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RANKING · 2024 ACS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Lowest poverty rate, US states

US states with the lowest share of residents below the federal poverty line (2024 ACS). New Hampshire leads at 7.2%. 51 states qualify in total. The median across all 51 is 11.8%. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Delaware, DE, up 6 places to #14.

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RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOVERTY RATEVS 2000
USUnited States334,922,49912.5%–
01New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,8687.2%+0.7 pts
02▲1Utah, UTUT3,392,3318.5%−0.9 pts
03▲2Minnesota, MNMN5,739,4459.3%+1.4 pts
04▲3Colorado, COCO5,862,1899.4%+0.2 pts
05▼3Maryland, MDMD6,206,0119.4%+1.0 pts
06New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,8099.7%+1.2 pts
07▲3Virginia, VAVA8,705,1709.9%+0.3 pts
08▲3Washington, WAWA7,816,1169.9%−0.7 pts
09▼1Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50810.0%+2.2 pts
10▼1Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05610.0%+0.7 pts
11▼7Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23510.0%−0.7 pts
12▲4Vermont, VTVT647,10610.1%+0.6 pts
13▼1Alaska, AKAK735,70610.1%+0.7 pts
14▲6Delaware, DEDE1,021,19110.4%+1.2 pts
15Wyoming, WYWY582,39710.5%−0.9 pts
16▲1Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87210.6%+1.9 pts
17▲6Idaho, IDID1,934,26210.6%−1.2 pts
18▼5Nebraska, NENE1,978,70710.6%+0.9 pts
19▼1Maine, MEME1,387,81710.7%−0.2 pts
20▼6North Dakota, NDND784,84110.8%−1.0 pts
21▼2Iowa, IAIA3,210,50711.1%+1.9 pts
22Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80111.2%−0.8 pts
23▼2Kansas, KSKS2,947,19711.3%+1.4 pts
24▲5Montana, MTMT1,116,87511.5%−3.1 pts
25▼1Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63911.7%+0.7 pts
26▼1Illinois, ILIL12,694,79811.8%+1.1 pts
27▲3South Dakota, SDSD907,42811.9%−1.3 pts
28▼2Oregon, OROR4,254,29311.9%+0.3 pts
29▼2California, CACA39,287,37712.0%−2.2 pts
30▲1Indiana, ININ6,851,07312.3%+2.8 pts
31▼3Nevada, NVNV3,184,61212.4%+1.9 pts
32▲6Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83812.5%−1.4 pts
33Florida, FLFL22,416,07712.6%+0.1 pts
34▼2Missouri, MOMO6,191,81412.6%+0.8 pts
35▲2North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40413.0%+0.7 pts
36Michigan, MIMI10,077,76113.2%+2.7 pts
37▼2Ohio, OHOH11,810,29313.3%+2.7 pts
38▲2Georgia, GAGA10,940,40713.4%+0.4 pts
39▲2Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38313.8%+0.3 pts
40▼1Texas, TXTX30,188,42413.8%−1.6 pts
41▼7New York, NYNY19,852,36614.0%−0.6 pts
42South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22514.1%0.0 pts
43Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63415.3%+0.6 pts
44District of Columbia, DCDC681,29415.4%−4.8 pts
45Alabama, ALAL5,086,76815.6%−0.5 pts
46Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39116.0%+0.2 pts
47Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82416.1%+0.2 pts
48West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37316.7%−1.2 pts
49New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24617.8%−0.6 pts
50▲1Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77918.9%−1.0 pts
51▼1Louisiana, LALA4,611,96118.9%−0.7 pts
SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES

Frequently asked

Which state has the lowest poverty rate?

New Hampshire ranks #1 with 7.2% (2024 American Community Survey).

What are the top 5 states by poverty rate?

New Hampshire, Utah, Minnesota, Colorado, Maryland.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2024 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 (2024).