Highest poverty rate, US counties · 2010
US counties with the highest share of residents below the federal poverty line (2010 ACS). Buffalo County, South Dakota leads at 49.3%. 3,131 counties qualify in total. Mississippi carries 7 of the top 25 entries. The median across all 3,131 is 14.7%.
Flip the list · Lowest poverty rate, US counties →UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS
Frequently asked
Which county has the highest poverty rate?
Buffalo County, South Dakota ranks #1 with 49.3% (2010 Decennial Census).
What are the top 5 counties by poverty rate?
Buffalo County, South Dakota, Todd County, South Dakota, Sioux County, North Dakota, Hudspeth County, Texas, Ziebach County, South Dakota.
How many counties are in this ranking?
3,131 counties qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2010 Decennial Census data.
How is poverty rate measured?
Share of people with income below the federal poverty line. Source: US Census Bureau, 2010 Decennial Census.