Special Report

Cities With the Lowest Poverty Rates

Samuel Stebbins

Published: November 21, 2018 9:08 pm

Last Updated: January 11, 2020 2:35 pm

In his 1964 State of the Union address, President Lyndon Johnson declared war on poverty. The ambitious initiative gave way to a range of policies aimed at eliminating poverty in the United States.

Now, over half a decade later, 42.6 million Americans still live below the poverty line.

The Department of Health and Human Services sets the poverty line at an annual income of $12,140 for an individual and $25,100 for a family of four. Since peaking at just under 16% in the wake of the Great Recession, the U.S. poverty rate has improved considerably. As of 2017, 13.4% of Americans live below the poverty line.

While the Johnson’s war on poverty ultimately proved unsuccessful, poverty reduction remains a central policy goal of federal, state, and local governments. And some cities have done better than others in reducing poverty.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed metro area level poverty data from the U.S. Census Bureau to identify the cities with the lowest poverty rates. In 30 of the 382 metro areas reviewed, fewer than 9% of residents live in poverty.

Click here to see the cities with the lowest poverty rates.
Click here to read our detailed findings and methodology.

Source: AndreyKrav / Getty Images

30. Salt Lake City, UT
> Poverty rate: 8.9%
> 2017 unemployment: 3.1% (bottom 25%)
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.6% (bottom 10%)
> Median household income: $71,510 (top 10%)

[in-text-ad]

Source: DavidByronKeener / Getty Images

29. Idaho Falls, ID
> Poverty rate: 8.8%
> 2017 unemployment: 2.6% (bottom 10%)
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 11.1%
> Median household income: $54,515

24/7 Wall St.
40 Places Young People Are Moving

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

28. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
> Poverty rate: 8.8%
> 2017 unemployment: 4.7%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 8.3% (bottom 25%)
> Median household income: $91,198 (top 10%)

Source: stellalevi / Getty Images

27. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
> Poverty rate: 8.8%
> 2017 unemployment: 3.3% (bottom 25%)
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 5.3% (bottom 10%)
> Median household income: $101,714 (top 10%)

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: dosecreative / Getty Images

26. Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL
> Poverty rate: 8.7%
> 2017 unemployment: 5.0%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 9.0% (bottom 25%)
> Median household income: $49,177

Source: beverett / Getty Images

25. Cedar Rapids, IA
> Poverty rate: 8.7%
> 2017 unemployment: 3.4% (bottom 25%)
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 9.2%
> Median household income: $63,697 (top 25%)

[in-text-ad]

Source: photoquest7 / Getty Images

24. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
> Poverty rate: 8.6%
> 2017 unemployment: 2.7% (bottom 10%)
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.0% (bottom 10%)
> Median household income: $76,643 (top 10%)

Source: NicolasMcComber / Getty Images

23. Winchester, VA-WV
> Poverty rate: 8.5%
> 2017 unemployment: 3.4% (bottom 25%)
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.5% (bottom 10%)
> Median household income: $65,334 (top 25%)

Source: Andy_Tam / Getty Images

22. Urban Honolulu, HI
> Poverty rate: 8.4%
> 2017 unemployment: 2.2% (bottom 10%)
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 9.2%
> Median household income: $81,284 (top 10%)

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: KudicM / Getty Images

21. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
> Poverty rate: 8.3%
> 2017 unemployment: 2.9% (bottom 10%)
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 9.5%
> Median household income: $68,649 (top 25%)

Source: BanksPhotos / Getty Images

20. Rochester, MN
> Poverty rate: 8.3%
> 2017 unemployment: 2.9% (bottom 10%)
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 7.6% (bottom 25%)
> Median household income: $71,985 (top 10%)

[in-text-ad]

Source: connerscott1 / Getty Images

19. Norwich-New London, CT
> Poverty rate: 8.2%
> 2017 unemployment: 4.6%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 10.4%
> Median household income: $71,987 (top 10%)

Source: sphraner / Getty Images

18. Manchester-Nashua, NH
> Poverty rate: 8.2%
> 2017 unemployment: 2.6% (bottom 10%)
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 7.5% (bottom 25%)
> Median household income: $78,769 (top 10%)

Source: Michael Warren / Getty Images

17. The Villages, FL
> Poverty rate: 8.1%
> 2017 unemployment: 6.0% (top 10%)
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 4.9% (bottom 10%)
> Median household income: $54,057

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Thinkstock

16. Fond du Lac, WI
> Poverty rate: 8.1%
> 2017 unemployment: 2.8% (bottom 10%)
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 9.3%
> Median household income: $61,417

Source: RudyBalasko / iStock

15. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
> Poverty rate: 8.1%
> 2017 unemployment: 3.2% (bottom 25%)
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 7.2% (bottom 25%)
> Median household income: $76,856 (top 10%)

[in-text-ad]

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

14. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
> Poverty rate: 7.9%
> 2017 unemployment: 3.7%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.5% (bottom 10%)
> Median household income: $99,669 (top 10%)

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

13. Portland-South Portland, ME
> Poverty rate: 7.8%
> 2017 unemployment: 2.6% (bottom 10%)
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 8.2% (bottom 25%)
> Median household income: $68,570 (top 25%)

Source: WilliamBunce / Getty Images

12. Bremerton-Silverdale, WA
> Poverty rate: 7.8%
> 2017 unemployment: 4.9%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 11.0%
> Median household income: $73,026 (top 10%)

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: pabradyphoto / Getty Images

11. Gettysburg, PA
> Poverty rate: 7.6%
> 2017 unemployment: 3.7%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 8.5% (bottom 25%)
> Median household income: $63,107 (top 25%)

Source: OwensImaging / Getty Images

10. Carson City, NV
> Poverty rate: 7.5%
> 2017 unemployment: 5.1%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 10.8%
> Median household income: $55,700

[in-text-ad]

Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images

9. Ogden-Clearfield, UT
> Poverty rate: 7.4%
> 2017 unemployment: 3.3% (bottom 25%)
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.6% (bottom 10%)
> Median household income: $71,629 (top 10%)

Source: dougtone / Flickr

8. East Stroudsburg, PA
> Poverty rate: 7.3%
> 2017 unemployment: 5.9% (top 10%)
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 11.9%
> Median household income: $61,612 (top 25%)

Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images

7. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
> Poverty rate: 7.3%
> 2017 unemployment: 3.3% (bottom 25%)
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 4.7% (bottom 10%)
> Median household income: $117,474 (top 10%)

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: self / Wikimedia Commons

6. Sheboygan, WI
> Poverty rate: 7.2%
> 2017 unemployment: 2.8% (bottom 10%)
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 9.9%
> Median household income: $58,361

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

5. Appleton, WI
> Poverty rate: 6.9%
> 2017 unemployment: 3.0% (bottom 25%)
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.6% (bottom 10%)
> Median household income: $65,990 (top 25%)

[in-text-ad]

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

4. Sioux Falls, SD
> Poverty rate: 6.8%
> 2017 unemployment: 2.8% (bottom 10%)
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.5% (bottom 10%)
> Median household income: $64,882 (top 25%)

24/7 Wall St.
Least Fashionable Cities in America

Source: Jon Bilous / Shutterstock.com

3. Barnstable Town, MA
> Poverty rate: 6.8%
> 2017 unemployment: 4.4%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 5.7% (bottom 10%)
> Median household income: $71,235 (top 10%)

Source: DMartinez-Photo / Getty Images

2. Fairbanks, AK
> Poverty rate: 6.0%
> 2017 unemployment: 6.3% (top 10%)
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.5% (bottom 10%)
> Median household income: $76,747 (top 10%)

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: latypova / Getty Images

1. Napa, CA
> Poverty rate: 5.6%
> 2017 unemployment: 3.7%
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 3.3% (bottom 10%)
> Median household income: $86,562 (top 10%)

Detailed Findings

A strong job market makes it easier for those who want work to find it, and can result in reduced financial hardship. Not surprisingly, economic conditions in cities with low poverty rates are generally good.

Of the 30 cities with poverty rates below 9.0%, 22 have an unemployment rate at or below the 4.4% annual national rate. In one third of the cities on this list, the unemployment rate ranks among the lowest 10% of all U.S. metro areas.

Federal programs like SNAP — formerly known as food stamps — are meant to help those struggling with serious financial hardship afford groceries. Due in to low poverty rates, the share of residents in the cities on this list who depend on SNAP is relatively low. East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania is the only city on this list with a higher SNAP recipiency rate than the 11.7% national rate.

Adults with a college education have access to a greater number of high paying jobs and are less likely to face serious financial hardship. Low poverty rates and the higher than typical median incomes common in the cities on this list are likely due in part to high educational attainment rates. Nearly two-thirds of the cities on this list are home to a larger than typical share of adults with a bachelor’s degree.

Methodology

To identify the cities with the lowest poverty rates, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed poverty data for the 382 U.S. metro areas from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 1-year American Community Survey. In cases where two or more cities had the same poverty rate, we used median household income as a tiebreaker, favoring the city with a higher median income. Only those areas with poverty rates below 9.0% were included on this list. Poverty rates, as well as median household income, and SNAP recipiency also came from the ACS. Annual unemployment figures are for 2017 and came from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.