Economic Disparities Revealed: Understanding What Is the Poorest City in the USA

When discussing urban economics across America, conversations typically revolve around thriving metropolitan areas with booming tech sectors, luxury real estate markets, and world-class amenities. Yet a more pressing question often goes overlooked: what is the poorest city in the USA? The answer isn’t singular—rather, each of the 50 states grapples with its own economically challenged urban centers where residents face significant hardship.

Analyzing America’s Economic Divide

Research examining the poorest cities in America requires examining three critical metrics: median household income, per capita earnings, and the percentage of populations living below the federal poverty threshold. Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey paints a sobering picture of economic stratification across the nation.

The disparity becomes apparent when comparing coastal versus inland regions, manufacturing hubs versus service-based economies, and post-industrial cities versus growth centers. Some cities show poverty rates exceeding 30%, while others remain below 10%—a telling indicator of regional economic health and opportunity availability.

The Most Economically Challenged Urban Centers

Bottom-Tier Cities: Where Poverty Concentrates

Canton, Ohio emerges as particularly disadvantaged, with 30.24% of residents living in poverty and a median household income of just $37,627. Similarly, Greenville, Mississippi struggles with a 32.20% poverty rate and $35,148 median household income. Reading, Pennsylvania faces comparable challenges with 28.61% poverty prevalence.

Birmingham, Alabama (population 200,431) represents a significant urban center facing economic headwinds, with 26.09% living below poverty and $42,464 median household income. Pine Bluff, Arkansas shows 24.88% poverty rates alongside $39,411 median household income.

Mid-Range Struggling Communities

Cities like Springfield, Missouri (168,873 residents), Central Falls, Rhode Island (22,359 residents), and Sunrise Manor, Nevada (198,325 residents) occupy the middle tier of economic challenges, with poverty rates ranging from 19% to 22% and median household incomes between $43,000 and $54,000.

Bossier City, Louisiana, Lewiston, Maine, and South Valley, New Mexico similarly struggle with economic indicators suggesting limited household wealth accumulation and higher-than-average poverty concentration.

Geographic Patterns and Regional Trends

Rust Belt and Post-Industrial Decline

Former manufacturing powerhouses show pronounced economic strain. Warren, Michigan (138,588 residents) maintains a median household income of $61,633 despite 13.52% poverty. Waukegan, Illinois (89,435 residents) shows comparable metrics with $66,077 median household income and 15% poverty rates.

Cheektowaga, New York and Lynn, Massachusetts reflect New England’s mixed economic fortunes, while Janesville, Wisconsin demonstrates agricultural region challenges.

Southern and Southwestern Concentrations

The poorest cities in the USA show clustering in specific regions. Southern states, particularly Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas, consistently rank among the most economically challenged. Hialeah, Florida (222,996 residents) exhibits $49,531 median household income with 17.81% poverty, reflecting immigrant community and service-sector economy pressures.

El Paso, Texas, America’s sixth-largest city by population in this analysis (677,181 residents), shows 18.94% poverty with $55,710 median household income—indicating that size doesn’t guarantee economic security.

Complete State-by-State Economic Snapshot

Alabama: Birmingham shows $42,464 median household income, 26.09% poverty, $29,289 per capita income.

Alaska: Fairbanks presents $69,914 median household income, 9.67% poverty, $34,820 per capita income.

Arizona: Surprise demonstrates $87,756 median household income, 6.79% poverty, $37,518 per capita income.

Arkansas: Pine Bluff reveals $39,411 median household income, 24.88% poverty, $21,170 per capita income.

California: Anaheim shows $88,538 median household income, 12.62% poverty, $35,331 per capita income (347,111 residents).

Colorado: Pueblo displays $52,794 median household income, 20.60% poverty, $28,968 per capita income.

Connecticut: New Britain presents $53,766 median household income, 19.70% poverty, $28,796 per capita income.

Delaware: Smyrna shows $68,260 median household income, 9.99% poverty, $31,340 per capita income.

Florida: Hialeah reveals $49,531 median household income, 17.81% poverty, $24,295 per capita income.

Georgia: South Fulton demonstrates $77,488 median household income, 9.37% poverty, $36,153 per capita income.

Hawaii: Kahului shows $94,712 median household income, 8.72% poverty, $34,885 per capita income.

Idaho: Caldwell presents $65,259 median household income, 12.63% poverty, $24,112 per capita income.

Illinois: Waukegan displays $66,077 median household income, 15% poverty, $30,089 per capita income.

Indiana: Lafayette reveals $50,674 median household income, 16.47% poverty, $29,523 per capita income.

Iowa: Council Bluffs shows $61,181 median household income, 13.59% poverty, $31,946 per capita income.

Kansas: Salina presents $56,945 median household income, 12.67% poverty, $31,477 per capita income.

Kentucky: Richmond displays $45,457 median household income, 22.23% poverty, $26,787 per capita income.

Louisiana: Bossier City reveals $54,100 median household income, 20.36% poverty, $30,737 per capita income.

Maine: Lewiston shows $54,317 median household income, 17.83% poverty, $29,223 per capita income.

Maryland: Glen Burnie presents $86,283 median household income, 8.16% poverty, $41,570 per capita income.

Massachusetts: Lynn displays $70,046 median household income, 14.08% poverty, $31,816 per capita income.

Michigan: Warren reveals $61,633 median household income, 13.52% poverty, $31,080 per capita income.

Minnesota: Brooklyn Park shows $82,271 median household income, 8.88% poverty, $36,531 per capita income.

Mississippi: Greenville presents $35,148 median household income, 32.20% poverty, $22,111 per capita income.

Missouri: Springfield displays $43,450 median household income, 20.32% poverty, $28,806 per capita income.

Montana: Kalispell reveals $57,123 median household income, 10.37% poverty, $32,570 per capita income.

Nebraska: Fremont shows $62,226 median household income, 9.52% poverty, $31,944 per capita income.

Nevada: Sunrise Manor presents $52,476 median household income, 21.82% poverty, $22,600 per capita income.

New Hampshire: Laconia displays $67,856 median household income, 10.20% poverty, $39,171 per capita income.

New Jersey: Elizabeth reveals $59,939 median household income, 15.35% poverty, $26,633 per capita income.

New Mexico: South Valley shows $44,670 median household income, 21.01% poverty, $24,047 per capita income.

New York: Cheektowaga presents $64,066 median household income, 8.80% poverty, $34,897 per capita income.

North Carolina: Concord displays $83,480 median household income, 7.52% poverty, $39,148 per capita income.

North Dakota: Jamestown reveals $53,389 median household income, 14.89% poverty, $34,078 per capita income.

Ohio: Canton shows $37,627 median household income, 30.24% poverty, $22,649 per capita income.

Oklahoma: Lawton presents $51,561 median household income, 19.40% poverty, $27,221 per capita income.

Oregon: Springfield displays $60,982 median household income, 16.41% poverty, $29,284 per capita income.

Pennsylvania: Reading reveals $42,852 median household income, 28.61% poverty, $20,782 per capita income.

Rhode Island: Central Falls shows $43,092 median household income, 24.43% poverty, $19,552 per capita income.

South Carolina: Sumter presents $48,900 median household income, 17.50% poverty, $27,742 per capita income.

South Dakota: Huron displays $57,702 median household income, 11.08% poverty, $29,576 per capita income.

Tennessee: Clarksville reveals $62,688 median household income, 12.88% poverty, $29,481 per capita income.

Texas: El Paso shows $55,710 median household income, 18.94% poverty, $27,434 per capita income (677,181 residents).

Utah: Ogden presents $66,226 median household income, 12.12% poverty, $31,437 per capita income.

Vermont: Bennington displays $51,221 median household income, 14.96% poverty, $33,141 per capita income.

Virginia: Roanoke reveals $51,523 median household income, 19.11% poverty, $33,206 per capita income.

Washington: Vancouver shows $73,626 median household income, 12.33% poverty, $40,219 per capita income.

West Virginia: Wheeling presents $46,516 median household income, 18.25% poverty, $33,868 per capita income.

Wisconsin: Janesville displays $68,610 median household income, 9.87% poverty, $35,135 per capita income.

Wyoming: Riverton reveals $50,861 median household income, 14.48% poverty, $25,653 per capita income.

Key Takeaways: Understanding America’s Economic Challenges

The poorest cities in the USA aren’t randomly distributed—they follow patterns rooted in deindustrialization, geographic isolation, and demographic shifts. Cities like Greenville, Canton, and Reading face poverty rates exceeding 28%, indicating systemic economic challenges requiring targeted intervention.

Per capita income figures often tell starker stories than median household incomes. Central Falls, Rhode Island shows merely $19,552 per capita income, while Reading, Pennsylvania reaches only $20,782. These figures underscore limited individual earning potential and wealth accumulation capacity.

Meanwhile, certain states show more favorable metrics. Hawaii’s Kahului, Arizona’s Surprise, and Maryland’s Glen Burnie demonstrate how geographic advantages, tourism industries, or proximity to major economic centers can elevate standards. However, even these “poorest” cities in their states maintain median household incomes exceeding $65,000 and poverty rates under 10%—highlighting regional inequality.

Understanding what is the poorest city in the USA requires recognizing that economic hardship concentrates in specific geographic corridors: Mississippi Delta regions, post-industrial Rust Belt communities, border regions, and rural areas experiencing agricultural decline. These communities face interconnected challenges including limited job opportunities, aging populations, educational disparities, and chronic disinvestment.

Addressing poverty in America’s most economically challenged urban centers demands comprehensive approaches targeting workforce development, business attraction, infrastructure investment, and education quality improvement across these 50 identified communities.

Methodology: Analysis identified the poorest big city in each state by evaluating the top 10 cities per state by population using U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data (as of June 4, 2024). Rankings incorporated median household income, per capita income, and poverty rate percentages, with scores summed to determine comparative economic standing. Highest-scoring cities represent poorest classifications based on lower income metrics and higher poverty concentration.