What's the poorest state in the US?

Mississippi is consistently ranked as the poorest state in the U.S., often having the highest poverty rate and the lowest median household income, followed closely by states like Louisiana, New Mexico, and West Virginia, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and various financial reports.

What are the 10 poorest US states?

The 10 poorest states in the U.S., based on recent data for low median household income and high poverty rates, consistently include Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia, Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and South Carolina, with Mississippi often ranking lowest due to high poverty rates and income inequality. These states generally face economic challenges like low wages, lack of opportunity, and poverty, with specific figures varying slightly by report year.
 

What state is #1 in poverty?

Mississippi consistently ranks as the U.S. state with the highest poverty rate, often followed closely by states like Louisiana, New Mexico, West Virginia, and Kentucky, though rankings shift slightly by year and data source (Official vs. Supplemental Poverty Measure). Mississippi struggles with low median incomes, low educational attainment, and high rates of child poverty, making it the poorest state by several metrics, according to World Population Review and other sources.
 

Where is the poorest place in America?

The poorest places in America are often found in the South, with Mississippi frequently cited as the poorest state by median income and poverty rate, followed closely by Louisiana, New Mexico, West Virginia, and Kentucky, all experiencing high levels of economic hardship, particularly in rural areas like Appalachia and certain Native American communities. Specific counties and cities within these states, such as those in Appalachia (McDowell County, WV) or parts of Puerto Rico (Comerío), show extreme poverty, often linked to lack of jobs and historical underinvestment.
 

What is the richest state vs. poorest state?

The states with the highest median household income are Maryland, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. The states with the lowest median household income are Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arkansas.

Top 10 States with Highest Poverty In America [Poorest States 2023]

What state has no billionaires?

As of 2024, there are 756 billionaires living in 43 of the 50 US states or Washington, D.C. The only states with no billionaire residents are Alaska, Delaware, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, and West Virginia.

What is the wealthiest state in the US?

Massachusetts is generally considered the wealthiest U.S. state, leading in median household income with figures around $104,000-$106,000, driven by high-paying sectors like tech, biotech, and education, though it also has a high cost of living. New Jersey, Maryland, and Utah consistently rank high as well, while states like California, Washington, and New Hampshire also boast significant wealth. 

What is America's poorest big city?

Based on recent U.S. Census data from late 2024/early 2025, Houston, Texas, has become the poorest big city in America, surpassing Philadelphia, with over 21% of its residents living below the poverty line, a significant increase from previous years. Philadelphia, once holding the title, saw its poverty rate drop below 20%, while factors like low-wage jobs and immigrant influx contribute to Houston's situation.
 

Which U.S. state makes the least money?

The lowest income states in the U.S., based on recent median household income data, consistently include Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana, and Arkansas, with Mississippi often having the absolute lowest income and highest poverty rate, followed by states like Kentucky, Alabama, and New Mexico, reflecting ongoing economic challenges and lower opportunities in the South and Appalachia.
 

What country is #1 in poverty?

1. South Sudan. With 82.3% of its population living in extreme poverty, South Sudan stands at the tragic forefront of this global crisis. The nation has been plagued by years of civil war and political turmoil, which have left its economy in shambles.

Is $40,000 a year considered poverty?

Whether $40,000 a year is considered poverty depends heavily on your household size and location, but generally, it's well above the official poverty line for individuals and small families but can feel like poverty in high-cost areas or for larger families, as it's often considered lower-middle class, not poverty. For a single person in the contiguous U.S. in 2025, the poverty guideline is about $15,650; for a family of four, it's around $32,150, meaning $40k is above poverty, but proximity to the poverty line for larger families or high-cost states (AK/HI) makes it much tighter, with some federal programs using 130-200% of FPL to define "low income". 

Is Tennessee a poor state?

Tennessee isn't one of the absolute poorest states but struggles significantly with poverty, ranking near the bottom nationally for helping families escape hardship, experiencing lower wages, higher debt, and worse health outcomes, with a notable portion of residents living below the poverty line or as "ALICE" (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) struggling to afford basics. While its economy has grown, many citizens face financial insecurity, making it one of the states with high poverty rates, often grouped with Mississippi, West Virginia, and Kentucky.
 

Why is Mississippi the poorest state?

Mississippi's poverty stems from a deeply rooted agricultural past, particularly slavery, which stifled industrialization and infrastructure, combined with ongoing challenges like low wages, underfunded education, poor healthcare access, brain drain, systemic racial barriers, and political factors that hinder economic development, creating a cycle of limited opportunities despite some recent improvements in education.
 

Where do poor people live in the USA?

Those with the most severe poverty are found in poor areas of the Southeast, including the Mississippi Delta and Appalachia, as well as on Native American lands. Pockets of high poverty are increasingly found in other regions, such as nonmetro areas of the Southwest and northern sections of the Midwest.

Which state is very poor in the USA?

Mississippi, New Mexico, West Virginia, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Arkansas consistently rank among the poorest U.S. states, often cited due to high poverty rates, low median incomes, and economic challenges, though California also faces high poverty according to some measures. These states often struggle with factors like lower economic opportunity, impacting overall quality of life despite varying costs of living.
 

What is the richest state in the US in 2025?

California is generally considered the richest state in America for 2025 by overall economic size (GDP), while states like Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, and Washington often lead in per capita wealth or median household income, showing different measures of wealth. California boasts the largest GDP and most billionaires, driven by tech and finance, but New York, Texas, and Florida also contribute heavily to the U.S. economy, according to data from late 2025 Visual Capitalist and analysis from U.S. News & World Report.
 

Where is the cheapest state to live?

The cheapest states to live in, based on overall cost of living, consistently include Mississippi, West Virginia, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Alabama, with housing, groceries, and utilities being significantly lower than the national average, though wages might also be lower. Mississippi often ranks #1 due to very low housing costs, while West Virginia excels in overall affordability, especially housing. 

Where do 75% of the world's poorest people live?

The majority of the world's extreme poor live in sub-Saharan Africa, followed by South Asia.

Why are people moving out of Philly?

People are leaving Philadelphia due to a combination of factors, primarily job opportunities, crime/safety concerns, cost of living, and issues with schools, with different demographics citing different priorities, though employment and safety are consistently top reasons for those leaving the city. Young professionals often seek better career growth, while families prioritize better schools and lower crime rates, often moving to nearby suburbs with higher-quality public education and lower taxes like the city wage tax. 

What is the poorest city on Earth?

There isn't one single "poorest city" universally agreed upon, as poverty is complex, but Monrovia, Liberia, often cited by sources like The Guardian and smapse.com, stands out due to civil war devastation, lack of basic services (water, power, sanitation), and ongoing challenges. Other cities facing extreme poverty due to conflict, instability, or climate crises include locations in the Sahel region (like Timbuktu, Mali), Harare, Zimbabwe, and cities in South Sudan, which is also ranked as the poorest country by some metrics.
 

What are the top 5 poorest states?

The top 5 poorest U.S. states, based on recent data for low median household income and high poverty rates, consistently include Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Kentucky, with New Mexico, Alabama, and South Carolina also frequently appearing at the bottom of economic rankings. Mississippi generally ranks as the poorest, followed by West Virginia, with these states often struggling with low wages, high poverty, and income inequality.
 

What state has the most billionaires?

California consistently has the most billionaires, leading by a significant margin, followed by New York and Florida, with Texas also having a high concentration; these four states together host a large majority of the U.S.'s ultra-wealthy residents.
 

Which U.S. state is growing the fastest?

Florida and Texas consistently rank as the fastest-growing states in the U.S. by population, especially in recent years (2023-2024), driven by significant net migration and immigration, though Utah and Idaho often lead in percentage growth over longer periods, fueled by natural increases and migration. Recent data highlights Florida's top spot in overall numeric growth and high percentage gains, with Texas close behind, while Utah remains a leader in long-term percentage growth.
 

Which state is so rich?

There isn't one single "richest" state, as it depends on the metric, but Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, and California consistently rank among the wealthiest by factors like per capita income, household net worth, and GDP, with Massachusetts often leading in per capita income and California having the largest overall economy.