The poorest cities in the United States are poverty-plagued cities, as they are the worst cities in the country. A high percentage of its residents are under the poverty line.
All the cities mentioned on this list have both good and bad points. These cities have a higher percentage of people living in poverty compares to the average poverty rate across America, which is about 10 to 13%.
The percentage of people in poverty in each city, their population, income, median household income, and per capita income data used in ranking is gotten from the United States Census Bureau.
The federal guideline is that any family of four who earns less than $24,250 in a year is living in poverty. Even people who still earn above this income are still struggling.
These are the top 15 poorest cities in the United States, they are
- Flint City
- Youngstown City
- Detroit City
- Cleveland City
- Rochester City
- Syracuse City
- Albany City
- Dayton City
- City of Hartford
- Newark City
- Camden city
- Toledo City
- Allentown City
- Springfield City
- Birmingham City
- Jackson City
Check them out, their income, and the pieces of information that account for their state.
Keep reading!
16. Jackson City
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| Image credit: Phillip L. Hofmeister |
State: Mississippi
Persons in poverty: 24.5%
Per capita income: $22,815
Median household income: $40,064
Population: 149,761
It is the state capital of Mississippi since 1821. The city is situated on a volcanic island. It was named after the national hero who war at New Orleans and defeat British forces, he is General Andrew Jackson.
This place is often referred to as "the most radical city on the planet." Throughout its history, it is the white that run as conservatives.
It is certainly one of the poorest cities in the United States as the city face different issues such as urban plight, potholes, and crimes.
It is the poorest city in Mississippi. The local and the state governments are shifting the blame on each other for the poor condition of the city.
People living here are also facing issues like frozen pipes. For example, if a winter storm starts, they will be left for weeks without water. This is because the pipes are aging and not being replaced.
15. Birmingham City
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| Image credit: Airtuna08 (talk) |
State: Alabama
Persons in poverty: 24.7%
Per capita income: $25,725
Median household income: $38,832
Population: 197,575
It is a big city situated north-central part of the state. It is a city that was founded after the Civil War. As iron ore, limestone and coal were discovered which is necessary for the production of steel and iron.
It is a city with a struggling economy as it is revealed by population reducing as well as declining jobs. That means one person out of four residents has an income below the poverty line in this city.
It is one out of the poorest big cities in the United States. Even though the population is reducing, the city seems crowded and people here experience crime, which still depends on the area you are living in.
However, police response here is quick to any ongoing crime. It is a city rich in cultural past. For instance, America’s oldest baseball stadium which was opened in 1910 is found here.
Martin Luther King Jr was imprisoned in the Birmingham Jail, where he wrote his famous letter for civil rights. In this city, you will find a lot of motorcycles here, it has the biggest collection of motorcycles.
14. Springfield City
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| Image credit: User:Magicpiano |
State: Massachusetts
Persons in poverty: 25.5%
Per capita income: $22,308
Median household income: $41,571
Population: 154,789
It is a mid-size city located in the county of Hampden. Even though the population continues to decrease, it has a dense urban feel, this is because people here work and live together closely.
It is certainly one of the poorest cities in the US and the neighborhood continues to be poor. The median household income continues to fall as well, and the unemployment rate is getting low too.
This makes the population reduce over the years. A considerable number of young ones are leaving this city and going to college.
Crime rate is high too here as in every 100,000 residents about 1,031 crimes occur in a report of about six years ago while generally in America only 386 incidents happen per 100,000 people.
Even at, it is still a great place to live, that decision still depends on you. It is a city that provides its residents their wants and needs.
For example, the cost of living here is lower than the national average and in comparison to other cities. Due to the population density, there are social benefits involved like psychological and physical advantages from people.
See also:
13. Allentown City
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| Image credit: CyberXRef |
State: Pennsylvania
Persons in poverty: 25.6%
Per capita income: $21,144
Median household income: $43,816
Population: 125,944
It is the third largest city in the state situated in Lehigh County. The city was founded by William Allen in1762, he was a mayor of Philadelphia, and it was named after him.
The percentage of people in poverty living in Allentown city mentioned above, it means one-third of its residents are poor. In some parts of the city, some residents are paying about 75 percent of their income as house rent.
Even though, there is a reduction in unemployment. Neighborhoods with mixed income are the healthiest of neighborhoods. Besides, it is one of the poorest cities in the United States, and it attracts millions of people yearly.
This is because it is a historical city, it is home to the Liberty Bell. Other touristic attractions include the Haines Mill Museum, the Museum of Indian Culture, the Allentown Art Museum, and the Civic Theater of Allentown.
12. Toledo City
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| Image credit: Wikipedia |
State: Ohio
Persons in poverty: 25.6%
Per capita income: $22,659
Median household income: $39,155
Population: 268,508
It is nicknamed the glass city because of its historical connection with glass. It is the US glass capital as well as the world's glass city capital.
It is a city situated in the western area of Toledo city and has been experiencing poverty since the year 2000. The concentration of poor people living in the city continues to grow especially in districts 1, 3, and 4. About three people out of ten people living here are poor.
Residents living in high-poverty areas have to deal with lagging education options, fewer employment opportunities, and higher crime rates. Research shows that residents here spend 30 percent of what they earn on house rent.
11. Camden City
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| Image credit: Phillies1fan777 |
State: Arkansas
Persons in poverty: 25.7%
Per capita income: $20,183
Median household income: $37,842
Population: 10,369
It is a small city with little population situated in Ouachita county. In the past five years, there has been a slight reduction in the city's population.
That is something to watch, people move away from a region because of unfavorable circumstances. Like food shortages, unemployment, conflicts, and the like. Besides the fact that it is a small city, you will definitely have a suburban feel.
Some prefer this area as it is a tight-knit community in comparison to a large city. The city has a lot to offer its residents like the educational system is good.
Teacher to students ratio is 1 to 2. College enrollment is straightforward and attaining high school graduation is easy. Housing and grocery items are less expensive too here.
However, the economic conditions are worst here as the percentage of people living in poverty shows. The crime rate in this city is higher than the state and country's averages. The total crime rate is about 43 per 1000 people.
10. Newark City
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| Image credit: Payton Chung |
State: New Jersey
Persons in poverty: 26.3%
Per capita income: $20,924
Median household income: $37,476
Population: 307,220
It is a large city situated in the county of Essex. It is the third oldest city in the US behind Boston and New York. Newark is also referred to as Gateway City, it got that name from the downtown Gateway Center commercial complex.
The livability rating of this city is 69 percent, which is above average. Residents here live close to each other. Due to the higher population in this city, individuals living in this city may feel stress in base on environmental factors.
Owing to this the fact, the poverty rate is high here, which brings it among the top 10 poorest cities in the United States.
The city is majorly made up of young people in their early 20s and 30s. On average, each family consists of about 3.6 people that includes parents and children.
See also:
9. City of Hartford
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| Image credit:JJBers |
State: Connecticut
Persons in poverty: 28.0%
Per capita income: $22,055
Median household income: $36,154
Population: 120,576
This city has been one of the richest cities for several decades, but today it is one of the poorest cities in the US in 2024. Almost 3 out of 10 families here are living below the poverty threshold.
The city is extremely broke because it cannot raise enough revenue, and they face a range of costs. The city's high prevalence of poverty further lowers housing values and income-generating potential.
Connecticut, it has the highest cost. There are five factors contributing to this cost. The first factor is unemployment. The second factor is population density which is the makeup of the city.
Thirdly, jobs per capita, which necessitate a variety of municipal services bring about the cost. Then, the non - governmental wages, which either raise the earnings necessary to hire and keep eligible municipal staff is another factor.
And lastly, miles of town roads, which become partly managed for commuters.
8. Dayton City
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| Image credit: MarkDonna |
State: Ohio
Persons in poverty: 29.6%
Per capita income: $22,097
Median household income: $34,457
Population: 367,991
It is a big city located in the counties of Montgomery and Greene. Over the past 5 years, this city has not grown a lot of new residents, although new people are moving into the city they are not many.
It has a livability score of 64%, which is above average. The livability score is calculated on residents' happiness, cost of living, crime, and education, all are put into consideration.
Nonetheless, people are poor here specifically because of unemployment, having a job that cannot pay a living wage can be distressing. Looking at the poverty in the city, almost 30 percent of people living here are poor.
It is above other cities making the city one of the poorest cities in the USA. The city also battles with other challenges such as an increase in the daily living cost, limited transportation, and poor infrastructure.
7. Albany City
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| Image credit: Twister3328 at en.wikipedia |
State: Georgia
Persons in poverty: 29.7%
Per capita income: $20,351
Median household income: $38,826
Population: 69,048
Albany is a city divided by the Flint River, located in Dougherty County. The high number of poor people living in this city is linked to a substantial percentage of teenage pregnancies.
This is in accordance with an article published by the All Together Albany strategic plan in 2008, it was also mentioned there that if the issue is not addressed, it would continue to damage the economic system.
The worst part of the city is even in the East Albany community, where about 48 percents of African Americans are poor. Most households make up of single parents with little to no education.
There are low levels of educational attainment as well as low employment opportunities. All these factors make the city one of the top poorest cities in the United States.
6. Syracuse City
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| Image credit: John Marino from Pittsburgh |
State: New York
Persons in poverty: 30.3%
Per capita income: $23,471
Median household income: $38,893
Population: 146,103
For many years, this city has been battling poverty. Syracuse ranks number one among the cities with child poverty as well as one of the poorest cities in the US according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
There is a 48.4 percent of poverty rate among children under the age of 18. Children are getting shot up on the street and dying. Poverty here leads to crime and poor schools that are underfunded.
It is a city divided by race and many people experience poverty. There are bad roads and potholes are unavoidable. Opportunities for employment are low here and if eventually, you are able to get one, you have to pay high taxes.
There are high crime rates that children often fear being kidnapped or shot. People living here also experience too much snow and cold in the winter, that they rarely see the sun.
5. Rochester City
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| Image credit: Tomkinsc |
State: New York
Persons in poverty: 30.4%
Per capita income: $24,916
Median household income: $37,395
Population: 210,606
Of recent, the city has been in news a lot, from Daniel Prude's homicide to protests, and mass shootings. Crime and civil unrest are signs of a city's systemic problems.
In comparison to the federal poverty line, this city has residents that live at less than half of that line. It is the poorest city in New York. Almost half of the children living here are living in poverty.
Based on the district's state progress report, 90% of the students in the Rochester School District are classified as "economically disadvantaged," indicating that they or their families qualify for free or low-cost meals or enrollment in another aid program. One out of three residents here is poor.
It is the 5th city on the list of the poorest cities in the United States. It has been a long this city has been experiencing this situation and they experience it largely in the years between 2000 and 2011, at that time poor people grew to 73%.
See also:
4. Cleveland City
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| Image credit: Vjmlhds |
State: Ohio
Persons in poverty: 32.0%
Per capita income: $22,442
Median household income: $31,838
Population: 367,991
Cleaveland is one of the amazing cities located in the northeastern area of Ohio. It was named after the man who founded it in 1796, Moses Cleaveland.
He was a surveyor from Connecticut. John D. Rockefeller, the oil tycoon and philanthropist spend most of his years here, although he was not born there.
Unlike other big cities, its population is spread out and not densely populated. Nevertheless, Cleveland is the second among the poorest big cities in the US in 2024 due to many factors.
The factors include corruption by public officials, lousy weather, high taxes, and unemployment. With these factors, the city starts to see a decline in population as residents are moving out.
Many considered the city as being stressful and having a high divorce rate. There is a high crime rate here too, in 100,000 residents, 1,633 violent crimes happen in the city that was reported about 6 years ago.
3. Detroit City
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| Image credit: Derek Gauci |
State: Michigan
Persons in poverty: 33.2%
Median household income: $32,498
Per capita income: $19,569
Population: 632,464
It was previously rich, but now Detroit is obviously the number one among big cities on the list of the poorest cities in America in 2024.
The city has suffered from civil unrest, and for this, you will see burned down and thousands of vacant homes. The failing school system is one of the reasons this city is poor.
In the US, the average number of students in class is 24 but that of this city is 33 students. This often affects students' performance as students perform better in smaller classes.
Students are packed this way because teachers here do not want to experience a pay cut. There is high unemployment as many jobs are lost to deindustrialization.
Of this, many people are moving out of the city, in the year 1950, the population was 1.86 million, but now just a little above 600,000. The values of properties are falling and property tax income fell too. Then the crime rate also increases.
2. Youngstown City
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| Image credit: Aftrnd |
State: Ohio
Persons in poverty: 34.9%
Per capita income: $18,948
Median household income: $30,129
Population: 60,270
It is located in Mahoning County. The city was named after the earlier settler who surveyed the area, John Young. It is the poorest city in Ohio.
Youngstown city has a high population of people living in poverty. The city struggles to attract industry and jobs that can help its economy. About 56% of children living in this city experience poverty.
All this may have led to a high crime rate. Most crimes committed here relate to prostitutes and drugs. The east side of the city is even worst, it is gang-ridden. While the west side is better.
1. Flint City - The Poorest City in the United States
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| Image credit: WeaponizingArchitecture |
State: Michigan
Persons in poverty: 37.3%
Median household income: $30,383
Per capita income: $17,638
Population: 80,628
It is an extremely poverty city, and even 58% of children under 18 are living in poverty. It is the poorest city in Michigan.
According to experts, the leading cause of poverty in this city is greater competition for resources and funds with the suburbs, a lack of economic diversification, and poor city plans.
The economy, social, and governmental policies also affect the city. Many employees are moving out to other parts of the country. In the 1960s the population here is around 200,000. The population start to decline as poverty became an issue.
What are your thoughts on the poorest cities in the US on this list? Let us hear from you in the comments section below (Post a comments). Please share this article (we do not spam) and subscribe to our mailing list or you can follow us on our social media handles. Thanks for reading!
Even at that, these cities are still better than some cities in other part of the world.
ReplyDeleteYes, you are right. Thanks for reading about the poorest cities in the US.
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