Lowest median household income, US cities
US cities with the lowest median household income in the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. University of California-Davis, California leads at $18,631. 6,818 cities qualify in total. Cities with fewer than 5,000 residents are excluded. Louisiana carries 5 of the top 25 entries. 45 cities are tied at the $250,000+ ceiling. The median across all 6,818 is $80,682. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Lamont, CA, up 918 places to #99.
Flip the list · Highest median household income, US cities →The US Census Bureau caps reported median household income at $250,000 for 2024. Places shown as “$250,000+” exceed that ceiling by an amount the Census does not publish, so their exact values (and the order among them) cannot be distinguished.
UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES
Frequently asked
Which city has the lowest median household income?
University of California-Davis, California ranks #1 with $18,631 (2024 American Community Survey).
What are the top 5 cities by median household income?
University of California-Davis, California, Notre Dame, Indiana, Rochester Institute of Technology, New York, Prairie View, Texas, East Cleveland, Ohio.
How many cities are in this ranking?
6,818 cities qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability (minimum 5,000 residents). The ranking covers 2024 ACS 5-year data.
How is median household income measured?
Median income of all households, as reported each year (nominal dollars, not inflation adjusted). Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024).