Which county has the highest poverty rate?

Buffalo County, South Dakota ranks #1 with 56.9% (2000 Decennial Census).

What are the top 5 counties by poverty rate?

Buffalo County, South Dakota, Starr County, Texas, Ziebach County, South Dakota, Todd County, South Dakota, Owsley County, Kentucky.

How many counties are in this ranking?

3,125 counties qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2000 Decennial Census data.

How is poverty rate measured?

Share of people with income below the federal poverty line. Source: US Census Bureau, 2000 Decennial Census.

RANKING · 2000 CENSUS · 125 SHOWN OF 3,125

Highest poverty rate, US counties · 2000

US counties with the highest share of residents below the federal poverty line (2000 ACS).

Flip the list · Lowest poverty rate, US counties →

All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOVERTY RATEVS 1990

3001Benton County, ININ8,8835.5%−31%

3002Forsyth County, GAGA282,8055.5%−19%

3003Paulding County, GAGA190,9965.5%−37%

3004Barry County, MIMI63,9915.5%−39%

3005Ottawa County, MIMI308,4595.5%−8%

3006Union County, SDSD17,4025.5%−58%

3007Charles County, MDMD176,5935.5%+9%

3008King William County, VAVA19,6175.5%−41%

3009Van Wert County, OHOH29,0135.5%−23%

3010Daggett County, UTUT9345.5%−63%

3011Clay County, MOMO265,0325.5%−7%

3012Warren County, NJNJ112,9535.4%+0%

3013Fauquier County, VAVA76,5035.4%+30%

3014Montgomery County, MDMD1,074,5825.4%+29%

3015Summit County, UTUT43,1415.4%−25%

3016Fulton County, OHOH41,8535.4%−13%

3017Clear Creek County, COCO8,9945.4%−43%

3018Lapeer County, MIMI89,5165.4%−34%

3019Leelanau County, MIMI22,9825.4%−40%

3020Teller County, COCO24,7565.4%−47%

3021Dodge County, WIWI89,0975.3%−19%

3022Warrick County, ININ66,8035.3%−19%

3023Cherokee County, GAGA299,2735.3%−13%

3024Dubois County, ININ44,0165.3%−14%

3025Chester County, PAPA557,1165.2%+11%

3026Columbia County, WIWI58,1325.2%−30%

3027Nassau County, NYNY1,398,9395.2%+40%

3028Botetourt County, VAVA34,1445.2%−16%

3029Morgan County, UTUT13,3835.2%−40%

3030Sheboygan County, WIWI118,0475.2%−20%

3031Wasatch County, UTUT38,5145.2%−35%

3032Boone County, ININ80,6895.2%−18%

3033Manassas Park, VAVA16,5605.2%+33%

3034Cass County, NENE27,6575.2%−33%

3035Jefferson County, COCO580,4515.2%−11%

3036Tipton County, ININ15,3195.1%−20%

3037Anne Arundel County, MDMD603,3805.1%+15%

3038Green County, WIWI37,2275.1%−34%

3039Columbia County, GAGA169,1895.1%−22%

3040Chisago County, MNMN59,1425.1%−35%

3041Scott County, KSKS4,8155.1%−44%

3042Bremer County, IAIA25,2965.1%−45%

3043Warren County, IAIA57,3315.1%−19%

3044Davis County, UTUT381,2275.1%−29%

3045Lake County, OHOH232,2175.1%+3%

3046Iowa County, IAIA16,5045.0%−39%

3047Bergen County, NJNJ977,0265.0%+27%

3048Piatt County, ILIL16,7915.0%−19%

3049Harford County, MDMD266,4464.9%−4%

3050New Kent County, VAVA28,0224.9%+0%

3051Will County, ILIL712,2534.9%−18%

3052Henry County, GAGA264,9224.9%−19%

3053Whitley County, ININ35,0464.9%−6%

3054Collin County, TXTX1,297,1794.9%−16%

3055Grundy County, ILIL54,0524.8%−27%

3056McLeod County, MNMN36,6314.8%−36%

3057Williamson County, TXTX752,8274.8%−52%

3058Platte County, MOMO114,4004.8%−16%

3059Spotsylvania County, VAVA155,3884.7%−4%

3060Wright County, MNMN157,5594.7%−30%

3061Williamson County, TNTN272,0614.7%−18%

3062Burlington County, NJNJ481,4394.7%+11%

3063Outagamie County, WIWI195,8944.7%−24%

3064Rockwall County, TXTX140,7384.7%−28%

3065Norfolk County, MAMA739,7494.6%+2%

3066Grundy County, IAIA12,3614.6%−44%

3067Clinton County, MIMI80,4324.6%−23%

3068Medina County, OHOH185,0254.6%−17%

3069Union County, OHOH73,4464.6%−38%

3070Geauga County, OHOH95,6764.6%−18%

3071Chesterfield County, VAVA397,1484.5%+5%

3072Fairfax County, VAVA1,167,8734.5%+29%

3073Bucks County, PAPA647,8284.5%+14%

3074Rockingham County, NHNH324,0774.5%+2%

3075Frederick County, MDMD302,8834.5%−7%

3076Poquoson, VAVA13,2924.5%+58%

3077Roanoke County, VAVA97,1504.5%+9%

3078Sherburne County, MNMN104,1944.4%−44%

3079Montgomery County, PAPA877,6434.4%+22%

3080Lincoln County, SDSD77,1454.4%−28%

3081Prince William County, VAVA502,9664.4%+35%

3082Calvert County, MDMD94,4844.4%−16%

3083Putnam County, NYNY99,0284.4%+20%

3084Woodford County, ILIL38,1114.3%−40%

3085Warren County, OHOH257,1814.2%−33%

3086Sarpy County, NENE208,3034.2%−6%

3087Anoka County, MNMN381,6054.2%−21%

3088Falls Church, VAVA15,1594.2%−19%

3089Oldham County, KYKY70,9864.1%−36%

3090Gilpin County, COCO6,0734.0%−62%

3091St. Croix County, WIWI98,2764.0%−37%

3092St. Charles County, MOMO426,4994.0%−14%

3093Elbert County, COCO30,5344.0%−42%

3094Sussex County, NJNJ148,0634.0%+16%

3095Howard County, MDMD339,1833.9%+24%

3096Morris County, NJNJ524,2513.9%+40%

3097Delaware County, OHOH242,0323.8%−32%

3098Carroll County, MDMD176,6773.8%+1%

3099Somerset County, NJNJ356,4863.8%+47%

3100McHenry County, ILIL317,7513.7%+5%

3101Hendricks County, ININ193,5103.6%−1%

3102Hanover County, VAVA116,4233.6%−15%

3103DuPage County, ILIL934,2983.6%+33%

3104Washington County, WIWI139,2383.6%+12%

3105Dakota County, MNMN457,7103.6%−16%

3106Calumet County, WIWI53,9823.5%−28%

3107York County, VAVA71,3743.5%−27%

3108Stafford County, VAVA170,8033.5%−15%

3109Carver County, MNMN114,3793.5%−29%

3110Johnson County, KSKS636,9063.4%−5%

3111Scott County, MNMN159,0173.4%−19%

3112Monroe County, ILIL34,8403.4%−30%

3113Livingston County, MIMI197,3153.4%−19%

3114Kendall County, ILIL145,4703.0%−11%

3115Hancock County, ININ90,9693.0%−34%

3116Hamilton County, ININ387,0362.9%−19%

3117Los Alamos County, NMNM19,4072.9%+22%

3118Washington County, MNMN286,8952.9%−33%

3119Loudoun County, VAVA449,7492.8%−10%

3120Waukesha County, WIWI417,2102.7%−13%

3121Fayette County, GAGA125,1562.6%+1%

3122Ozaukee County, WIWI94,3462.6%+18%

3123Hunterdon County, NJNJ131,7812.6%−3%

3124Douglas County, COCO399,3962.1%−33%

3125Loving County, TXTX520.0%–

SHOWING 3,001–3,125 OF 3,125

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Download CSV (full list, 3,125 rows)

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