Median household income has climbed steadily in the United States since 2014, hitting an all time high of over $63,000 in 2018. In a country of over 330 million people, however, the national median income does not often reflect incomes at the local level and the day-to-day financial reality of many Americans.
How much a typical household earns varies considerably from state to state — from as little as $43,600 in Mississippi to as much as nearly $82,000 in Maryland — and the difference can be even greater across communities and municipalities within states. In nearly every state, even some of the wealthiest, there is at least one county where the where the median household income is lower than the national median.
Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed median household income in over 2,000 counties and county equivalents nationwide to identify the poorest county in each state.
Many of the counties on this list are relatively small and rural — and the low median income in these places is attributable in part to a lack of jobs. In the vast majority of the counties on this list, the unemployment rate is higher than it is across the state as a whole. Several counties on this list rank among those with the worst jobless rates nationwide. Here is a look at the 50 counties with the highest unemployment.
The weak job markets and low incomes in these counties often means real financial hardship for many who live there. Often in these counties, large segments of the population lack the financial resources to meet even basic standards of living — as evidenced by the high poverty rates. All but four of the poorest counties in each state have a higher poverty rate than the 14.1% national rate, and in 18 of these counties, the poverty rate is at least double the national rate. Here is a state by state look at how much money a family needs in order to avoid poverty.
Click here to see the poorest county in every state.
Click here to see our methodology.
1. Alabama: Dallas County
> Median household income: $31,602 (state: $48,486)
> Poverty rate: 31.1% (state: 17.5%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 4.4% (state: 2.8%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.1% (state: 24.9%)
> Largest place in county: Selma
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2. Alaska: Northwest Arctic Borough
> Median household income: $62,949 (state: $76,715)
> Poverty rate: 25.1% (state: 10.8%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 12.8% (state: 6.2%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 11.7% (state: 29.2%)
> Largest place in county: Kotzebue
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3. Arizona: Apache County
> Median household income: $32,963 (state: $56,213)
> Poverty rate: 35.3% (state: 16.1%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 8.9% (state: 4.8%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 11.7% (state: 28.9%)
> Largest place in county: Chinle
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4. Arkansas: Lafayette County
> Median household income: $32,412 (state: $45,726)
> Poverty rate: 22.2% (state: 17.6%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 4.3% (state: 3.5%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 16.5% (state: 22.6%)
> Largest place in county: Stamps
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5. California: Lake County
> Median household income: $42,475 (state: $71,228)
> Poverty rate: 21.0% (state: 14.3%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 4.1% (state: 3.9%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.8% (state: 33.3%)
> Largest place in county: Clearlake
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6. Colorado: Otero County
> Median household income: $34,136 (state: $68,811)
> Poverty rate: 24.7% (state: 10.9%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.2% (state: 2.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 17.7% (state: 40.1%)
> Largest place in county: La Junta
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7. Connecticut: Windham County
> Median household income: $64,774 (state: $76,106)
> Poverty rate: 10.5% (state: 10.0%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.5% (state: 3.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 24.1% (state: 38.9%)
> Largest place in county: Willimantic
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8. Delaware: Kent County
> Median household income: $58,775 (state: $65,627)
> Poverty rate: 13.6% (state: 11.9%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 4.2% (state: 3.7%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 23.6% (state: 31.4%)
> Largest place in county: Dover
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9. Florida: DeSoto County
> Median household income: $35,057 (state: $53,267)
> Poverty rate: 28.5% (state: 14.8%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.3% (state: 3.2%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 11.4% (state: 29.2%)
> Largest place in county: Arcadia
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10. Georgia: Telfair County
> Median household income: $30,288 (state: $55,679)
> Poverty rate: 28.2% (state: 16.0%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 8.9% (state: 3.4%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 8.4% (state: 30.7%)
> Largest place in county: McRae
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11. Hawaii: Hawaii County
> Median household income: $59,297 (state: $78,084)
> Poverty rate: 16.6% (state: 9.9%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.6% (state: 2.7%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 29.5% (state: 32.5%)
> Largest place in county: Hilo
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12. Idaho: Madison County
> Median household income: $36,031 (state: $53,089)
> Poverty rate: 30.5% (state: 13.8%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 1.5% (state: 2.9%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 36.4% (state: 26.9%)
> Largest place in county: Rexburg
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13. Illinois: Pulaski County
> Median household income: $33,799 (state: $63,575)
> Poverty rate: 18.9% (state: 13.1%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 5.3% (state: 3.9%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 12.3% (state: 34.1%)
> Largest place in county: Mounds
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14. Indiana: Blackford County
> Median household income: $42,217 (state: $54,325)
> Poverty rate: 12.6% (state: 14.1%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.4% (state: 3.2%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 13.6% (state: 25.9%)
> Largest place in county: Hartford City
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15. Iowa: Appanoose County
> Median household income: $41,111 (state: $58,580)
> Poverty rate: 16.1% (state: 11.7%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.1% (state: 2.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 17.1% (state: 28.2%)
> Largest place in county: Centerville
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16. Kansas: Elk County
> Median household income: $38,494 (state: $57,422)
> Poverty rate: 14.6% (state: 12.4%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.6% (state: 3.1%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.0% (state: 32.9%)
> Largest place in county: Howard
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17. Kentucky: Harlan County
> Median household income: $26,324 (state: $48,392)
> Poverty rate: 36.2% (state: 17.9%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 10.3% (state: 4.3%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 10.8% (state: 23.6%)
> Largest place in county: Cumberland
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18. Louisiana: Natchitoches Parish
> Median household income: $27,795 (state: $47,942)
> Poverty rate: 33.5% (state: 19.4%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 5.7% (state: 4.5%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 17.8% (state: 23.7%)
> Largest place in county: Natchitoches
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19. Maine: Piscataquis County
> Median household income: $39,470 (state: $55,425)
> Poverty rate: 19.2% (state: 12.5%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.9% (state: 2.8%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 18.3% (state: 30.9%)
> Largest place in county: Dover-Foxcroft
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20. Maryland: Somerset County
> Median household income: $42,165 (state: $81,868)
> Poverty rate: 20.4% (state: 9.4%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 5.3% (state: 3.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.7% (state: 39.6%)
> Largest place in county: Princess Anne
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21. Massachusetts: Hampden County
> Median household income: $53,403 (state: $77,378)
> Poverty rate: 17.1% (state: 10.8%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.4% (state: 2.9%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 27.2% (state: 42.9%)
> Largest place in county: Springfield
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22. Michigan: Lake County
> Median household income: $34,631 (state: $54,938)
> Poverty rate: 23.8% (state: 15.0%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 4.6% (state: 4.1%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 11.3% (state: 28.6%)
> Largest place in county: Baldwin
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23. Minnesota: Mahnomen County
> Median household income: $44,537 (state: $68,411)
> Poverty rate: 20.9% (state: 10.1%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.2% (state: 3.2%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 12.2% (state: 35.4%)
> Largest place in county: Mahnomen
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24. Mississippi: Holmes County
> Median household income: $21,093 (state: $43,567)
> Poverty rate: 43.6% (state: 20.8%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 9.6% (state: 5.5%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 9.9% (state: 21.8%)
> Largest place in county: Durant
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25. Missouri: Shannon County
> Median household income: $32,180 (state: $53,560)
> Poverty rate: 28.5% (state: 14.2%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 4.0% (state: 3.1%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.8% (state: 28.6%)
> Largest place in county: Winona
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26. Montana: Glacier County
> Median household income: $31,029 (state: $52,559)
> Poverty rate: 33.3% (state: 13.7%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 6.8% (state: 3.4%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 19.0% (state: 31.2%)
> Largest place in county: Cut Bank
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27. Nebraska: Sheridan County
> Median household income: $41,719 (state: $59,116)
> Poverty rate: 18.0% (state: 11.6%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.0% (state: 3.1%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 23.6% (state: 31.3%)
> Largest place in county: Gordon
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28. Nevada: Nye County
> Median household income: $45,711 (state: $57,598)
> Poverty rate: 16.2% (state: 13.7%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 4.8% (state: 4.1%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 11.5% (state: 24.2%)
> Largest place in county: Pahrump
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29. New Hampshire: Coos County
> Median household income: $45,696 (state: $74,057)
> Poverty rate: 12.8% (state: 7.9%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.4% (state: 2.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 18.1% (state: 36.5%)
> Largest place in county: Berlin
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30. New Jersey: Cumberland County
> Median household income: $52,593 (state: $79,363)
> Poverty rate: 17.6% (state: 10.4%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 4.8% (state: 3.2%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 14.7% (state: 38.9%)
> Largest place in county: Vineland
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31. New Mexico: Quay County
> Median household income: $27,075 (state: $48,059)
> Poverty rate: 22.1% (state: 20.0%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 4.7% (state: 4.8%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.8% (state: 27.1%)
> Largest place in county: Tucumcari
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32. New York: Bronx County
> Median household income: $38,085 (state: $65,323)
> Poverty rate: 29.1% (state: 14.6%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 5.6% (state: 4.0%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 19.8% (state: 35.9%)
> Largest place in county: New York
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33. North Carolina: Bladen County
> Median household income: $32,378 (state: $52,413)
> Poverty rate: 26.0% (state: 15.4%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 4.6% (state: 4.0%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.1% (state: 30.5%)
> Largest place in county: Elizabethtown
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34. North Dakota: Rolette County
> Median household income: $39,884 (state: $63,473)
> Poverty rate: 29.3% (state: 10.9%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 5.2% (state: 2.5%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 20.0% (state: 29.5%)
> Largest place in county: Belcourt
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35. Ohio: Adams County
> Median household income: $36,894 (state: $54,533)
> Poverty rate: 22.6% (state: 14.5%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 5.8% (state: 4.2%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 12.9% (state: 27.8%)
> Largest place in county: West Union
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36. Oklahoma: Choctaw County
> Median household income: $32,129 (state: $51,424)
> Poverty rate: 29.0% (state: 16.0%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 4.7% (state: 3.3%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 12.3% (state: 25.2%)
> Largest place in county: Hugo
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37. Oregon: Malheur County
> Median household income: $42,478 (state: $59,393)
> Poverty rate: 23.0% (state: 14.1%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.3% (state: 4.0%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 13.8% (state: 32.9%)
> Largest place in county: Ontario
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38. Pennsylvania: Forest County
> Median household income: $38,383 (state: $59,445)
> Poverty rate: 14.5% (state: 12.8%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 5.7% (state: 4.2%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 7.4% (state: 30.8%)
> Largest place in county: Tionesta
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39. Rhode Island: Providence County
> Median household income: $55,233 (state: $63,296)
> Poverty rate: 16.2% (state: 13.1%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.2% (state: 3.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 28.1% (state: 33.3%)
> Largest place in county: Providence
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40. South Carolina: Dillon County
> Median household income: $29,362 (state: $51,015)
> Poverty rate: 33.8% (state: 16.0%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.1% (state: 2.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 11.1% (state: 27.4%)
> Largest place in county: Dillon
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41. South Dakota: Mellette County
> Median household income: $31,222 (state: $56,499)
> Poverty rate: 48.3% (state: 13.6%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 5.2% (state: 3.0%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 13.7% (state: 28.5%)
> Largest place in county: White River
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42. Tennessee: Hancock County
> Median household income: $28,990 (state: $50,972)
> Poverty rate: 25.8% (state: 16.1%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 5.5% (state: 3.4%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 11.5% (state: 26.6%)
> Largest place in county: Sneedville
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43. Texas: Starr County
> Median household income: $29,294 (state: $59,570)
> Poverty rate: 35.3% (state: 15.5%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 9.6% (state: 3.4%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 10.3% (state: 29.3%)
> Largest place in county: Rio Grande City
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44. Utah: San Juan County
> Median household income: $44,680 (state: $68,374)
> Poverty rate: 26.6% (state: 10.3%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.1% (state: 2.5%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 18.4% (state: 33.3%)
> Largest place in county: Blanding
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45. Vermont: Essex County
> Median household income: $41,045 (state: $60,076)
> Poverty rate: 14.6% (state: 11.2%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 1.8% (state: 2.2%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.6% (state: 37.3%)
> Largest place in county: Island Pond
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46. Virginia: Dickenson County
> Median household income: $29,226 (state: $71,564)
> Poverty rate: 24.3% (state: 10.9%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 4.7% (state: 2.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 10.0% (state: 38.2%)
> Largest place in county: Clintwood
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47. Washington: Ferry County
> Median household income: $41,924 (state: $70,116)
> Poverty rate: 18.8% (state: 11.5%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 9.6% (state: 4.5%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 18.2% (state: 35.3%)
> Largest place in county: Republic
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48. West Virginia: McDowell County
> Median household income: $26,547 (state: $44,921)
> Poverty rate: 33.3% (state: 17.8%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 7.9% (state: 4.8%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 5.4% (state: 20.3%)
> Largest place in county: Welch
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49. Wisconsin: Iron County
> Median household income: $40,801 (state: $59,209)
> Poverty rate: 14.8% (state: 11.9%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 4.6% (state: 3.3%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 20.0% (state: 29.5%)
> Largest place in county: Hurley
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50. Wyoming: Albany County
> Median household income: $46,865 (state: $62,268)
> Poverty rate: 22.6% (state: 11.1%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.8% (state: 3.8%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 49.9% (state: 26.9%)
> Largest place in county: Laramie
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Methodology:
To identify the poorest county in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed median annual household incomes for each U.S. county using 5-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey. We only considered counties with income estimates with a maximum 10% margin of error.
We also reviewed in each county the percentage of adults who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, poverty rate, and median home value from the ACS. Unemployment rates for October 2019 are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and are not seasonally adjusted.
County equivalents, such as parishes in Louisiana and boroughs in Alaska, were included in our analysis. Alaskan Census areas, however, which are sparsely populated and are under the purview of the state government, were excluded.
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