The 15 Poorest Cities in America

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There are huge disparities between cities in America. Some are doing much better financially than others. Many cities today are struggling economically and coming up short in a few areas.

According to the U.S. Census, in 2022, 11.5% of the U.S. population lived in poverty.

Cassandra Happe, a WalletHub analyst, said, “When most people hear the word ‘needy,’ they immediately think about physical needs like food, healthcare, and shelter. Many other factors that can contribute to a city’s neediness aren’t immediately obvious. Cities also need to address problems like school dropout rates, lack of access to quality internet, overcrowding in housing units, poor mental health, and more.”

 

WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities based on 28 key indicators of economic disadvantage, such as child poverty, food insecurity, and uninsured rates.

Detroit, MI

Detroit, Michigan, USA downtown skyline from above at dusk.
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.

Since the departure of so much of the country’s automotive manufacturing, Detroit, MI, has been in decline. It’s now the poorest city in the country, with the most people in need, the worst economic situation, and one of the country’s lowest ratings of health and safety.

 

Brownsville, TX

USA, Texas, Brownsville. Resacas are former channels of the Rio Grande. They provide habitat for variety of birds, reptiles, mammals.
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Like a lot of border towns, Brownsville, TX, is economically disadvantaged. With so many resources needed near the border, it’s no wonder that the city ranks so poorly among U.S. cities.

 

Gulfport, MS

Gulfport, Mississippi
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Sitting right on the Gulf of Mexico, Gulfport has a lot going for it. However, it also has a high rate of poverty. Among the residents of Gulfport, more than 25% live in poverty right now.

 

Cleveland, OH

Cleveland, Ohio, USA downtown city skyline on the Cuyahoga River at twilight.
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.

Cleveland has a lot to see and do, but it’s also financially struggling. The city ranks low in health and safety, and there is a lot of poverty in the city. It’s a difficult place to live for many people.

 

Laredo, TX

Cathedral of San Agustin on the Plaza in Laredo, Texas.
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Another border town, Laredo, TX, is a place that doesn’t have many resources for residents. About 22.4% of the Laredo population is living in poverty.

 

Jackson, MS

Jackson, Mississippi, USA skyline over the Capitol Building.
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.

Jackson, MS, suffers from much of what the rest of the state does- there just isn’t much there. There aren’t any major draws job-wise, and the population is highly rural.

 

Corpus Christi, TX

Corpus Christi Texas Skyline view of City harbor bridge in background with many rows of piers filled with boats and sailboats and yachts across the summer vacation landmark getaway
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Corpus Christi is another Texas town that isn’t fairing well. However, the city does have above-average schools and many things to do.

 

Little Rock, AR

Little Rock, Arkansas, USA skyline on the river at twilight.
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The high crime rate and few resources available in Little Rock have led to many people fleeing the city. With a higher-than-average poverty rate, it isn’t getting any better at the moment.

 

Augusta, GA

Augusta, Georgia, USA downtown skyline on the Savannah River.
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In Augusta, GA, about 15% of the population is below the poverty line. While the city is scenic and has many amenities, the poverty rate is among the country’s highest.

 

Fresno, CA

Aerial view of downtown Fresno, California, USA.
Image Credit: Matt Gush/Shutterstock.

There are a lot of smaller cities in California that aren’t doing well. The burden of an influx of immigrants has strained resources, and more than 20% of people in the city are below the poverty line.

 

New Orleans, LA

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA street cars.
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.

New Orleans gets a high number of tourists and tourist dollars, but much of the population lives in poverty. About 23% of this lively city’s residents live in poverty.

 

Fort Smith, AR

Fort Smith, Arkansas, USA - October 15, 2022: The old Immaculate Conception Church.
Image Credit: Roberto Galan/Shutterstock.

There isn’t much around Fort Smith, and there aren’t a lot of jobs. The city suffers from being highly rural and having about 20% of the people there under the poverty line.

 

Birmingham, AL

Birmingham, Alabama, USA - September 9, 2023: An exterior photo of the 1912 John A. Hand Building in Birmingham, Alabama, also known as the American Trust and Savings Bank Building.
Image Credit: Rustboi/Shutterstock.

This city once had a booming steel industry that kept the city booming. With much of that industry now gone, the city has suffered ever since.

 

Shreveport, LA

Shreveport, Louisiana, USA downtown skyline on the Red River.
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.

More than 21% of the residents in Shreveport, LA, are living in poverty. The state of Louisiana has been economically depressed for a long time, and many cities like Shreveport have suffered because of it.

 

Los Angeles, CA

Cloudy day of Los Angeles downtown skyline and palm trees in foreground.
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With the largest homeless population in the country, Los Angeles has a lot of people in poverty. The cost of living has skyrocketed in L.A., making it harder for people to get by.

The 21 Worst Run Cities in America

man with a beard with American flag.
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Finding the right place to live is challenging for most Americans, with an estimated 28 million people moving in 2021 alone. When looking to settle down, people look for areas with great jobs, fun things to do, accessible public transport, and safe places to raise a family.

Across the country, there are great cities and horrible cities, with the ones on this list the worst run in America.

The 21 Worst Run Cities in America 

The 11 Most Dishonest Cities in America

Outdoors portrait of middle age man at the spring, summer or autumn day.
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Picture this: you find a stack of cash. Do you pocket the unexpected windfall, or do you take the noble route and hand it in to the police?

In this scenario, a significant 47% of Americans admit they would keep the found money, assuming no one saw their stroke of luck. Interestingly, gender doesn’t play a big role, with both women (47.4%) and men (46.6%) expressing similar inclinations to be tempted by the cash.

The 11 Most Dishonest Cities in America

The 15 Countries That Have More Filthy Rich People Than Others

Cute young brunette girl in sunglasses walks along the Los Angeles waterfront with palm trees and streets on a summer day.
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There are rich people around the world, but there are some areas that have more wealthy residents than others. When looking at how many millionaires there are in each country, it isn’t even remotely even.

There are major wealth centers in certain countries that represent far more wealth than exists in other areas. It’s amazing how many millionaires there are; this is where they’re located.

The 15 Countries That Have More Filthy Rich People Than Others

The 15 States Bursting at the Seams With People

Farming and cultivations in Latin America. Portrait of middle aged hispanic farmer sitting proud in his tractor at sunset, holding the steering wheel. He looks at the camera and smiles happy.
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Some states have a high population density and many population centers. Others are mostly rural and may have little population. The difference between the top and bottom states in terms of population is enormous.

According to World Population Review, these are the top 15 states for population.

The 15 States Bursting at the Seams With People

15 Countries That You Will Probably Regret Traveling To

 

Portrait of confident young black woman looking serious at camera. Independent african american female on the city background.
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There are some countries where the majority of visitors love their experience. However, there are other countries that people come back from and never recommend to anyone. These countries often have circumstances that make the trip miserable so that visitors can’t wait to leave and go home.

15 Countries That You Will Probably Regret Traveling To

 

 

Author: Lizz Shepherd

Bio:

Lizz Shepherd is a freelance writer living in Alabama.