Special Report

These Are the Poorest Counties in Texas

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Incomes are rising rapidly in the United States. According to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, the national median household income was nearly $75,000 in 2022, up from about $69,700 in 2021. The 7.2% increase was the largest recorded year-over-year since at least the mid-1990s.

While the typical American household is earning more than ever before, incomes have not been rising fast enough to offset inflation. Throughout 2022, the average rate of inflation hit a 40-year high of 8%, four times the Federal Reserve’s 2% target rate. Accounting for the rising cost of living, real incomes in the U.S. fell by nearly 5% between 2019 and 2022.

While no one has been spared from surging prices, Americans on the low end of the income spectrum have bore the brunt. During inflationary periods, higher-income Americans can cut back on spending and reduce the impact of rising costs. Meanwhile, lower earning Americans, who spend a larger share of their income on necessities such as food, housing, and gas, cannot.

With a median household income of $73,035, Texas has a relatively high-earning population. Still, there are many parts of the state where the typical household earns far less than the statewide median.

Using five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 35 poorest counties in Texas. Counties in the state are ranked on median household income. Population, poverty, and unemployment data are also five-year estimates from the 2022 ACS.

Among the counties on this list, median household incomes are anywhere from about $25,300 to nearly $45,700 below the statewide median. In many of these counties, levels of financial hardship are underscored by widespread poverty. In all but two counties on this list, the share of residents living below the poverty line exceeds the 13.9% statewide poverty rate.

In most of these places, lower than average incomes are attributable not only to low-paying jobs, but also to a lack of employment opportunities. According to the ACS, the average unemployment rate in Texas over the last five years stands at 5.2%. In 22 of the 35 counties on this list, the five-year average jobless rate exceeds the statewide average, and in some cases, is in the double-digits.

These are the poorest counties in Texas.

35. Brewster County

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  • Median household income: $47,747
  • Poverty rate: 15.7%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 3.0%
  • Population: 9,454

34. Cottle County

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  • Median household income: $47,625
  • Poverty rate: 24.1%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.1%
  • Population: 1,647

33. Nolan County

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  • Median household income: $47,437
  • Poverty rate: 15.5%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.6%
  • Population: 14,657

32. Cameron County

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  • Median household income: $47,435
  • Poverty rate: 25.3%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.7%
  • Population: 421,854

31. Walker County

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  • Median household income: $47,193
  • Poverty rate: 19.5%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.0%
  • Population: 77,182

30. Sabine County

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  • Median household income: $47,061
  • Poverty rate: 17.3%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.4%
  • Population: 9,980

29. Real County

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  • Median household income: $46,842
  • Poverty rate: 24.5%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 1.6%
  • Population: 2,830

28. Dickens County

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  • Median household income: $46,638
  • Poverty rate: 12.3%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.7%
  • Population: 1,570

27. Jim Wells County

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  • Median household income: $46,626
  • Poverty rate: 22.6%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.2%
  • Population: 39,060

26. San Augustine County

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  • Median household income: $45,888
  • Poverty rate: 27.3%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.3%
  • Population: 7,920

25. Kenedy County

  • Median household income: $45,455
  • Poverty rate: 2.6%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 0.0%
  • Population: 116

24. Dawson County

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  • Median household income: $45,268
  • Poverty rate: 24.8%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.5%
  • Population: 12,342

23. Falls County

  • Median household income: $45,172
  • Poverty rate: 15.8%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.4%
  • Population: 17,013

22. Stephens County

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  • Median household income: $44,712
  • Poverty rate: 16.7%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.6%
  • Population: 9,260

21. Red River County

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  • Median household income: $44,583
  • Poverty rate: 20.2%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 3.8%
  • Population: 11,627

20. Hall County

  • Median household income: $43,873
  • Poverty rate: 18.6%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.5%
  • Population: 2,847

19. Willacy County

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  • Median household income: $42,839
  • Poverty rate: 26.6%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.7%
  • Population: 20,308

18. Terry County

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  • Median household income: $42,694
  • Poverty rate: 22.4%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.8%
  • Population: 11,816

17. Jim Hogg County

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  • Median household income: $42,292
  • Poverty rate: 29.0%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.5%
  • Population: 4,830

16. Foard County

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  • Median household income: $41,944
  • Poverty rate: 22.1%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.9%
  • Population: 1,075

15. Cochran County

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  • Median household income: $41,597
  • Poverty rate: 25.8%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.1%
  • Population: 2,529

14. Menard County

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  • Median household income: $40,945
  • Poverty rate: 22.5%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 14.3%
  • Population: 1,964

13. Edwards County

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  • Median household income: $40,809
  • Poverty rate: 23.4%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 0.0%
  • Population: 1,380

12. Swisher County

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  • Median household income: $40,290
  • Poverty rate: 29.5%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.2%
  • Population: 6,989

11. Coke County

  • Median household income: $40,230
  • Poverty rate: 16.5%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 3.0%
  • Population: 3,305

10. Newton County

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  • Median household income: $38,871
  • Poverty rate: 24.2%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.6%
  • Population: 12,333

9. Jeff Davis County

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  • Median household income: $38,125
  • Poverty rate: 24.6%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 0.0%
  • Population: 1,992

8. Starr County

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  • Median household income: $35,979
  • Poverty rate: 33.5%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.5%
  • Population: 65,716

7. Culberson County

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  • Median household income: $35,924
  • Poverty rate: 22.2%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.1%
  • Population: 2,181

6. Briscoe County

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  • Median household income: $35,446
  • Poverty rate: 24.4%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 3.3%
  • Population: 1,290

5. Hudspeth County

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  • Median household income: $35,163
  • Poverty rate: 25.4%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.2%
  • Population: 3,329

4. Zapata County

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  • Median household income: $35,061
  • Poverty rate: 37.2%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.1%
  • Population: 13,896

3. Brooks County

  • Median household income: $30,566
  • Poverty rate: 33.2%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 2.1%
  • Population: 7,059

2. Presidio County

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  • Median household income: $29,012
  • Poverty rate: 40.0%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 12.3%
  • Population: 6,168

1. Dimmit County

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  • Median household income: $27,374
  • Poverty rate: 43.6%
  • 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.7%
  • Population: 8,672
Rank County Median household income ($) Poverty rate (%) 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate (%)
1 Dimmit, Texas 27,374 43.6 4.7
2 Presidio, Texas 29,012 40.0 12.3
3 Brooks, Texas 30,566 33.2 2.1
4 Zapata, Texas 35,061 37.2 8.1
5 Hudspeth, Texas 35,163 25.4 8.2
6 Briscoe, Texas 35,446 24.4 3.3
7 Culberson, Texas 35,924 22.2 10.1
8 Starr, Texas 35,979 33.5 11.5
9 Jeff Davis, Texas 38,125 24.6 0.0
10 Newton, Texas 38,871 24.2 10.6
11 Coke, Texas 40,230 16.5 3.0
12 Swisher, Texas 40,290 29.5 5.2
13 Edwards, Texas 40,809 23.4 0.0
14 Menard, Texas 40,945 22.5 14.3
15 Cochran, Texas 41,597 25.8 7.1
16 Foard, Texas 41,944 22.1 5.9
17 Jim Hogg, Texas 42,292 29.0 4.5
18 Terry, Texas 42,694 22.4 4.8
19 Willacy, Texas 42,839 26.6 8.7
20 Hall, Texas 43,873 18.6 7.5
21 Red River, Texas 44,583 20.2 3.8
22 Stephens, Texas 44,712 16.7 8.6
23 Falls, Texas 45,172 15.8 7.4
24 Dawson, Texas 45,268 24.8 9.5
25 Kenedy, Texas 45,455 2.6 0.0
26 San Augustine, Texas 45,888 27.3 10.3
27 Jim Wells, Texas 46,626 22.6 5.2
28 Dickens, Texas 46,638 12.3 9.7
29 Real, Texas 46,842 24.5 1.6
30 Sabine, Texas 47,061 17.3 8.4
31 Walker, Texas 47,193 19.5 7.0
32 Cameron, Texas 47,435 25.3 5.7
33 Nolan, Texas 47,437 15.5 6.6
34 Cottle, Texas 47,625 24.1 4.1
35 Brewster, Texas 47,747 15.7 3.0

 

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