54 of the 56 cities on this list than it is on average across the nation, the low incomes may be slightly more manageable. Programs like SNAP can provide further assistance by securing basic needs for low income individuals and families.

Yet, in many of these areas, there are a larger share of residents not only living in poverty, but living in extreme poverty. Nationwide, 4.3% of families earn less than $10,000 per year. In all but five of the 56 metros this percentage is higher, and in four cities, one in 10 families earns less than $10,000 annually.

To determine the cities with the highest poverty rates, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The national poverty rate is from the Current Population Survey, and data for metropolitan statistical areas is from the American Community Survey. Household and family composition figures are also from the ACS. Single mother family refers to a single, female householder raising her own children. All data from the Census Bureau is from 2015. Unemployment rates are from July 2016 and are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Regional price parities (cost of living) in each metro area came from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and are as of 2014. All data is as of the most recently available period.

These are the cities with the highest poverty rates.

El Paso, Texas 2
Source: Thinkstock

56. El Paso, TX
> Poverty rate: 20.1%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 4.9%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 22.0%
> Households with income under $10,000: 5.4%

Hot Springs, Arkansas 3
Source: Thinkstock

55. Hot Springs, AR
> Poverty rate: 20.1%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 4.2%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 10.4%
> Households with income under $10,000: 4.9%

Huntington, West Virginia
Source: Wikimedia Commons

54. Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
> Poverty rate: 20.1%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 5.8%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 18.0%
> Households with income under $10,000: 6.9%

Corvallis, Oregon
Source: Thinkstock

53. Corvallis, OR
> Poverty rate: 20.1%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 4.6%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 11.5%
> Households with income under $10,000: 3.7%

Pueblo riverwalk, Colorado
Source: Wikimedia Commons

52. Pueblo, CO
> Poverty rate: 20.1%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 5.4%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 20.3%
> Households with income under $10,000: 7.6%

burlington-north-carolina
Source: Wikimedia Commons

51. Burlington, NC
> Poverty rate: 20.1%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 4.3%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 17.0%
> Households with income under $10,000: 6.5%

Waco, Texas
Source: Thinkstock

50. Waco, TX
> Poverty rate: 20.3%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 3.9%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 11.6%
> Households with income under $10,000: 5.5%

City of Morgantown in West Virginia
Source: Thinkstock

49. Morgantown, WV
> Poverty rate: 20.3%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 4.3%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 10.0%
> Households with income under $10,000: 5.0%

harrisonburg-virginia
Source: Wikimedia Commons

48. Harrisonburg, VA
> Poverty rate: 20.3%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 3.9%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 9.2%
> Households with income under $10,000: 5.4%

Medford, OR
Source: Wikimedia Commons

47. Medford, OR
> Poverty rate: 20.3%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 6.6%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 23.0%
> Households with income under $10,000: 7.8%

johnson-city-tennessee
Source: Wikimedia Commons

46. Johnson City, TN
> Poverty rate: 20.4%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 5.0%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 14.7%
> Households with income under $10,000: 7.4%

Yuma, Arizona
Source: Thinkstock

45. Yuma, AZ
> Poverty rate: 20.5%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 20.1%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 20.6%
> Households with income under $10,000: 6.7%

44. Fort Smith, AR-OK
> Poverty rate: 20.5%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 4.8%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 17.4%
> Households with income under $10,000: 7.0%

Flint, Michigan
Source: Wikimedia Commons

43. Flint, MI
> Poverty rate: 20.6%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 4.4%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 20.7%
> Households with income under $10,000: 6.3%

yuba city california
Source: Wikimedia Commons

42. Yuba City, CA
> Poverty rate: 20.6%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 9.4%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 15.0%
> Households with income under $10,000: 4.7%

Lubbock, Texas
Source: Wikimedia Commons

41. Lubbock, TX
> Poverty rate: 20.7%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 3.4%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 12.5%
> Households with income under $10,000: 5.8%

Ames, Iowa
Source: Wikimedia Commons

40. Ames, IA
> Poverty rate: 20.7%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 2.5%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 7.9%
> Households with income under $10,000: 1.4%

Manhattan, Kansas
Source: Wikimedia Commons

39. Manhattan, KS
> Poverty rate: 20.8%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 3.3%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.3%
> Households with income under $10,000: 5.8%

Tuscaloosa, AL Train Bridge Reflections at Sunset
Source: Thinkstock

38. Tuscaloosa, AL
> Poverty rate: 21.0%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 5.5%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 11.3%
> Households with income under $10,000: 6.3%

Shreveport-Bossier City, LA
Source: Wikimedia Commons

37. Shreveport-Bossier City, LA
> Poverty rate: 21.0%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 6.7%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 16.1%
> Households with income under $10,000: 6.7%

Columbus Georgia Downtown
Source: Thinkstock

36. Columbus, GA-AL
> Poverty rate: 21.1%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 6.0%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 19.0%
> Households with income under $10,000: 5.9%

lawrence kansas
Source: Wikimedia Commons

35. Lawrence, KS
> Poverty rate: 21.3%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 3.6%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.9%
> Households with income under $10,000: 3.4%

Chico, California
Source: Wikimedia Commons

34. Chico, CA
> Poverty rate: 21.8%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 6.9%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 11.9%
> Households with income under $10,000: 4.1%

Gainesville, GA
Source: Wikimedia Commons

33. Gainesville, FL
> Poverty rate: 21.9%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 4.1%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 11.3%
> Households with income under $10,000: 5.1%

32. Auburn-Opelika, AL
> Poverty rate: 21.9%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 4.9%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 15.0%
> Households with income under $10,000: 6.7%

bakersfield heat
Source: Wikimedia Commons

31. Bakersfield, CA
> Poverty rate: 21.9%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 10.6%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 16.4%
> Households with income under $10,000: 6.3%

Hinesville, Georgia
Source: Wikimedia Commons

30. Hinesville, GA
> Poverty rate: 22.0%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 5.3%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 21.3%
> Households with income under $10,000: 6.1%

Alexandria, Louisiana
Source: Wikimedia Commons

29. Alexandria, LA
> Poverty rate: 22.0%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 6.5%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 19.0%
> Households with income under $10,000: 6.5%

Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/harriswalkerphotography/

28. Rocky Mount, NC
> Poverty rate: 22.0%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 6.8%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 23.3%
> Households with income under $10,000: 5.4%

Ithaca, New York
Source: Wikimedia Commons

27. Ithaca, NY
> Poverty rate: 22.3%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 3.5%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.8%
> Households with income under $10,000: 3.1%

Tallahassee, Florida
Source: Thinkstock

26. Tallahassee, FL
> Poverty rate: 22.4%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 4.5%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 16.0%
> Households with income under $10,000: 5.3%

Grants Pass, OR
Source: Wikimedia Commons

25. Grants Pass, OR
> Poverty rate: 22.6%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 7.4%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 24.5%
> Households with income under $10,000: 4.5%

Albritton Bell Tower in Twilight, College Station, Texas
Source: Thinkstock

24. College Station-Bryan, TX
> Poverty rate: 23.0%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 3.5%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 8.1%
> Households with income under $10,000: 5.0%

Muncie, Indiana
Source: Wikimedia Commons

23. Muncie, IN
> Poverty rate: 23.4%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 4.9%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 16.1%
> Households with income under $10,000: 8.6%

Madera, California
Source: Wikimedia Commons

22. Madera, CA
> Poverty rate: 23.4%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 9.5%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 16.9%
> Households with income under $10,000: 6.6%

Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Source: Wikimedia Commons

21. Hattiesburg, MS
> Poverty rate: 23.5%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 5.4%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 18.1%
> Households with income under $10,000: 8.1%

Hanford, California
Source: Wikimedia Commons

20. Hanford-Corcoran, CA
> Poverty rate: 23.6%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 10.1%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 18.0%
> Households with income under $10,000: 5.8%

Macon, Georgia
Source: Thinkstock

19. Macon, GA
> Poverty rate: 23.7%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 5.3%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 18.2%
> Households with income under $10,000: 8.8%

Monroe, Louisiana
Source: Thinkstock

18. Monroe, LA
> Poverty rate: 23.9%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 6.2%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 16.5%
> Households with income under $10,000: 10.5%

Bloomington, Indiana
Source: Thinkstock

17. Bloomington, IN
> Poverty rate: 24.2%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 4.8%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 8.7%
> Households with income under $10,000: 5.2%

Albany, Georgia
Source: Wikimedia Commons

16. Albany, GA
> Poverty rate: 24.6%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 5.8%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 23.2%
> Households with income under $10,000: 12.9%

Sebring, Florida
Source: Wikimedia Commons

15. Sebring, FL
> Poverty rate: 24.6%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 6.2%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 14.8%
> Households with income under $10,000: 5.3%

Hammond, LA
Source: Wikimedia Commons

14. Hammond, LA
> Poverty rate: 24.6%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 7.0%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 20.5%
> Households with income under $10,000: 6.7%

El Centro, California
Source: Wikimedia Commons

13. El Centro, CA
> Poverty rate: 25.1%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 21.9%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 22.5%
> Households with income under $10,000: 8.1%

Fresno, California night
Source: Wikimedia Commons

12. Fresno, CA
> Poverty rate: 25.3%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 9.6%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 21.0%
> Households with income under $10,000: 8.3%

Pocatello, Idaho
Source: Wikimedia Commons

11. Pocatello, ID
> Poverty rate: 25.3%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 3.6%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 15.6%
> Households with income under $10,000: 4.7%

Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Source: Wikimedia Commons

10. Pine Bluff, AR
> Poverty rate: 25.7%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 5.2%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 21.0%
> Households with income under $10,000: 10.0%

Valdosta, Georgia
Source: Wikimedia Commons

9. Valdosta, GA
> Poverty rate: 26.6%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 4.9%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 18.1%
> Households with income under $10,000: 7.9%

Merced, California
Source: Wikimedia Commons

8. Merced, CA
> Poverty rate: 26.7%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 10.7%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 21.5%
> Households with income under $10,000: 7.8%

Greenville, North Carolina
Source: Wikimedia Commons

7. Greenville, NC
> Poverty rate: 26.8%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 5.0%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 17.2%
> Households with income under $10,000: 6.6%

Athens, Georgia
Source: Thinkstock

6. Athens-Clarke County, GA
> Poverty rate: 27.1%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 4.6%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 12.8%
> Households with income under $10,000: 7.0%


Las Cruces, New Mexico
Source: Thinkstock

5. Las Cruces, NM
> Poverty rate: 27.1%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 7.0%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 22.9%
> Households with income under $10,000: 7.7%

Visalia, California
Source: Thinkstock

4. Visalia-Porterville, CA
> Poverty rate: 27.6%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 11.2%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 24.4%
> Households with income under $10,000: 6.3%

Edinburg, Texas
Source: Wikimedia Commons

3. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
> Poverty rate: 31.5%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 7.7%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 30.2%
> Households with income under $10,000: 8.8%

Laredo, Texas
Source: Wikimedia Commons

2. Laredo, TX
> Poverty rate: 31.8%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 4.9%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 32.3%
> Households with income under $10,000: 9.3%

brownsville heat
Source: Wikimedia Commons

1. Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
> Poverty rate: 32.4%
> July 2016 unemployment rate: 7.2%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 26.5%
> Households with income under $10,000: 10.6%

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