RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 105 SHOWN OF 105

Highest poverty rate, Massachusetts cities · 1990

Massachusetts cities with the highest share of residents below the federal poverty line (1990 ACS). This list covers the 105 cities in Massachusetts that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOVERTY RATEVS –

01Lawrence, MAMA89,32027.5%–

02Holyoke, MAMA38,02325.7%–

03Chelsea, MAMA40,13024.1%–

04Springfield, MAMA154,70220.1%–

05Boston, MAMA672,97318.7%–

06Lowell, MAMA119,97118.0%–

07New Bedford, MAMA101,83416.8%–

08Lynn, MAMA104,23615.9%–

09Worcester, MAMA213,86215.3%–

10North Adams, MAMA12,36814.3%–

11Fall River, MAMA95,29814.3%–

12Fitchburg, MAMA42,13614.0%–

13Ware, MAMA6,36913.8%–

14East Falmouth, MAMA6,24513.7%–

15Brockton, MAMA106,13413.6%–

16Greenfield, MAMA17,69113.5%–

17Athol, MAMA8,80112.5%–

18Webster, MAMA12,22811.7%–

19Salem, MAMA45,38111.7%–

20Revere, MAMA60,14111.6%–

21Northampton, MAMA31,04711.5%–

22Somerville, MAMA84,21111.5%–

23South Yarmouth, MAMA11,55211.1%–

24Gardner, MAMA21,48311.0%–

25Cambridge, MAMA122,58810.7%–

26Bliss Corner, MAMA5,40510.6%–

27West Yarmouth, MAMA6,19410.4%–

28Chicopee, MAMA55,3109.8%–

29Pittsfield, MAMA42,9099.7%–

30Spencer, MAMA5,6619.7%–

31Everett, MAMA53,5729.6%–

32Plymouth, MAMA7,9189.4%–

33Haverhill, MAMA68,3618.8%–

34Adams, MAMA5,4278.8%–

35Middleborough Center, MAMA8,1558.8%–

36Williamstown, MAMA5,0708.7%–

37Brookline, MAMA63,2668.6%–

38Taunton, MAMA62,5228.3%–

39Hull, MAMA10,1388.0%–

40Westfield, MAMA40,5468.0%–

41Whitinsville, MAMA7,1157.8%–

42Salisbury, MAMA5,6567.7%–

43Malden, MAMA66,3707.5%–

44Gloucester, MAMA30,6277.5%–

45Leominster, MAMA44,1947.2%–

46Clinton, MAMA7,6587.1%–

47Medford, MAMA59,8346.9%–

48Quincy, MAMA103,1736.8%–

49Beverly, MAMA43,3636.6%–

50Waltham, MAMA65,0376.5%–

51Attleboro, MAMA47,4476.4%–

52Holbrook, MAMA11,3806.1%–

53Framingham, MAMA73,0216.0%–

54Newburyport, MAMA19,1485.7%–

55Marlborough, MAMA42,7725.7%–

56Maynard, MAMA10,7125.6%–

57East Harwich, MAMA5,6545.5%–

58Marshfield, MAMA5,1615.4%–

59Foxborough, MAMA6,2515.3%–

60Kingston, MAMA5,9105.3%–

61Woburn, MAMA43,9625.1%–

62Stoneham, MAMA23,3555.0%–

63Andover, MAMA9,4514.7%–

64Dedham, MAMA25,2374.7%–

65Mansfield Center, MAMA7,2224.6%–

66Arlington, MAMA46,3504.6%–

67Peabody, MAMA55,9534.6%–

68Danvers, MAMA28,0984.6%–

69Milford, MAMA27,7314.6%–

70Abington, MAMA17,0534.5%–

71Nantucket, MAMA10,0174.5%–

72Newton, MAMA90,7414.3%–

73Melrose, MAMA29,5974.2%–

74Wakefield, MAMA27,7934.2%–

75Yarmouth Port, MAMA5,9614.1%–

76Norwood, MAMA31,5424.0%–

77Hudson, MAMA15,7194.0%–

78Saugus, MAMA28,7733.9%–

79Swampscott, MAMA15,2773.9%–

80Walpole, MAMA6,4613.8%–

81Oxford, MAMA5,6713.8%–

82Belmont, MAMA27,1753.6%–

83North Westport, MAMA5,2893.5%–

84Somerset, MAMA18,2983.5%–

85Bellingham, MAMA5,3253.4%–

86Marblehead, MAMA20,4133.3%–

87Needham, MAMA32,4593.3%–

88Scituate, MAMA5,7963.1%–

89Burlington, MAMA26,2743.1%–

90Hingham, MAMA5,1303.1%–

91Milton, MAMA28,5873.0%–

92North Scituate, MAMA6,4923.0%–

93Sharon, MAMA6,2323.0%–

94West Concord, MAMA5,8762.9%–

95Wellesley, MAMA30,3472.8%–

96Lynnfield, MAMA13,0642.8%–

97Winchester, MAMA23,4062.6%–

98Lexington, MAMA34,2952.6%–

99Wilmington, MAMA23,3362.4%–

100Northborough, MAMA6,3922.4%–

101Cochituate, MAMA6,4712.4%–

102Longmeadow, MAMA15,6962.3%–

103Medfield, MAMA6,8492.2%–

104Reading, MAMA25,6122.1%–

105Pinehurst, MAMA6,8451.4%–

SHOWING 1–105 OF 105

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS