Economic Hardship Across America: The Poorest Major Cities in Every State

While media coverage often highlights the wealthiest and most prosperous urban centers, the economic reality for many American communities tells a different story. Every state has at least one major city where residents face considerable financial strain, with household incomes significantly below state averages and poverty rates well above the national threshold.

To identify the economically most challenged big city in every state, we analyzed comprehensive Census Bureau data examining median household income, per capita earnings, and poverty rate statistics from the American Community Survey (data current as of June 4, 2024).

The Widest Economic Gaps: Cities With Severe Income Challenges

Several major metropolitan areas stand out for particularly stark economic conditions. Canton, Ohio represents one of the nation’s most economically struggling large cities, with a median household income of just $37,627 and 30.24% of its 70,589 residents living below the poverty line. Reading, Pennsylvania follows closely, where the 94,601-person population earns a median of $42,852 annually while 28.61% face poverty conditions.

The South shows persistent economic headwinds as well. Greenville, Mississippi (population 29,495) reports the highest poverty concentration on this analysis, with 32.20% below poverty level, though its smaller size limits median household income impact—just $35,148. Birmingham, Alabama (200,431 residents) presents a sobering picture of a major city struggling economically, with 26.09% poverty prevalence and $42,464 median household income.

Regional Economic Disparities: State-by-State Breakdown

Moderate Economic Challenges characterize many mid-sized cities across the country. Springfield, Missouri (168,873 population) shows 20.32% poverty with $43,450 median income. El Paso, Texas, the nation’s sixth-largest city analyzed, reaches 677,181 residents but maintains an 18.94% poverty rate and $55,710 median household income. Hialeah, Florida (222,996 people) reports 17.81% in poverty earning $49,531 median annual income.

In the upper Midwest, cities like Lafayette, Indiana (70,828 residents, $50,674 income, 16.47% poverty) and Springfield, Oregon (61,740 people, $60,982 income, 16.41% poverty) demonstrate how economic strain affects communities across diverse regions.

Emerging Economic Stress appears in cities with more modest poverty rates but still-depressed incomes. Council Bluffs, Iowa (62,670 population) shows 13.59% poverty with $61,181 median earnings. Lynn, Massachusetts (100,653 residents) reflects 14.08% poverty despite northeastern location, earning $70,046 median income.

Geographic Patterns in Economic Hardship

Certain states cluster toward more favorable economic conditions even in their “poorest” cities. Surprise, Arizona (145,591 residents) ranks as that state’s most economically challenged while maintaining $87,756 median income—among the highest on this national review. Kahului, Hawaii and Glen Burnie, Maryland similarly show relatively strong income levels despite ranking lowest within their states.

Conversely, regions facing deeper structural economic challenges show major cities where poverty concentration dramatically exceeds national averages. South Fulton, Georgia, Concord, North Carolina, and Cheektowaga, New York represent exceptions where economically challenged designations arrive with comparatively lower poverty rates and stronger median incomes.

The Poorest City Data Across All 50 States

Alabama: Birmingham — Population 200,431 | Median Income: $42,464 | Poverty Rate: 26.09%

Alaska: Fairbanks — Population 32,496 | Median Income: $69,914 | Poverty Rate: 9.67%

Arizona: Surprise — Population 145,591 | Median Income: $87,756 | Poverty Rate: 6.79%

Arkansas: Pine Bluff — Population 41,172 | Median Income: $39,411 | Poverty Rate: 24.88%

California: Anaheim — Population 347,111 | Median Income: $88,538 | Poverty Rate: 12.62%

Colorado: Pueblo — Population 111,430 | Median Income: $52,794 | Poverty Rate: 20.60%

Connecticut: New Britain — Population 74,212 | Median Income: $53,766 | Poverty Rate: 19.70%

Delaware: Smyrna — Population 12,870 | Median Income: $68,260 | Poverty Rate: 9.99%

Florida: Hialeah — Population 222,996 | Median Income: $49,531 | Poverty Rate: 17.81%

Georgia: South Fulton — Population 107,865 | Median Income: $77,488 | Poverty Rate: 9.37%

Hawaii: Kahului — Population 27,233 | Median Income: $94,712 | Poverty Rate: 8.72%

Idaho: Caldwell — Population 61,212 | Median Income: $65,259 | Poverty Rate: 12.63%

Illinois: Waukegan — Population 89,435 | Median Income: $66,077 | Poverty Rate: 15.00%

Indiana: Lafayette — Population 70,828 | Median Income: $50,674 | Poverty Rate: 16.47%

Iowa: Council Bluffs — Population 62,670 | Median Income: $61,181 | Poverty Rate: 13.59%

Kansas: Salina — Population 46,734 | Median Income: $56,945 | Poverty Rate: 12.67%

Kentucky: Richmond — Population 34,883 | Median Income: $45,457 | Poverty Rate: 22.23%

Louisiana: Bossier City — Population 62,971 | Median Income: $54,100 | Poverty Rate: 20.36%

Maine: Lewiston — Population 37,577 | Median Income: $54,317 | Poverty Rate: 17.83%

Maryland: Glen Burnie — Population 71,427 | Median Income: $86,283 | Poverty Rate: 8.16%

Massachusetts: Lynn — Population 100,653 | Median Income: $70,046 | Poverty Rate: 14.08%

Michigan: Warren — Population 138,588 | Median Income: $61,633 | Poverty Rate: 13.52%

Minnesota: Brooklyn Park — Population 84,951 | Median Income: $82,271 | Poverty Rate: 8.88%

Mississippi: Greenville — Population 29,495 | Median Income: $35,148 | Poverty Rate: 32.20%

Missouri: Springfield — Population 168,873 | Median Income: $43,450 | Poverty Rate: 20.32%

Montana: Kalispell — Population 25,473 | Median Income: $57,123 | Poverty Rate: 10.37%

Nebraska: Fremont — Population 27,230 | Median Income: $62,226 | Poverty Rate: 9.52%

Nevada: Sunrise Manor — Population 198,325 | Median Income: $52,476 | Poverty Rate: 21.82%

New Hampshire: Laconia — Population 16,898 | Median Income: $67,856 | Poverty Rate: 10.20%

New Jersey: Elizabeth — Population 135,665 | Median Income: $59,939 | Poverty Rate: 15.35%

New Mexico: South Valley — Population 37,601 | Median Income: $44,670 | Poverty Rate: 21.01%

New York: Cheektowaga — Population 76,483 | Median Income: $64,066 | Poverty Rate: 8.80%

North Carolina: Concord — Population 105,335 | Median Income: $83,480 | Poverty Rate: 7.52%

North Dakota: Jamestown — Population 15,850 | Median Income: $53,389 | Poverty Rate: 14.89%

Ohio: Canton — Population 70,589 | Median Income: $37,627 | Poverty Rate: 30.24%

Oklahoma: Lawton — Population 91,023 | Median Income: $51,561 | Poverty Rate: 19.40%

Oregon: Springfield — Population 61,740 | Median Income: $60,982 | Poverty Rate: 16.41%

Pennsylvania: Reading — Population 94,601 | Median Income: $42,852 | Poverty Rate: 28.61%

Rhode Island: Central Falls — Population 22,359 | Median Income: $43,092 | Poverty Rate: 24.43%

South Carolina: Sumter — Population 43,046 | Median Income: $48,900 | Poverty Rate: 17.50%

South Dakota: Huron — Population 14,179 | Median Income: $57,702 | Poverty Rate: 11.08%

Tennessee: Clarksville — Population 167,882 | Median Income: $62,688 | Poverty Rate: 12.88%

Texas: El Paso — Population 677,181 | Median Income: $55,710 | Poverty Rate: 18.94%

Utah: Ogden — Population 86,754 | Median Income: $66,226 | Poverty Rate: 12.12%

Vermont: Bennington — Population 8,753 | Median Income: $51,221 | Poverty Rate: 14.96%

Virginia: Roanoke — Population 99,213 | Median Income: $51,523 | Poverty Rate: 19.11%

Washington: Vancouver — Population 190,700 | Median Income: $73,626 | Poverty Rate: 12.33%

West Virginia: Wheeling — Population 26,900 | Median Income: $46,516 | Poverty Rate: 18.25%

Wisconsin: Janesville — Population 65,669 | Median Income: $68,610 | Poverty Rate: 9.87%

Wyoming: Riverton — Population 10,733 | Median Income: $50,861 | Poverty Rate: 14.48%

Understanding Economic Inequality

What emerges from analyzing the poorest city in America across all 50 states is a complex portrait of regional economic variation. The data reveals that economic hardship concentrates heavily in the industrial Midwest and rural South, where manufacturing decline and limited job diversification have created persistent challenges. Cities in the Northeast and parts of the West tend to show stronger income levels even in their economically disadvantaged communities.

Per capita income analysis adds another dimension, revealing whether inequality within cities stems from concentrated wealth or broader-based lower earnings. Cities like El Paso and Hialeah, while large, show relatively consistent lower-income profiles across their populations, whereas some smaller economically challenged communities feature more extreme wealth concentration.

Understanding which major cities face economic hardship remains crucial for policymakers, investors, and residents considering relocation or community investment strategies.