List of lowest-income places in the United States
This is a list of lowest-income places in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, the following are the places in the United States with the lowest median household income. Locations with populations from the 2013—2017 American Community Survey are ranked by median household income — the median household income figures are also from the 2013—2017 American Community Survey.[1] The "places" used in this article are what the U.S. Census Bureau defines as "places" (such as Census-Designated Places, or CDPs). In the United States (in 2017), the place with the lowest median household income was Little River, California (population 117), while the place with the lowest median household income with a population of more than 1,000 was Comerío Zona Urbana in Comerío, Puerto Rico (population 4,312).[1][note 2]
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In terms of geographic size, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and the adjacent Rosebud Indian Reservation (Lakota Sioux Reservations, South Dakota) have long been among the lowest income areas in the United States — Wounded Knee, South Dakota, which is within the Pine Ridge Reservation, had the 7th lowest median household income out of all places in the 50 states/D.C./Puerto Rico (in 2017).[1]
In terms of population size, 3 out of 5 of the largest counties (populations over 1000) are predominantly, or majority white, ranging from 98% to 99% white, while two counties are predominantly black at 60% and 68% black, while the fifth one is 99% Native American.
The U.S. territories have the highest poverty rates in the United States (higher than the poverty rates of the U.S. mainland), and many of the lowest-income places in the United States are found in the U.S. territories (such as Puerto Rico and American Samoa).[2][3] In 2017, Adjuntas, Puerto Rico had a median household income of $11,680 — the lowest of any county or county-equivalent in the United States.[4]
Places (2013—2017 American Community Survey)
The data below is for annual median household income in the 50 states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico — the data is based on 2013–2017 American Community Survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau; populations are also from the 2013–2017 American Community Survey.[1][note 3] Places with a population of over 1,000 are shown in bold.
Most of the lowest-income places with more than 1,000 people are located in Puerto Rico. Places in Puerto Rico such as zona urbanas and comunidads are Census-Designated Places. Locations in the U.S. territories (other than Puerto Rico) are included, but are not ranked because they have 2010 data.[5] Data is collected annually for the 50 states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico (in American Community Survey estimates), but data is not collected annually in other U.S. territories.
For comparison, in 2017 the median household income of the United States (excluding the U.S. territories) was $57,652.[6]
Other places
Other places (in the 50 states) that had a low median household income and a population greater than 1,000 (in 2017):[1]
- Batesville CDP, Texas - $13,697 (Population 1,163)
- Uniontown, Alabama - $14,094 (Population 2,234)
- Citrus City CDP, Texas - $14,113 (Population 2,843)
- Tchula, Mississippi - $14,412 (Population 1,845)
- Baldwin, Michigan - $14,464 (Population 1,310)
- Franklin, Georgia - $15,313 (Population 1,050)
- Notre Dame CDP, Indiana - $15,625 (Population 6,720)
- Highland Park, Michigan - $15,699 (Population 10,955)
- Warrenton, Georgia - $15,781 (Population 1,994)
Other places in the U.S. territories (excluding Puerto Rico) with a low median household income in 2010:[5]
- Failolo, American Samoa - $13,750 (Population 108)
- Chalan Kanoa III, Northern Mariana Islands - $14,141 (Population 794)
- Chalan Kanoa IV, Northern Mariana Islands - $14,250 (Population 631)
- Chalan Piao, Northern Mariana Islands - $14,286 (Population 1,282)
- Chalan Kanoa II, Northern Mariana Islands - $14,293 (Population 921)
- Afetnas, Northern Mariana Islands - $14,549 (Population 1,486)
- San Jose (Oleai), Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands - $14,783 (Population 954)
- Garapan, Northern Mariana Islands - $14,940 (Population 3,983)
- Chalan Kanoa I, Northern Mariana Islands - $15,156 (Population 1,304)
- Maia, American Samoa - $15,625 (Population 153)
Large cities with a high percentage of low income residents
For the survey, a large city is defined as a city with a population of 250,000 or more. Percentage of residents living below the U.S. government established poverty income level is listed, based on 2012 US Census estimates.[8]
- Detroit, Michigan 42.3%
- Cleveland, Ohio 36.1%
- Cincinnati, Ohio 34.1%
- Miami, Florida 31.7%
- Fresno, California 31.5%
- Buffalo, New York 30.9%
- Newark, New Jersey 30.4%
- Toledo, Ohio 30.1%
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin 29.9%
- St. Louis, Missouri 29.2%
2000 census
The most sizable community in 2000 (with a population of 13,138) was Kiryas Joel, New York which had a per capita income of just $4,355.
See also
Notes
- "United States" in this case means the 50 states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico — other U.S. territories are not included in the ACS program
- These figures are out of all places in the 50 states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico — other U.S. territories are not included in the American Community Survey.
- Data for American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands is from 2010. Because they are from 2010, they are not ranked.
- 2010 U.S. Census for American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands — places in these territories are not ranked
References
- https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_17_5YR_S1901&prodType=table Archived 2020-02-14 at Archive.today U.S. Census Bureau. American FactFinder. Income in the past 12 months (in 2017 inflation-adjusted dollars). 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. ["Geography" set to "All Places within United States and Puerto Rico".] Retrieved August 27, 2019.
- http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10240r.pdf ‘’Poverty Determination In U.S. Insular Areas.’’ Retrieved June 29, 2019.
- Sagapolutele, Fili (March 2, 2017). "American Samoa Governor Says Small Economies 'Cannot Afford Any Reduction In Medicaid' | Pacific Islands Report". www.pireport.org. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
- https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_17_5YR_S1901&prodType=table Archived 2020-02-14 at Archive.today American FactFinder (U.S. Census) — “Income in the past 12 months (in 2017 inflation-adjusted dollars). 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. [Geography set to “Adjuntas, Puerto Rico”]
- American FactFinder. Income (2010): American Samoa / Guam / Northern Mariana Islands / United States Virgin Islands. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
- https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_17_5YR_S1901&prodType=table Archived 2020-02-14 at Archive.today American FactFinder. Income in the past 12 months (in 2017 inflation-adjusted dollars). 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
- https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_17_5YR_DP05&prodType=table Archived 2020-02-14 at Archive.today U.S. Census Bureau. American FactFinder - 2013-2017 American Community Survey estimates. (To see population of an individual place, select it as a "geography"). Retrieved August 27, 2019.
- "Poverty Rates Remain Stubbornly High in Big Cities". www.governing.com. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
Bibliography
- Statistics derived from U.S. Census Bureau data; U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Survey of Current Business; and DataQuick Information Systems, a public records database company located in La Jolla, San Diego, CA.