Highest poverty rate, US cities · 2000
US cities with the highest share of residents below the federal poverty line (2023 ACS). New Square, New York leads at 72.5%. 6,299 cities qualify in total. Cities with fewer than 5,000 residents are excluded. Texas carries 9 of the top 25 entries.
Flip the list · Lowest poverty rate, US cities →UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES
Frequently asked
Which city has the highest poverty rate?
New Square, New York ranks #1 with 72.5% (2000 American Community Survey).
What are the top 5 cities by poverty rate?
New Square, New York, Kaser, New York, Mila Doce, Texas, Isla Vista, California, Kiryas Joel, New York.
How many cities are in this ranking?
6,299 cities qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability (minimum 5,000 residents). The ranking covers 2000 ACS 5-year data.
How is poverty rate measured?
Share of people with income below the federal poverty line. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2000).