Special Report
County With the Highest Poverty Rate in Every State
Published:
Last Updated:
Among developed nations with similarly advanced economies, the United States stands out for having especially high levels of income inequality. Though the U.S. ranks among the wealthiest countries in the world, more than one in every 10 American citizens live below the poverty line – and the problem is getting worse.
Between 2020 and 2021, the most recent years of available data, the number of Americans living below the poverty line climbed from 38.4 million to 41.4 million. The 7.9% year-over-year increase was a break from the nearly decade-long trend of poverty reduction.
The poverty line in the United States now stands at an annual income of $14,580 for an individual, and $30,000 for a family of four – with slightly higher thresholds in Alaska and Hawaii. The consequences of living on such low incomes are far-reaching and potentially devastating. Individuals living in poverty often struggle to afford basic needs, such as food, shelter, and health care. Additionally, the stress caused by persistent poverty can negatively impact mental health, leading to higher rates of depression, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse.
Based on five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey, 12.6% of Americans nationwide live below the poverty line. In communities across the country, however, poverty is far more pervasive and deeply entrenched.
Using 2021 ACS data, 24/7 Wall St. identified the county or county equivalent in each state with the highest poverty rate.
Among the counties on this list, poverty rates range from 11.5% to over 50%. While several of the counties, primarily located in relatively high-income states, have lower poverty rates than the national average, every county on this list has a greater concentration of poverty than the state as a whole.
Incomes, as well as financial security, tend to rise with educational attainment in the United States. In the vast majority of counties and county equivalents on this list, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher is below the statewide average. (Here is a look at the highest paying college majors.)
Employment opportunities are also often somewhat limited in these counties. All but nine counties on this list have a higher unemployment rate than the state as a whole. (Here is a look at the industries laying off the most workers.)
Click here to see the county with the highest poverty rate in each state.
Click here to see our detailed methodology.
Source: alabama_extension / Flickr
Alabama: Greene County
> Poverty rate: 39.8% (Alabama: 15.8%)
> Median household income: $28,826 (Alabama: $54,943)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.7% (Alabama: 26.7%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.4% (Alabama: 2.6%)
> Total population: 7,851
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 67
[in-text-ad]
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Alaska: Kusilvak Census Area
> Poverty rate: 36.6% (Alaska: 10.4%)
> Median household income: $37,975 (Alaska: $80,287)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 2.9% (Alaska: 30.6%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 12.9% (Alaska: 4.0%)
> Total population: 8,354
> No. of counties or county equivalents considered in ranking: 27
Arizona: Apache County
> Poverty rate: 33.9% (Arizona: 13.5%)
> Median household income: $34,788 (Arizona: $65,913)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.8% (Arizona: 31.2%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 7.7% (Arizona: 3.8%)
> Total population: 66,473
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 15
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Arkansas: Phillips County
> Poverty rate: 33.3% (Arkansas: 16.0%)
> Median household income: $32,235 (Arkansas: $52,123)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.3% (Arkansas: 24.3%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 6.3% (Arkansas: 3.3%)
> Total population: 16,923
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 75
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
California: Trinity County
> Poverty rate: 22.5% (California: 12.3%)
> Median household income: $42,206 (California: $84,097)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.6% (California: 35.3%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.6% (California: 4.2%)
> Total population: 15,818
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 58
Source: chapin31 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Colorado: Bent County
> Poverty rate: 25.4% (Colorado: 9.6%)
> Median household income: $40,972 (Colorado: $80,184)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.2% (Colorado: 42.8%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.6% (Colorado: 3.0%)
> Total population: 5,861
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 61
[in-text-ad]
Source: enfi / iStock via Getty Images
Connecticut: New Haven County
> Poverty rate: 11.5% (Connecticut: 10.0%)
> Median household income: $75,043 (Connecticut: $83,572)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 36.6% (Connecticut: 40.6%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.3% (Connecticut: 4.2%)
> Total population: 864,751
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 8
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Kptan123 / iStock via Getty Images
Delaware: Kent County
> Poverty rate: 13.3% (Delaware: 11.4%)
> Median household income: $63,715 (Delaware: $72,724)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.7% (Delaware: 33.6%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 5.2% (Delaware: 4.5%)
> Total population: 180,078
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 3
Source: Simplyphotos / iStock via Getty Images
Florida: Hamilton County
> Poverty rate: 26.4% (Florida: 13.1%)
> Median household income: $39,346 (Florida: $61,777)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 9.0% (Florida: 31.5%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.0% (Florida: 2.9%)
> Total population: 13,973
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 67
[in-text-ad-2]
Georgia: Lanier County
> Poverty rate: 34.1% (Georgia: 13.9%)
> Median household income: $33,956 (Georgia: $65,030)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.3% (Georgia: 33.0%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.4% (Georgia: 3.0%)
> Total population: 9,874
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 159
Hawaii: Hawaii County
> Poverty rate: 13.8% (Hawaii: 9.5%)
> Median household income: $68,399 (Hawaii: $88,005)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 30.2% (Hawaii: 34.3%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.6% (Hawaii: 3.5%)
> Total population: 200,468
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 4
[in-text-ad]
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Idaho: Madison County
> Poverty rate: 24.3% (Idaho: 11.4%)
> Median household income: $53,498 (Idaho: $63,377)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 36.3% (Idaho: 29.1%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 1.8% (Idaho: 2.7%)
> Total population: 50,979
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 43
Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Illinois: Alexander County
> Poverty rate: 24.5% (Illinois: 11.8%)
> Median household income: $39,871 (Illinois: $72,563)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.3% (Illinois: 36.2%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 6.3% (Illinois: 4.6%)
> Total population: 5,488
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 102
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Indiana: Monroe County
> Poverty rate: 21.8% (Indiana: 12.5%)
> Median household income: $54,096 (Indiana: $61,944)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 47.4% (Indiana: 27.8%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 2.8% (Indiana: 3.0%)
> Total population: 140,189
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 92
[in-text-ad-2]
Iowa: Story County
> Poverty rate: 19.4% (Iowa: 11.0%)
> Median household income: $62,578 (Iowa: $65,429)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 51.1% (Iowa: 29.7%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 2.0% (Iowa: 2.7%)
> Total population: 98,106
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 99
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Kansas: Riley County
> Poverty rate: 22.0% (Kansas: 11.5%)
> Median household income: $53,296 (Kansas: $64,521)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 48.2% (Kansas: 34.4%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 2.7% (Kansas: 2.7%)
> Total population: 72,602
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 105
[in-text-ad]
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Kentucky: Wolfe County
> Poverty rate: 34.6% (Kentucky: 16.3%)
> Median household income: $24,349 (Kentucky: $55,454)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 6.6% (Kentucky: 25.7%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 5.6% (Kentucky: 3.9%)
> Total population: 6,666
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 120
Louisiana: East Carroll Parish
> Poverty rate: 47.3% (Louisiana: 18.8%)
> Median household income: $25,049 (Louisiana: $53,571)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.2% (Louisiana: 25.5%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 7.9% (Louisiana: 3.7%)
> Total population: 7,502
> No. of parishes considered in ranking: 64
Maine: Washington County
> Poverty rate: 18.7% (Maine: 11.0%)
> Median household income: $46,689 (Maine: $63,182)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.0% (Maine: 33.6%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.3% (Maine: 3.0%)
> Total population: 31,003
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 16
[in-text-ad-2]
Maryland: Somerset County
> Poverty rate: 20.4% (Maryland: 9.2%)
> Median household income: $48,661 (Maryland: $91,431)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.0% (Maryland: 41.6%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.8% (Maryland: 3.2%)
> Total population: 24,834
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 24
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Massachusetts: Suffolk County
> Poverty rate: 17.3% (Massachusetts: 9.9%)
> Median household income: $80,260 (Massachusetts: $89,026)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 48.1% (Massachusetts: 45.2%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.6% (Massachusetts: 3.8%)
> Total population: 792,647
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 14
[in-text-ad]
Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Michigan: Isabella County
> Poverty rate: 23.8% (Michigan: 13.3%)
> Median household income: $48,840 (Michigan: $63,202)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 30.2% (Michigan: 30.6%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.9% (Michigan: 4.2%)
> Total population: 65,623
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 83
Minnesota: Mahnomen County
> Poverty rate: 21.1% (Minnesota: 9.2%)
> Median household income: $48,021 (Minnesota: $77,706)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.9% (Minnesota: 37.6%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.9% (Minnesota: 2.7%)
> Total population: 5,429
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 87
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Mississippi: Holmes County
> Poverty rate: 39.2% (Mississippi: 19.4%)
> Median household income: $24,958 (Mississippi: $49,111)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.7% (Mississippi: 23.2%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 6.6% (Mississippi: 3.9%)
> Total population: 17,243
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 82
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Missouri: Pemiscot County
> Poverty rate: 27.5% (Missouri: 12.8%)
> Median household income: $35,865 (Missouri: $61,043)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.7% (Missouri: 30.7%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.8% (Missouri: 2.5%)
> Total population: 15,949
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 115
Montana: Roosevelt County
> Poverty rate: 32.3% (Montana: 12.5%)
> Median household income: $47,182 (Montana: $60,560)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.4% (Montana: 33.7%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.5% (Montana: 2.6%)
> Total population: 10,884
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 52
[in-text-ad]
Nebraska: Thurston County
> Poverty rate: 20.5% (Nebraska: 10.3%)
> Median household income: $56,223 (Nebraska: $66,644)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.9% (Nebraska: 32.9%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.4% (Nebraska: 2.3%)
> Total population: 6,806
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 81
24/7 Wall St.
Nevada: Mineral County
> Poverty rate: 19.6% (Nevada: 12.9%)
> Median household income: $43,009 (Nevada: $65,686)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.8% (Nevada: 26.1%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.1% (Nevada: 5.4%)
> Total population: 4,552
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 16
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
New Hampshire: Sullivan County
> Poverty rate: 12.5% (New Hampshire: 7.4%)
> Median household income: $64,587 (New Hampshire: $83,449)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 29.6% (New Hampshire: 38.2%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 2.4% (New Hampshire: 2.5%)
> Total population: 43,105
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 10
[in-text-ad-2]
New Jersey: Cumberland County
> Poverty rate: 15.7% (New Jersey: 9.8%)
> Median household income: $58,397 (New Jersey: $89,703)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.0% (New Jersey: 41.5%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 5.1% (New Jersey: 3.7%)
> Total population: 154,921
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 21
New Mexico: McKinley County
> Poverty rate: 34.0% (New Mexico: 18.3%)
> Median household income: $40,262 (New Mexico: $54,020)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.2% (New Mexico: 28.5%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 5.7% (New Mexico: 4.0%)
> Total population: 72,946
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 32
[in-text-ad]
Source: John Penney / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
New York: Bronx County
> Poverty rate: 26.5% (New York: 13.5%)
> Median household income: $43,726 (New York: $75,157)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.9% (New York: 38.1%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 7.8% (New York: 4.3%)
> Total population: 1,468,262
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 62
North Carolina: Robeson County
> Poverty rate: 27.3% (North Carolina: 13.7%)
> Median household income: $36,736 (North Carolina: $60,516)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.2% (North Carolina: 33.0%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 5.5% (North Carolina: 3.7%)
> Total population: 118,836
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 100
North Dakota: Sioux County
> Poverty rate: 38.5% (North Dakota: 10.7%)
> Median household income: $39,755 (North Dakota: $68,131)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.6% (North Dakota: 31.1%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 2.6% (North Dakota: 2.1%)
> Total population: 3,993
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 51
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Wendy Van / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Ohio: Athens County
> Poverty rate: 25.5% (Ohio: 13.4%)
> Median household income: $47,061 (Ohio: $61,938)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 34.1% (Ohio: 29.7%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.8% (Ohio: 4.0%)
> Total population: 62,933
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 88
Oklahoma: Okfuskee County
> Poverty rate: 27.6% (Oklahoma: 15.2%)
> Median household income: $43,000 (Oklahoma: $56,956)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.7% (Oklahoma: 26.8%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.9% (Oklahoma: 3.0%)
> Total population: 11,444
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 77
[in-text-ad]
Source: icetsarina / Flickr
Oregon: Malheur County
> Poverty rate: 19.4% (Oregon: 12.1%)
> Median household income: $47,906 (Oregon: $70,084)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.1% (Oregon: 35.0%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.4% (Oregon: 4.2%)
> Total population: 31,313
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 36
Source: Pgiam / E+ via Getty Images
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia County
> Poverty rate: 22.8% (Pennsylvania: 11.8%)
> Median household income: $52,649 (Pennsylvania: $67,587)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 32.5% (Pennsylvania: 33.1%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 5.4% (Pennsylvania: 4.4%)
> Total population: 1,596,865
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 67
Rhode Island: Providence County
> Poverty rate: 13.6% (Rhode Island: 11.3%)
> Median household income: $65,797 (Rhode Island: $74,489)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 30.6% (Rhode Island: 35.3%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.5% (Rhode Island: 3.2%)
> Total population: 656,672
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 5
[in-text-ad-2]
South Carolina: Dillon County
> Poverty rate: 31.2% (South Carolina: 14.5%)
> Median household income: $39,780 (South Carolina: $58,234)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.2% (South Carolina: 29.8%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.6% (South Carolina: 3.2%)
> Total population: 28,527
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 46
South Dakota: Todd County
> Poverty rate: 59.0% (South Dakota: 12.5%)
> Median household income: $26,250 (South Dakota: $63,920)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.3% (South Dakota: 30.0%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.7% (South Dakota: 2.1%)
> Total population: 9,434
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 65
[in-text-ad]
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Tennessee: Hancock County
> Poverty rate: 29.1% (Tennessee: 14.3%)
> Median household income: $29,650 (Tennessee: $58,516)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.1% (Tennessee: 29.0%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.2% (Tennessee: 3.4%)
> Total population: 6,695
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 95
24/7 Wall St.
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Texas: Dimmit County
> Poverty rate: 46.5% (Texas: 14.0%)
> Median household income: $25,000 (Texas: $67,321)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.0% (Texas: 31.5%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.8% (Texas: 3.9%)
> Total population: 8,840
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 246
Source: AlexMcGuffie / Getty Images
Utah: San Juan County
> Poverty rate: 21.2% (Utah: 8.8%)
> Median household income: $52,400 (Utah: $79,133)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.6% (Utah: 35.4%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.4% (Utah: 2.3%)
> Total population: 14,610
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 28
[in-text-ad-2]
Vermont: Essex County
> Poverty rate: 14.7% (Vermont: 10.5%)
> Median household income: $48,194 (Vermont: $67,674)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.9% (Vermont: 40.9%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.0% (Vermont: 2.6%)
> Total population: 5,972
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 14
Virginia: Radford County
> Poverty rate: 35.4% (Virginia: 9.9%)
> Median household income: $44,360 (Virginia: $80,615)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 40.4% (Virginia: 40.3%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.5% (Virginia: 2.9%)
> Total population: 16,205
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 133
[in-text-ad]
Source: redfishweb / iStock via Getty Images
Washington: Whitman County
> Poverty rate: 24.7% (Washington: 10.0%)
> Median household income: $43,613 (Washington: $82,400)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 47.6% (Washington: 37.3%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 4.7% (Washington: 4.2%)
> Total population: 48,197
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 39
24/7 Wall St.
West Virginia: McDowell County
> Poverty rate: 28.9% (West Virginia: 16.9%)
> Median household income: $30,127 (West Virginia: $50,884)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 6.4% (West Virginia: 21.8%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 6.3% (West Virginia: 3.9%)
> Total population: 19,334
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 55
Source: Michael-Tatman / iStock via Getty Images
Wisconsin: Menominee County
> Poverty rate: 26.2% (Wisconsin: 10.7%)
> Median household income: $54,940 (Wisconsin: $67,080)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.4% (Wisconsin: 31.5%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 5.5% (Wisconsin: 2.9%)
> Total population: 4,318
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 72
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Wyoming: Albany County
> Poverty rate: 23.6% (Wyoming: 10.7%)
> Median household income: $50,733 (Wyoming: $68,002)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 56.3% (Wyoming: 28.5%)
> 2022 unemployment rate: 3.1% (Wyoming: 3.6%)
> Total population: 37,311
> No. of counties considered in ranking: 23
Methodology
To determine the county with the highest poverty rate in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of the percentage of people that live below the poverty line from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey.
Counties were excluded if poverty rates were not available in the 2021 ACS, if the population for which the poverty status had been determined was less than 1,000, or if the sampling error associated with a county’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 county’s poverty rate was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all counties’ poverty rates. We similarly excluded counties that had a sampling error too high for their population for which poverty status had been determined, using the same definition.
Additional information on total population, median household income, and educational attainment are also from the 2021 ACS. Unemployment rates for 2022 are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With An Advisor Now (Sponsored)
Are you ready for retirement? Planning for retirement can be overwhelming, that’s why it could be a good idea to speak to a fiduciary financial advisor about your goals today.
Start by taking this retirement quiz right here from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes. Smart Asset is now matching over 50,000 people a month.
Click here now to get started.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
