More than 40 million Americans live below the poverty line – an income threshold of about $35 per day, or $1,073 a month. Of those facing such extreme financial hardship, children are disproportionately affected.
The United States has one of the worst child poverty rates among wealthy, developed countries – and nearly 12.6 million children and youth under age 18 live in households with poverty level incomes. Not only are children at higher risk of poverty, they are also especially vulnerable to poverty’s harmful effects, both in the immediate and long-term.Â
Childhood poverty can negatively impact brain development and has been linked with a greater likelihood of chronic illness, shorter life expectancy, and poor emotional and behavioral health. Those who spend some or all of their childhood in poverty are also less likely to succeed in school or be financially secure later in life.Â
Nationwide, an estimated 17.5% of children under age 18 live below the poverty line. This share varies from place to place, however, and in some parts of the country, child poverty is far more common than average. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. identified the town in every state with the highest poverty rate.Â
Among the places on this list, the child poverty rate ranges from nearly 30% to over 90% and exceeds the overall statewide child poverty rate in every case. Here is a look at the income a family needs to cover normal living expenses in every state.Â
Children raised in mother-only households are far more likely to live in poverty than those in two-adult households, and in most towns on this list, the share of households headed by single mothers exceeds the comparable statewide share.Â
Families in these towns are also more likely to rely on government assistance to afford basic necessities than families in much of the state. The share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits, or food stamps, exceeds the statewide share in every town on this list. Here is a look at the cities with the most people on food stamps. Â
Click here to see town in every state with the highest child poverty rate
Click here to read our detailed methodology
Source: Michael Warren / iStock via Getty Images
Alabama: Union Springs
> Child poverty rate: 83.7% (Alabama: 22.7%)
> Median family income, households with children: N/A (Alabama: $64,790)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 50.2% (Alabama: 22.4%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 50.1% (Alabama: 13.3%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 181
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Alaska: Kotlik
> Child poverty rate: 36.3% (Alaska: 13.8%)
> Median family income, households with children: $48,250 (Alaska: $88,245)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 62.4% (Alaska: 15.9%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 38.3% (Alaska: 10.6%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 44
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Arizona: Chinle
> Child poverty rate: 71.2% (Arizona: 20.0%)
> Median family income, households with children: $14,635 (Arizona: $69,758)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 51.7% (Arizona: 19.3%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 36.9% (Arizona: 11.9%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 103
Arkansas: Brinkley
> Child poverty rate: 80.7% (Arkansas: 22.0%)
> Median family income, households with children: $13,682 (Arkansas: $59,204)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 77.3% (Arkansas: 18.7%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 36.1% (Arkansas: 13.2%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 123
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
California: Cottonwood (Kern County)
> Child poverty rate: 82.1% (California: 16.8%)
> Median family income, households with children: $23,369 (California: $84,790)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 55.9% (California: 16.1%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 25.2% (California: 10.8%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 529
Source: ablokhin / iStock via Getty Images
Colorado: Rocky Ford
> Child poverty rate: 52.1% (Colorado: 11.5%)
> Median family income, households with children: $35,488 (Colorado: $91,425)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 38.6% (Colorado: 11.6%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 13.9% (Colorado: 9.0%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 129
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Source: danlogan / iStock via Getty Images
Connecticut: Poquonock Bridge
> Child poverty rate: 44.5% (Connecticut: 13.0%)
> Median family income, households with children: $43,514 (Connecticut: $100,115)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 50.3% (Connecticut: 15.3%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 40.7% (Connecticut: 11.4%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 78
Delaware: Laurel
> Child poverty rate: 50.6% (Delaware: 17.2%)
> Median family income, households with children: $24,438 (Delaware: $79,268)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 56.2% (Delaware: 19.7%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 46.9% (Delaware: 12.1%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 31
Source: Art Wager / E+ via Getty Images
Florida: Tropical Park
> Child poverty rate: 59.0% (Florida: 18.7%)
> Median family income, households with children: $24,354 (Florida: $65,053)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 32.0% (Florida: 22.7%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 35.4% (Florida: 11.4%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 418
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Georgia: Vienna
> Child poverty rate: 79.7% (Georgia: 20.1%)
> Median family income, households with children: $32,819 (Georgia: $70,326)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 42.9% (Georgia: 19.6%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 18.5% (Georgia: 14.3%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 233
Source: agaliza / iStock via Getty Images
Hawaii: Makaha
> Child poverty rate: 44.2% (Hawaii: 11.7%)
> Median family income, households with children: $56,625 (Hawaii: $91,696)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 53.9% (Hawaii: 17.0%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 25.1% (Hawaii: 9.7%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 79
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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Idaho: Rupert
> Child poverty rate: 47.2% (Idaho: 14.4%)
> Median family income, households with children: $37,059 (Idaho: $69,851)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 32.8% (Idaho: 15.3%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 14.7% (Idaho: 8.4%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 53
Source: Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
Illinois: Alorton
> Child poverty rate: 95.3% (Illinois: 16.2%)
> Median family income, households with children: $11,174 (Illinois: $83,907)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 83.0% (Illinois: 19.4%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 39.4% (Illinois: 11.7%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 400
Source: William Reagan / iStock via Getty Images
Indiana: Fairmount
> Child poverty rate: 49.7% (Indiana: 17.6%)
> Median family income, households with children: $26,486 (Indiana: $70,859)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 24.3% (Indiana: 16.0%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 30.5% (Indiana: 12.0%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 176
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Iowa: Postville
> Child poverty rate: 41.2% (Iowa: 13.3%)
> Median family income, households with children: $42,273 (Iowa: $79,139)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 31.1% (Iowa: 16.7%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 18.4% (Iowa: 10.3%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 138
Kansas: Iola
> Child poverty rate: 36.0% (Kansas: 13.9%)
> Median family income, households with children: $32,667 (Kansas: $74,882)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 13.8% (Kansas: 11.6%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 18.3% (Kansas: 10.4%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 101
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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Kentucky: Cumberland
> Child poverty rate: 84.5% (Kentucky: 22.2%)
> Median family income, households with children: $30,675 (Kentucky: $65,096)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 64.7% (Kentucky: 20.8%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 18.8% (Kentucky: 12.2%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 139
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Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock via Getty Images
Louisiana: Erwinville
> Child poverty rate: 86.0% (Louisiana: 26.3%)
> Median family income, households with children: $41,290 (Louisiana: $61,722)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 47.9% (Louisiana: 24.9%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 19.6% (Louisiana: 16.0%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 184
Maine: Winthrop
> Child poverty rate: 40.4% (Maine: 14.0%)
> Median family income, households with children: $45,288 (Maine: $76,852)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 23.5% (Maine: 18.4%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 9.8% (Maine: 9.1%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 43
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Source: Joesboy / iStock via Getty Images
Maryland: Pocomoke City
> Child poverty rate: 45.1% (Maryland: 11.6%)
> Median family income, households with children: $53,462 (Maryland: $103,641)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 39.8% (Maryland: 15.5%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 23.7% (Maryland: 12.2%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 209
Source: pabradyphoto / iStock via Getty Images
Massachusetts: Middleborough Center
> Child poverty rate: 29.1% (Massachusetts: 12.2%)
> Median family income, households with children: $46,477 (Massachusetts: $109,908)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 28.0% (Massachusetts: 15.8%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 28.3% (Massachusetts: 11.1%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 89
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Michigan: Benton Heights
> Child poverty rate: 64.5% (Michigan: 18.8%)
> Median family income, households with children: N/A (Michigan: $73,187)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 67.1% (Michigan: 19.7%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 37.1% (Michigan: 11.5%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 233
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Minnesota: Waite Park
> Child poverty rate: 44.0% (Minnesota: 11.6%)
> Median family income, households with children: $49,271 (Minnesota: $95,628)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 38.4% (Minnesota: 11.6%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 14.7% (Minnesota: 9.8%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 202
Mississippi: Shaw
> Child poverty rate: 71.6% (Mississippi: 27.6%)
> Median family income, households with children: $16,167 (Mississippi: $54,822)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 65.1% (Mississippi: 24.2%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 30.1% (Mississippi: 16.8%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 112
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Source: Art Wager / E+ via Getty Images
Missouri: Dellwood
> Child poverty rate: 62.4% (Missouri: 17.4%)
> Median family income, households with children: $26,241 (Missouri: $72,033)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 41.4% (Missouri: 17.2%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 22.5% (Missouri: 11.5%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 231
Montana: Pablo
> Child poverty rate: 58.5% (Montana: 15.2%)
> Median family income, households with children: $21,302 (Montana: $71,986)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 59.7% (Montana: 16.2%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 29.4% (Montana: 8.4%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 42
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Nebraska: Broken Bow
> Child poverty rate: 43.1% (Nebraska: 12.2%)
> Median family income, households with children: $43,750 (Nebraska: $77,982)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 32.5% (Nebraska: 13.9%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 13.0% (Nebraska: 10.4%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 60
Source: 4kodiak / Getty Images
Nevada: Laughlin
> Child poverty rate: 50.6% (Nevada: 17.6%)
> Median family income, households with children: $23,427 (Nevada: $67,738)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 55.4% (Nevada: 18.7%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 8.0% (Nevada: 12.8%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 24
New Hampshire: Ashland
> Child poverty rate: 66.2% (New Hampshire: 8.9%)
> Median family income, households with children: $24,211 (New Hampshire: $100,798)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 49.7% (New Hampshire: 11.3%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 15.9% (New Hampshire: 8.2%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 33
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Source: Kirkikis / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
New Jersey: Rio Grande
> Child poverty rate: 68.5% (New Jersey: 13.3%)
> Median family income, households with children: N/A (New Jersey: $106,937)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 50.5% (New Jersey: 12.6%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 7.9% (New Jersey: 10.3%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 358
New Mexico: Navajo
> Child poverty rate: 75.9% (New Mexico: 25.6%)
> Median family income, households with children: $19,018 (New Mexico: $54,886)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 66.5% (New Mexico: 28.4%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 51.2% (New Mexico: 14.0%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 75
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New York: Kaser
> Child poverty rate: 67.5% (New York: 18.7%)
> Median family income, households with children: $24,045 (New York: $83,272)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 63.5% (New York: 19.4%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 2.5% (New York: 12.4%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 474
Source: Public Domain /. Wikimedia Commons
North Carolina: South Rosemary
> Child poverty rate: 84.4% (North Carolina: 20.0%)
> Median family income, households with children: $12,183 (North Carolina: $68,688)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 49.3% (North Carolina: 20.0%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 30.4% (North Carolina: 12.5%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 246
North Dakota: Fort Totten
> Child poverty rate: 57.1% (North Dakota: 11.1%)
> Median family income, households with children: $24,625 (North Dakota: $86,414)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 58.8% (North Dakota: 10.9%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 51.4% (North Dakota: 9.2%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 23
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Source: Nyttend / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Ohio: Lincoln Heights
> Child poverty rate: 81.4% (Ohio: 19.1%)
> Median family income, households with children: $2,500- (Ohio: $72,130)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 80.2% (Ohio: 19.8%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 61.7% (Ohio: 12.8%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 399
Oklahoma: Eufaula
> Child poverty rate: 70.3% (Oklahoma: 20.7%)
> Median family income, households with children: $23,790 (Oklahoma: $62,535)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 46.2% (Oklahoma: 20.6%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 13.1% (Oklahoma: 12.5%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 131
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Source: discoveroregon / Flickr / Public Domain
Oregon: Oakridge
> Child poverty rate: 67.0% (Oregon: 15.0%)
> Median family income, households with children: N/A (Oregon: $78,939)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 58.0% (Oregon: 21.6%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 29.1% (Oregon: 9.9%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 121
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Pennsylvania: Ashley
> Child poverty rate: 78.1% (Pennsylvania: 16.7%)
> Median family income, households with children: $23,361 (Pennsylvania: $81,257)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 60.3% (Pennsylvania: 20.3%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 24.8% (Pennsylvania: 11.1%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 523
Source: danlogan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Rhode Island: Central Falls
> Child poverty rate: 39.4% (Rhode Island: 15.6%)
> Median family income, households with children: $32,983 (Rhode Island: $83,161)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 43.6% (Rhode Island: 21.0%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 20.6% (Rhode Island: 12.5%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 12
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Source: Courtesy of Town of Williston, South Carolina via Facebook
South Carolina: Williston
> Child poverty rate: 81.4% (South Carolina: 21.2%)
> Median family income, households with children: N/A (South Carolina: $64,942)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 34.2% (South Carolina: 20.0%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 28.8% (South Carolina: 13.4%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 161
South Dakota: Rosebud
> Child poverty rate: 82.7% (South Dakota: 16.1%)
> Median family income, households with children: N/A (South Dakota: $76,789)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 51.5% (South Dakota: 15.8%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 65.3% (South Dakota: 10.3%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 44
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Tennessee: Red Boiling Springs
> Child poverty rate: 66.0% (Tennessee: 20.8%)
> Median family income, households with children: $21,005 (Tennessee: $65,852)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 58.6% (Tennessee: 20.9%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 16.2% (Tennessee: 12.4%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 153
Texas: Presidio
> Child poverty rate: 86.9% (Texas: 20.0%)
> Median family income, households with children: $15,101 (Texas: $71,693)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 64.7% (Texas: 19.3%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 18.2% (Texas: 13.2%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 559
Source: SweetyMommy / iStock via Getty Images
Utah: Hildale
> Child poverty rate: 48.5% (Utah: 9.9%)
> Median family income, households with children: N/A (Utah: $84,298)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 69.0% (Utah: 9.4%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 15.9% (Utah: 7.7%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 99
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Source: ErikaMitchell / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Vermont: Barre
> Child poverty rate: 38.5% (Vermont: 12.3%)
> Median family income, households with children: $32,083 (Vermont: $81,902)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 48.4% (Vermont: 15.2%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 29.6% (Vermont: 9.5%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 21
Source: krblokhin / iStock via Getty Images
Virginia: Rio
> Child poverty rate: 75.0% (Virginia: 13.1%)
> Median family income, households with children: $15,219 (Virginia: $93,828)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 56.8% (Virginia: 13.1%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 53.8% (Virginia: 10.8%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 222
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Washington: Moses Lake North
> Child poverty rate: 51.2% (Washington: 12.6%)
> Median family income, households with children: $22,247 (Washington: $90,447)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 64.4% (Washington: 16.0%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 41.5% (Washington: 9.4%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 237
West Virginia: Moorefield
> Child poverty rate: 58.2% (West Virginia: 23.1%)
> Median family income, households with children: $24,750 (West Virginia: $59,938)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 56.3% (West Virginia: 26.8%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 12.4% (West Virginia: 10.3%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 60
Source: Shelly Bychowski / iStock via Getty Images
Wisconsin: Little Round Lake
> Child poverty rate: 53.9% (Wisconsin: 14.2%)
> Median family income, households with children: $19,583 (Wisconsin: $81,197)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 50.2% (Wisconsin: 16.6%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 61.7% (Wisconsin: 10.2%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 220
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Source: Flory / Getty Images
Wyoming: Arapahoe
> Child poverty rate: 34.8% (Wyoming: 12.3%)
> Median family income, households with children: $55,357 (Wyoming: $80,825)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 39.5% (Wyoming: 9.2%)
> Households headed by single mothers: 27.0% (Wyoming: 8.7%)
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 34
Methodology
To determine the towns where the most children live in poverty in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of child poverty rates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 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 the child poverty rate was not available in the 2020 ACS, if the number of children for whom poverty status was determined was lower than 500, or if the sampling error associated with a town’s data was deemed too high.
The sampling error was defined as too high if the coefficient of variation — a statistical assessment of how reliable an estimate is — for a town’s child poverty rate was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all towns’ child poverty rates. We similarly excluded towns that had a sampling error too high for their population, using the same definition.
Towns were ranked based on the share of children living in poverty. To break ties, we used the number of children living in poverty.
Additional information on median income for families with children, the share of households with children receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the share of households headed by single mothers are also five-year estimates from the 2020 ACS. Because the Census Bureau didn’t release one-year estimates for 2020 due to data collection issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, all ACS data are five-year estimates.
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