The United States economy is the largest in the world. With a $25.4 trillion gross domestic product for 2022, it leads the pack by a wide margin (in second place is China with a GDP of 17.96 trillion dollars.) According to the World Bank, GDP per capita in the U.S. totaled $76,330 in 2022 — closely in line with the $75,149 the typical American household earned that year. However, not all Americans have shared in the country’s prosperity.
Across the United States, there are hundreds of small towns that are partly defined by an apparent lack of economic opportunity. In these places, household earnings stand in stark contrast to the U.S. average, more closely resembling what might be expected in a developing country. (Here is a look at the poorest countries in the world.)
Using five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified America’s poorest towns. We ranked all cities, towns, villages, and unincorporated communities with populations between 1,000 and 25,000 by median household income. In the locations listed here, median household incomes range from $21,250 per year to just $14,676 per year. In each of these towns, the share of the population living below the poverty line is more than double the 12.5% U.S. poverty rate.
Most towns on this list are in the South, including four in Louisiana and five in North Carolina. Only five are in the West or Midwest, and none are in the Northeast. Not only are jobs in these places low-paying, but they are also in short supply. Most of the poorest towns in the U.S. have double-digit average five-year unemployment rates. In some cases, jobless rates exceed 20% and even 30%.
The majority of well-paying jobs in the U.S. are typically only open to those with a college education — and in every town on this list, the share of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree is below the 34.3% share of adults nationwide with a four-year degree. In just over half of these places, fewer than one in every 10 adults have a bachelor’s degree. (Here is a look at the colleges with the most upward mobility.)
Here are America’s poorest towns.
25. Clarkson, Kentucky
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
- Median household income: $21,250 ($53,899 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 39.6% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.4% (middle 50% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.1% (bottom 25% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 1,218
24. Mansura, Louisiana
- Median household income: $21,173 ($53,976 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 47.3% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 23.2% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 6.7% (bottom 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 1,376
23. Matamoras, Ohio
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Median household income: $21,125 ($54,024 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 44.8% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 17.1% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.8% (bottom 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 1,154
22. Marianna, Arkansas
- Median household income: $21,057 ($54,092 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 38.6% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 21.1% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.9% (bottom 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 3,575
21. Red Springs, North Carolina
- Median household income: $20,917 ($54,232 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 37.8% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 8.2% (top 25% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.4% (bottom 25% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 3,118
20. Homer, Louisiana
Source: Norm Lane / iStock via Getty Images
- Median household income: $20,723 ($54,426 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 46.4% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 5.2% (middle 50% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.2% (bottom 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 2,739
19. Salida del Sol Estates, Texas
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
- Median household income: $20,613 ($54,536 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 66.7% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 1.6% (bottom 25% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.2% (bottom 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 6,172
18. Fort Deposit, Alabama
Source: Brycia James / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
- Median household income: $20,542 ($54,607 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 43.8% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 22.6% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 5.5% (bottom 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 1,734
17. Quitman, Georgia
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
- Median household income: $20,333 ($54,816 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 40.2% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 6.1% (middle 50% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.3% (bottom 25% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 4,050
16. Allendale, South Carolina
- Median household income: $19,921 ($55,228 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 43.3% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 9.2% (top 25% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.3% (bottom 25% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 2,702
15. Enfield, North Carolina
Source: Public Domain / Indy beetle / Wikimedia Commons
- Median household income: $19,853 ($55,296 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 31.3% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 18.5% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 5.4% (bottom 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 1,967
14. Maury, North Carolina
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Median household income: $19,797 ($55,352 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 54.6% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 13.5% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 6.2% (bottom 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 1,055
13. Buffalo, South Carolina
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Median household income: $19,770 ($55,379 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 38.0% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 10.7% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.2% (bottom 25% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 1,159
12. Simmesport, Louisiana
- Median household income: $19,592 ($55,557 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 50.7% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 7.3% (top 25% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.1% (bottom 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 1,308
11. Quartzsite, Arizona
Source: FiledIMAGE / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Median household income: $19,017 ($56,132 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 33.6% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 38.9% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.2% (middle 50% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 2,141
10. Marshallville, Georgia
- Median household income: $18,839 ($56,310 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 41.6% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 12.8% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.0% (bottom 25% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 1,014
9. Oil City, Louisiana
- Median household income: $18,790 ($56,359 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 49.6% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 12.9% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.6% (bottom 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 1,093
8. Porcupine, South Dakota
- Median household income: $18,750 ($56,399 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 91.5% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 35.1% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.1% (bottom 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 1,021
7. Rancho Alegre, Texas
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
- Median household income: $18,289 ($56,860 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 56.4% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: N/A% ( among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.6% (bottom 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 1,099
6. Cibecue, Arizona
- Median household income: $18,250 ($56,899 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 76.1% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 16.3% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.1% (bottom 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 1,419
5. Rosedale, Mississippi
- Median household income: $17,940 ($57,209 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 53.0% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 12.5% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.4% (bottom 25% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 1,871
4. Scotland Neck, North Carolina
Source: Indy beetle / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Median household income: $17,271 ($57,878 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 45.4% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 10.7% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.4% (bottom 25% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 1,861
3. Jonesville, Virginia
Source: Nyttend / Public Domain / Nyttend / Wikimedia Commons
- Median household income: $16,830 ($58,319 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 55.7% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 21.7% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.7% (bottom 25% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 1,259
2. Brunswick, North Carolina
Source: paulync / Getty Images
- Median household income: $16,643 ($58,506 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 64.2% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 6.1% (middle 50% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.2% (bottom 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 1,233
1. Lincoln Heights, Ohio
Source: Nyttend / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Median household income: $14,676 ($60,473 less than U.S. median)
- Poverty rate: 62.9% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment: 26.5% (top 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.2% (bottom 10% among 13,496 comparable U.S. towns)
- Population: 3,140
Methodology
To identify America’s poorest towns, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of median household income from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 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 median household income was not available in the 2022 ACS or if 25% or more of the population were enrolled in college or graduate school, as the presence of large college and university student populations can skew economic data.
Additional data on the poverty rate, average unemployment, educational attainment, and population are also five-year estimates from the ACS.
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