The Poorest Town in Every State, Based on Census Data

Across the United States, some small towns continue to struggle with limited job options, low household incomes, and economic challenges that have developed over generations. While inflation and rising costs have squeezed families in nearly every community, the places at the bottom of the income scale often face deeper structural problems, including shrinking industries, lower educational attainment, population loss, and fewer paths to upward mobility.

Local poverty is rarely caused by one factor. A town’s income level can be shaped by the jobs available nearby, the industries that once supported the region, housing affordability, school access, transportation, and long-term shifts in the broader economy. That is why Census data is useful. It allows these communities to be compared across state lines using consistent measurements like median household income, population size, and socioeconomic conditions.

Using five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, this list identifies the poorest town in each state among communities with populations between 1,000 and 25,000 people. The ranking is based on median household income and highlights how large the gap can be between some small towns and their state as a whole. The ACS is one of the most detailed public sources for tracking economic, housing, social, and demographic trends across American communities.

• Household income (median): $20,542 (Alabama: $59,609)
• Poverty rate: 43.8% (Alabama: 15.7%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 5.5% (Alabama: 27.2%)
• Home value (median): $65,400 (Alabama: $179,400)
• Population: 1,734

• Household income (median): $38,323 (Alaska: $86,370)
• Poverty rate: 15.7% (Alaska: 10.5%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 18.7% (Alaska: 30.7%)
• Home value (median): $208,700 (Alaska: $318,000)
• Population: 1,543

• Household income (median): $18,250 (Arizona: $72,581)
• Poverty rate: 76.1% (Arizona: 13.1%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 3.1% (Arizona: 31.8%)
• Home value (median): $72,400 (Arizona: $321,400)
• Population: 1,419

• Household income (median): $21,057 (Arkansas: $56,335)
• Poverty rate: 38.6% (Arkansas: 16.2%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 4.9% (Arkansas: 24.7%)
• Home value (median): $76,200 (Arkansas: $162,400)
• Population: 3,575

• Household income (median): $21,651 (California: $91,905)
• Poverty rate: 48.0% (California: 12.1%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 0.5% (California: 35.9%)
• Home value (median): $126,500 (California: $659,300)
• Population: 2,788

• Household income (median): $31,418 (Colorado: $87,598)
• Poverty rate: 46.1% (Colorado: 9.6%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 9.1% (Colorado: 43.7%)
• Home value (median): $101,200 (Colorado: $465,900)
• Population: 3,850

• Household income (median): $31,130 (Connecticut: $90,213)
• Poverty rate: 40.5% (Connecticut: 10.1%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 17.4% (Connecticut: 41.4%)
• Home value (median): $188,900 (Connecticut: $323,700)
• Population: 1,353

• Household income (median): $33,534 (Delaware: $79,325)
• Poverty rate: 19.9% (Delaware: 11.1%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 10.9% (Delaware: 34.5%)
• Home value (median): $151,400 (Delaware: $305,200)
• Population: 1,304

• Household income (median): $23,969 (Florida: $67,917)
• Poverty rate: 62.2% (Florida: 12.9%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 17.0% (Florida: 32.3%)
• Home value (median): $175,200 (Florida: $292,200)
• Population: 4,868

• Household income (median): $18,839 (Georgia: $71,355)
• Poverty rate: 41.6% (Georgia: 13.5%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 11.0% (Georgia: 33.6%)
• Home value (median): $64,800 (Georgia: $245,900)
• Population: 1,014

• Household income (median): $23,750 (Hawaii: $94,814)
• Poverty rate: 36.8% (Hawaii: 9.6%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 29.8% (Hawaii: 34.7%)
• Home value (median): $226,300 (Hawaii: $764,800)
• Population: 1,611

• Household income (median): $34,803 (Idaho: $70,214)
• Poverty rate: 22.6% (Idaho: 11.0%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 13.9% (Idaho: 30.2%)
• Home value (median): $193,200 (Idaho: $331,600)
• Population: 1,210

• Household income (median): $24,491 (Illinois: $78,433)
• Poverty rate: 30.0% (Illinois: 11.8%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 10.6% (Illinois: 36.7%)
• Home value (median): $82,800 (Illinois: $239,100)
• Population: 1,278

• Household income (median): $26,599 (Indiana: $67,173)
• Poverty rate: 51.3% (Indiana: 12.3%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 2.3% (Indiana: 28.2%)
• Home value (median): $84,600 (Indiana: $183,600)
• Population: 1,101

• Household income (median): $41,629 (Iowa: $70,571)
• Poverty rate: 17.5% (Iowa: 11.1%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 13.7% (Iowa: 30.3%)
• Home value (median): $97,000 (Iowa: $181,600)
• Population: 5,934

• Household income (median): $23,750 (Kansas: $69,747)
• Poverty rate: 26.1% (Kansas: 11.6%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 13.4% (Kansas: 34.7%)
• Home value (median): $60,500 (Kansas: $189,300)
• Population: 1,022

• Household income (median): $21,250 (Kentucky: $60,183)
• Poverty rate: 39.6% (Kentucky: 16.1%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 11.1% (Kentucky: 26.5%)
• Home value (median): $97,000 (Kentucky: $177,000)
• Population: 1,218

• Household income (median): $18,790 (Louisiana: $57,852)
• Poverty rate: 49.6% (Louisiana: 18.7%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 8.6% (Louisiana: 26.1%)
• Home value (median): $60,900 (Louisiana: $198,300)
• Population: 1,093

• Household income (median): $25,278 (Maine: $68,251)
• Poverty rate: 36.3% (Maine: 10.9%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 23.0% (Maine: 34.1%)
• Home value (median): $111,800 (Maine: $244,800)
• Population: 1,331

• Household income (median): $28,808 (Maryland: $98,461)
• Poverty rate: 33.6% (Maryland: 9.3%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 10.2% (Maryland: 42.2%)
• Home value (median): N/A (Maryland: $380,500)
• Population: 1,008

• Household income (median): $44,107 (Massachusetts: $96,505)
• Poverty rate: 15.4% (Massachusetts: 9.9%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 18.8% (Massachusetts: 45.9%)
• Home value (median): $201,100 (Massachusetts: $483,900)
• Population: 6,253

• Household income (median): $25,587 (Michigan: $68,505)
• Poverty rate: 39.2% (Michigan: 13.1%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 10.8% (Michigan: 31.1%)
• Home value (median): $94,000 (Michigan: $201,100)
• Population: 1,030

• Household income (median): $37,177 (Minnesota: $84,313)
• Poverty rate: 20.5% (Minnesota: 9.3%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 22.2% (Minnesota: 38.2%)
• Home value (median): $166,900 (Minnesota: $286,800)
• Population: 2,153

• Household income (median): $17,940 (Mississippi: $52,985)
• Poverty rate: 53.0% (Mississippi: 19.2%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 12.4% (Mississippi: 23.9%)
• Home value (median): $95,300 (Mississippi: $151,000)
• Population: 1,871

• Household income (median): $22,143 (Missouri: $65,920)
• Poverty rate: 41.9% (Missouri: 12.8%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 5.8% (Missouri: 31.2%)
• Home value (median): $107,800 (Missouri: $199,400)
• Population: 1,125

• Household income (median): $25,313 (Montana: $66,341)
• Poverty rate: 20.0% (Montana: 12.4%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 16.3% (Montana: 34.0%)
• Home value (median): $196,000 (Montana: $305,700)
• Population: 1,181

• Household income (median): $40,222 (Nebraska: $71,722)
• Poverty rate: 13.3% (Nebraska: 10.4%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 21.8% (Nebraska: 33.5%)
• Home value (median): $86,900 (Nebraska: $205,600)
• Population: 4,124

• Household income (median): $35,931 (Nevada: $71,646)
• Poverty rate: 20.1% (Nevada: 12.7%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 14.5% (Nevada: 26.5%)
• Home value (median): $163,100 (Nevada: $373,800)
• Population: 1,777

• Household income (median): $40,559 (New Hampshire: $90,845)
• Poverty rate: 32.5% (New Hampshire: 7.3%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 21.6% (New Hampshire: 39.0%)
• Home value (median): $163,600 (New Hampshire: $337,100)
• Population: 1,520

• Household income (median): $29,821 (New Jersey: $97,126)
• Poverty rate: 40.5% (New Jersey: 9.7%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 13.3% (New Jersey: 42.3%)
• Home value (median): $143,400 (New Jersey: $401,400)
• Population: 4,841

• Household income (median): $24,118 (New Mexico: $58,722)
• Poverty rate: 69.8% (New Mexico: 18.3%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 4.4% (New Mexico: 29.1%)
• Home value (median): $9,999 (New Mexico: $216,000)
• Population: 1,081

• Household income (median): $27,488 (New York: $81,386)
• Poverty rate: 64.2% (New York: 13.6%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 2.4% (New York: 38.8%)
• Home value (median): $562,500 (New York: $384,100)
• Population: 9,578

• Household income (median): $16,643 (North Carolina: $66,186)
• Poverty rate: 64.2% (North Carolina: 13.3%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 4.2% (North Carolina: 33.9%)
• Home value (median): $112,500 (North Carolina: $234,900)
• Population: 1,233

• Household income (median): $30,234 (North Dakota: $73,959)
• Poverty rate: 41.7% (North Dakota: 10.8%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 0.0% (North Dakota: 31.4%)
• Home value (median): $36,200 (North Dakota: $232,500)
• Population: 1,042

• Household income (median): $14,676 (Ohio: $66,990)
• Poverty rate: 62.9% (Ohio: 13.3%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 10.2% (Ohio: 30.4%)
• Home value (median): $74,800 (Ohio: $183,300)
• Population: 3,140

• Household income (median): $27,798 (Oklahoma: $61,364)
• Poverty rate: 30.7% (Oklahoma: 15.2%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 14.5% (Oklahoma: 27.3%)
• Home value (median): $85,400 (Oklahoma: $170,500)
• Population: 2,361

• Household income (median): $29,336 (Oregon: $76,632)
• Poverty rate: 31.6% (Oregon: 11.9%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 13.4% (Oregon: 35.5%)
• Home value (median): $192,400 (Oregon: $423,100)
• Population: 3,208

• Household income (median): $27,212 (Pennsylvania: $73,170)
• Poverty rate: 30.9% (Pennsylvania: 11.8%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 11.7% (Pennsylvania: 33.8%)
• Home value (median): $43,800 (Pennsylvania: $226,200)
• Population: 1,814

• Household income (median): $43,092 (Rhode Island: $81,370)
• Poverty rate: 24.4% (Rhode Island: 11.2%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 9.1% (Rhode Island: 36.3%)
• Home value (median): $244,100 (Rhode Island: $343,100)
• Population: 22,359

• Household income (median): $19,770 (South Carolina: $63,623)
• Poverty rate: 38.0% (South Carolina: 14.4%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 11.2% (South Carolina: 30.6%)
• Home value (median): $45,500 (South Carolina: $216,200)
• Population: 1,159

• Household income (median): $18,750 (South Dakota: $69,457)
• Poverty rate: 91.5% (South Dakota: 12.3%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 3.1% (South Dakota: 30.4%)
• Home value (median): N/A (South Dakota: $219,500)
• Population: 1,021

• Household income (median): $23,897 (Tennessee: $64,035)
• Poverty rate: 43.4% (Tennessee: 14.0%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 6.5% (Tennessee: 29.7%)
• Home value (median): $82,300 (Tennessee: $232,100)
• Population: 1,590

• Household income (median): $18,289 (Texas: $73,035)
• Poverty rate: 56.4% (Texas: 13.9%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 3.6% (Texas: 32.3%)
• Home value (median): $28,700 (Texas: $238,000)
• Population: 1,099

• Household income (median): $41,780 (Utah: $86,833)
• Poverty rate: 33.5% (Utah: 8.5%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 14.9% (Utah: 36.1%)
• Home value (median): $204,600 (Utah: $408,500)
• Population: 1,070

• Household income (median): $40,446 (Vermont: $74,014)
• Poverty rate: 21.2% (Vermont: 10.4%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 27.6% (Vermont: 41.7%)
• Home value (median): $210,900 (Vermont: $272,400)
• Population: 2,817

• Household income (median): $16,830 (Virginia: $87,249)
• Poverty rate: 55.7% (Virginia: 10.0%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 12.7% (Virginia: 41.0%)
• Home value (median): $113,900 (Virginia: $339,800)
• Population: 1,259

• Household income (median): $34,750 (Washington: $90,325)
• Poverty rate: 32.7% (Washington: 9.9%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 8.7% (Washington: 38.0%)
• Home value (median): $160,900 (Washington: $473,400)
• Population: 1,753

• Household income (median): $23,173 (West Virginia: $55,217)
• Poverty rate: 32.0% (West Virginia: 16.8%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 12.2% (West Virginia: 22.7%)
• Home value (median): $96,900 (West Virginia: $145,800)
• Population: 3,035

• Household income (median): $29,375 (Wisconsin: $72,458)
• Poverty rate: 35.2% (Wisconsin: 10.7%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 13.6% (Wisconsin: 32.0%)
• Home value (median): $89,000 (Wisconsin: $231,400)
• Population: 1,755

• Household income (median): $40,000 (Wyoming: $72,495)
• Poverty rate: 27.1% (Wyoming: 10.7%)
• Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher: 10.1% (Wyoming: 29.0%)
• Home value (median): $160,700 (Wyoming: $269,900)
• Population: 1,481