Which city is the poorest in America?

There isn't one single "poorest city" as it depends on metrics and city size, but Houston, TX, often ranks as the poorest among the largest U.S. cities by poverty rate (around 21.2%), while cities like Detroit, MI, Cleveland, OH, and Dayton, OH frequently appear at the top of lists for overall poverty, low median income, and high unemployment due to deindustrialization. For smaller cities, places like Reading, PA and towns in regions like the Mississippi Delta also face severe poverty challenges.


Which is the poorest city in the United States?

There isn't one single "poorest city" as it depends on the metric (income, poverty rate, population size), but Detroit, Michigan, consistently ranks among the poorest due to high poverty and unemployment following deindustrialization, while Gainesville, Florida, sometimes tops lists for overall poverty rates in smaller cities, and Houston, Texas, recently had the highest poverty rate among America's largest cities, notes. Other cities frequently cited for high poverty include Cleveland, Dayton (OH), Jackson (MS), and Springfield (MA).
 

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 are the 10 poorest states in America?

The 10 poorest states in America, typically ranked by low median household income or high poverty rates, consistently include Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas, Alabama, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and South Carolina, with slight variations in order depending on the specific year and data source, but Mississippi often leads as the poorest. 

What is the poorest district in America?

The poorest congressional district in the U.S. is consistently identified as New York's 15th Congressional District (NY-15), which covers parts of the Bronx, with a very high percentage (over 36%) of its constituents living below the poverty line, making it the most impoverished district in the nation. While the exact data can vary slightly by year and source, this district, represented by Ritchie Torres, consistently ranks as the nation's poorest by measures like median household income and poverty rates. 


I Investigated the Poorest Town in America…



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 richest in the USA?

The richest state in the U.S. depends on the metric, but Massachusetts, Maryland, and New Jersey consistently rank at the top for median household income, while the District of Columbia (though not a state) leads in Per Capita Personal Income (PCPI), with Massachusetts and Connecticut close behind. Other contenders for wealth include Washington, California, and Hawaii, often leading in GDP or holding high income rankings.
 

Which US 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.
 


Which state is the most poor state?

Mississippi is consistently ranked as the poorest U.S. state, often leading in poverty rates, low median household income, and high child poverty, with other states like Louisiana, New Mexico, West Virginia, and Arkansas frequently appearing in the bottom rankings due to similar economic challenges. These states struggle with various factors, including lower wages, limited job opportunities, and disparities in education and healthcare access, despite some recent efforts to improve.
 

What is America's poorest region?

America's poorest region is often identified as Appalachia, particularly its central parts in states like West Virginia, Kentucky, and Mississippi, characterized by deep rural poverty, high unemployment from coal industry decline, isolation, and limited opportunities, though specific poorest counties (like McDowell County, WV) and even large cities (like Houston, TX by some metrics) face intense poverty. 

Which state leads in poverty?

Mississippi consistently ranks as the state with the highest poverty rate in the U.S., often followed closely by Louisiana, New Mexico, West Virginia, and Kentucky, with the highest rates typically concentrated in Southern and Southwestern states according to U.S. News & World Report, USAFacts, Visual Capitalist, and World Population Review sources. These figures are based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, though California sometimes leads when accounting for cost of living adjustments (Supplemental Poverty Measure). 


What is the least richest state?

In contrast, states such as Mississippi and West Virginia are typically recognized as having lower median incomes, which can result in more affordable housing options but may also reflect limited economic opportunities.

Is South Carolina a poor state?

Yes, South Carolina is often considered a poor state, consistently ranking low nationally in metrics like personal income, poverty rates (around 13-16% in recent years, above the U.S. average), and financial stability, driven by factors such as low salaries, high housing cost burdens for the poor, and limited access to affordable childcare, though it has competitive aspects for business and economic growth. 

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 is the poorest city in the US in 2025?

Detroit, Michigan, consistently ranks as one of the poorest major U.S. cities in 2025, often followed by industrial cities like Cleveland (OH), Dayton (OH), Flint (MI), and Gary (IN), along with cities like Hartford (CT), Jackson (MS), Birmingham (AL), and Rochester (NY), facing challenges from deindustrialization, job losses, and population decline, with significant poverty rates in specific areas. 

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.

Which state is very 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.
 


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 is the poorest white state?

Even though West Virginia has the highest white poverty level, Hawaii has the lowest white poverty level. The white poverty level of Hawaii is approximately 2.3 percent. Different races and ethnicities have different levels of poverty.

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. 


Is $40,000 a year considered poor?

A $40,000 salary is classified as lower-middle class, which is defined as households that earn between $30,001 and $58,020 a year.

What is the richest state in the US?

The richest U.S. state depends on the metric, but Massachusetts often leads in income (median household, per capita) due to its tech/finance/biotech sectors, while California boasts the largest total economy (GDP) and most millionaires, and Washington and New York also rank high in various wealth indicators like GDP per capita, fueled by tech and finance. 

What state has no billionaires?

As of recent reports (2024-2025), the U.S. states with no billionaire residents are Alaska, Delaware, and West Virginia, though this list can fluctuate slightly, with New Hampshire, New Mexico, and North Dakota sometimes mentioned as having zero or very few, depending on the source. 


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.
 

Where do most billionaires live in the USA?

New York City, New York. New York remains unmatched as the wealthiest city in America in 2025. As the country's financial capital, it houses more millionaires and billionaires than any other U.S. city.