Poorest City in Every US State

In the US, the “poverty threshold” for a family of four is $25,700, and according to the last Census, the poverty rate was 11.8% in 2018. The three poorest cities in the United States are Detroit, MI, Cleveland, OH, and Dayton, OH. Detroit’s unemployment rate is 19.8%, the poverty rate is 37.9%, and the median income is $27,838.

America is a country that is known for its stark inequality in income. The richest part of the population (top 1%) owned 32.3% of the nation’s wealth, according to a report in 2022. This is in stark contrast to the bottom 90%, which holds only 30.2% of the nation’s wealth.

Since hitting a multi-decade high in June 2022, the paceof inflation in the United States has cooled. Still, consumer prices are rising at nearly double the 2% annual target set by the Federal Reserve – and Americans are feeling the pinch. According to a report from Moody’s Analytics, the same goods and services cost the typical American household $709 more in July 2023 than in July 2021. 

Using the US Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey metro area-level data on median household income, additional income, and population data, 24/7 Wall St. identified the poorest city in every state. Four states – Delaware, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont – have only one metropolitan area. As a result, the cities listed in these states rank as the poorest by default only.

In most metropolitan areas on this list, the share of households earning less than $10,000 a year exceeds the comparable statewide share – and in all but six metro areas on this list, residents are more likely to live below the poverty line than the typical resident of the state as a whole.

Why Does This Matter?

Alabama: Anniston-Oxford

• Household income (median): $59,674 – the lowest of 12 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $59,674 – #44 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 20,450 (18.3% – #46 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 4,151 (9.1% – #20 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 115,788

Alaska: Fairbanks

• Household income (median): $88,121 – the lowest of 2 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $88,121 – #11 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 6,528 (7.1% – #379 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 1,462 (3.9% – #340 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 95,356

Arizona: Yuma

• Household income (median): $74,568 – the lowest of 7 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $74,568 – #19 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 26,544 (13.2% – #186 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 4,044 (5.0% – #241 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 207,842

Arkansas: Pine Bluff

• Household income (median): $55,432 – the lowest of 6 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $55,432 – #47 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 14,580 (19.5% – #24 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 2,595 (8.5% – #32 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 84,460

California: El Centro

• Household income (median): $91,551 – the lowest of 26 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $91,551 – #5 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 38,933 (22.6% – #7 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 4,944 (9.7% – #13 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 178,713

Colorado: Pueblo

• Household income (median): $89,302 – the lowest of 7 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $89,302 – #8 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 24,389 (14.8% – #130 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 4,485 (6.6% – #101 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 169,544

Connecticut: New Haven-Milford

• Household income (median): $88,429 – the lowest of 4 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $88,429 – #10 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 87,834 (10.5% – #303 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 18,942 (5.5% – #187 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 870,163

Delaware: Dover

• Household income (median): $82,174 (only metro area in the state, lowest by default)
• Statewide median household income: $82,174 – #14 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 17,094 (9.4% – #336 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 2,854 (3.9% – #342 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 186,946

Florida: Homosassa Springs

• Household income (median): $69,303 – the lowest of 22 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $69,303 – #33 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 29,597 (18.5% – #42 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas) 
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 4,327 (6.1% – #142 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 162,529

Georgia: Albany

• Household income (median): $72,837 – the lowest of 14 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $72,837 – #21 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 37,026 (26.2% – #2 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 5,264 (9.1% – #18 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 146,387

Hawaii: Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina

• Household income (median): $92,458 – the lowest of 2 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $92,458 – #4 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 13,326 (8.2% – #366 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 1,812 (3.2% – #371 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 164,365

Idaho: Pocatello

• Household income (median): $72,785 – the lowest of 6 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $72,785 – #22 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 12,684 (13.2% – #181 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 1,822 (4.9% – #254 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 98,560

Illinois: Danville

• Household income (median): $76,708 – the lowest of 10 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $76,708 – #17 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 11,640 (16.8% – #78 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 1,999 (6.5% – #116 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 72,337

Indiana: Muncie

• Household income (median): $66,785 – the lowest of 12 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $66,785 – #38 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 19,540 (18.8% – #36 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 3,774 (7.9% – #42 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 112,031

Iowa: Waterloo-Cedar Falls

• Household income (median): $69,588 – the lowest of 8 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $69,588 – #31 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 24,601 (15.3% – #114 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 3,253 (4.7% – #276 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 167,889

Kansas: Manhattan

• Household income (median): $68,925 – the lowest of 4 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $68,925 – #34 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 21,286 (17.5% – #60 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 3,726 (7.2% – #79 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 133,072

Kentucky: Bowling Green

• Household income (median): $59,341 – the lowest of 5 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $59,341 – #46 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 33,170 (18.5% – #41 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 6,294 (8.7% – #29 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 184,636

Louisiana: Monroe

• Household income (median): $55,416 – the lowest of 9 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $55,416 – #48 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 48,925 (24.9% – #3 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 9,265 (11.2% – #2 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 202,869

Maine: Bangor

• Household income (median): $69,543 – the lowest of the 3 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $69,543 – #32 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 22,358 (15.1% – #122 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 3,865 (5.9% – #160 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 153,704

Maryland: Cumberland

• Household income (median): $94,991 – the lowest of 5 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $94,991 – #2 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 16,587 (18.9% – #33 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 2,903 (7.9% – #45 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 94,122

Massachusetts: Springfield

• Household income (median): $94,488 – the lowest of 5 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $94,488 – #3 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 103,885 (15.7% – #101 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 19,842 (7.1% – #80 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 694,523

Michigan: Saginaw

• Household income (median): $66,986 – the lowest of 14 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $66,986 – #37 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 33,598 (18.4% – #45 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 6,108 (7.7% – #52 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 188,330

Minnesota: Duluth

• Household income (median): $82,338 – the lowest of 5 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $82,338 – #13 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 37,601 (13.2% – #179 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 7,974 (6.3% – #121 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 291,931

Mississippi: Hattiesburg

• Household income (median): $52,719 – the lowest of the 3 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $52,719 – #50 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 33,197 (20.0% – #20 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 4,915 (7.4% – #71 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 172,263

Missouri: Joplin

• Household income (median): $64,811 – the lowest of 8 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $64,811 – #41 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 32,842 (18.3% – #47 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 3,702 (5.2% – #214 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 184,086

Montana: Great Falls

• Household income (median): $67,631 – the lowest of 3 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $67,631 – #35 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 12,275 (14.9% – #126 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 1,674 (4.7% – #269 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 84,864

Nebraska: Lincoln

• Household income (median): $69,597 – the lowest of the 3 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $69,597 – #30 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 41,309 (12.7% – #207 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 7,717 (5.6% – #175 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 341,229

Nevada: Carson City

• Household income (median): $72,333 – the lowest of the 3 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $72,333 – #23 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 8,438 (15.4% – #109 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 1,506 (6.5% – #114 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 58,130

New Hampshire: Manchester-Nashua

• Household income (median): $89,992 (only metro area in the state, lowest by default)
• Statewide median household income: $89,992 – #7 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 25,980 (6.2% – #383 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 3,996 (2.4% – #382 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 426,594

New Jersey: Vineland-Bridgeton

• Household income (median): $96,346 – the lowest of 4 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $96,346 – #1 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 22,154 (15.3% – #113 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 2,512 (4.6% – #287 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 151,356

New Mexico: Farmington

• Household income (median): $59,726 – the lowest of 4 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $59,726 – #43 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 28,693 (24.1% – #6 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 3,752 (9.0% – #23 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 120,418

New York: Elmira

• Household income (median): $79,557 – the lowest of 13 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $79,557 – #16 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 12,348 (15.8% – #99 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 1,859 (5.4% – #192 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 81,426

North Carolina: Rocky Mount

• Household income (median): $67,481 – the lowest of 15 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $67,481 – #36 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 20,187 (14.2% – #151 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 3,987 (6.8% – #94 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 144,090

North Dakota: Grand Forks

• Household income (median): $71,970 – the lowest of the 3 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $71,970 – #25 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 12,127 (12.5% – #217 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 2,996 (7.0% – #86 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 103,144

Ohio: Mansfield

• Household income (median): $65,720 – the lowest of 11 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $65,720 – #39 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 17,898 (15.2% – #117 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 2,326 (4.6% – #282 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 125,319

Oklahoma: Enid

• Household income (median): $59,673 – the lowest of 4 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $59,673 – #45 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 9,611 (16.1% – #91 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 1,158 (5.0% – #236 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 61,920

Oregon: Grants Pass

• Household income (median): $75,657 – the lowest of 8 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $75,657 – #18 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 16,458 (19.0% – #32 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 3,304 (9.0% – #24 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 87,730

Pennsylvania: Johnstown

• Household income (median): $71,798 – the lowest of 18 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $71,798 – #26 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 21,104 (16.8% – #79 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 4,061 (7.4% – #73 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 131,441

Rhode Island: Providence-Warwick

• Household income (median): $81,854 (only metro area in the state, lowest by default)
• Statewide median household income: $81,854 – #15 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 178,889 (11.0% – #272 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 37,768 (5.6% – #177 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 1,673,802

South Carolina: Florence

• Household income (median): $64,115 – the lowest of 8 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $64,115 – #42 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 41,125 (21.1% – #12 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 7,216 (9.1% – #21 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 199,119

South Dakota: Rapid City

• Household income (median): $69,728 – the lowest of 2 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $69,728 – #29 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 17,767 (12.7% – #206 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 2,751 (4.6% – #285 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 144,890

Tennessee: Kingsport-Bristol

• Household income (median): $65,254 – the lowest of 10 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $65,254 – #40 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 44,438 (14.5% – #135 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 7,265 (5.5% – #188 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 310,483

Texas: Texarkana

• Household income (median): $72,284 – the lowest of 25 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $72,284 – #24 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 29,830 (21.6% – #10 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 6,031 (10.8% – #5 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 144,322

Utah: St. George

• Household income (median): $89,168 – the lowest of 5 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $89,168 – #9 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 20,179 (10.3% – #308 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 1,969 (2.7% – #380 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 197,680

Vermont: Burlington-South Burlington

• Household income (median): $73,991 (only metro area in the state, lowest by default)
• Statewide median household income: $73,991 – #20 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 22,814 (10.5% – #301 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 4,654 (4.8% – #262 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 228,270

Virginia: Lynchburg

• Household income (median): $85,873 – the lowest of 9 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $85,873 – #12 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 32,466 (13.0% – #191 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 4,757 (4.6% – #280 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 262,458

Washington: Yakima

• Household income (median): $91,306 – the lowest of 11 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $91,306 – #6 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 42,108 (16.6% – #82 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 4,661 (5.3% – #202 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 257,001

West Virginia: Beckley

• Household income (median): $54,329 – the lowest of 7 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $54,329 – #49 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 21,439 (19.8% – #21 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 4,452 (10.1% – #9 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 112,369

Wisconsin: Sheboygan

• Household income (median): $70,996 – the lowest of 12 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $70,996 – #27 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 11,395 (10.0% – #320 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 2,999 (5.9% – #150 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 117,841

Wyoming: Casper

• Household income (median): $70,042 – the lowest of 2 metro areas in the state
• Statewide median household income: $70,042 – #28 highest of 50 states
• Poverty rate of the metro area: 7,047 (9.0% – #347 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Households with an income of under $10,000: 1,031 (3.1% – #373 highest out of 384 U.S. metro areas)
• Population: 79,601

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