RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Lowest poverty rate, US states · 1990

US states with the lowest share of residents below the federal poverty line (1990 ACS). New Hampshire leads at 6.4%. 51 states qualify in total.

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SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOVERTY RATEVS –

USUnited States248,709,87313.2%–

01New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,8686.4%–

02Connecticut, CTCT3,624,5086.8%–

03New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,8097.6%–

04Hawaii, HIHI1,445,2358.3%–

05Maryland, MDMD6,206,0118.3%–

06Delaware, DEDE1,021,1918.7%–

07Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,0568.9%–

08Alaska, AKAK735,7069.0%–

09Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,8019.6%–

10Vermont, VTVT647,1069.9%–

11Nevada, NVNV3,184,61210.2%–

12Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44510.2%–

13Virginia, VAVA8,705,17010.2%–

14Indiana, ININ6,851,07310.7%–

15Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87210.7%–

16Maine, MEME1,387,81710.8%–

17Washington, WAWA7,816,11610.9%–

18Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63911.1%–

19Nebraska, NENE1,978,70711.1%–

20Utah, UTUT3,392,33111.4%–

21Kansas, KSKS2,947,19711.5%–

22Iowa, IAIA3,210,50711.5%–

23Colorado, COCO5,862,18911.7%–

24Wyoming, WYWY582,39711.9%–

25Illinois, ILIL12,694,79811.9%–

26Oregon, OROR4,254,29312.4%–

27California, CACA39,287,37712.5%–

28Ohio, OHOH11,810,29312.5%–

29Florida, FLFL22,416,07712.7%–

30North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40413.0%–

31New York, NYNY19,852,36613.0%–

32Michigan, MIMI10,077,76113.1%–

33Idaho, IDID1,934,26213.3%–

34Missouri, MOMO6,191,81413.3%–

35North Dakota, NDND784,84114.4%–

36Georgia, GAGA10,940,40714.7%–

37South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22515.4%–

38Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38315.7%–

39Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83815.7%–

40South Dakota, SDSD907,42815.9%–

41Montana, MTMT1,116,87516.1%–

42Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63416.7%–

43District of Columbia, DCDC681,29416.9%–

44Texas, TXTX30,188,42418.1%–

45Alabama, ALAL5,086,76818.3%–

46Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82419.0%–

47Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39119.1%–

48West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37319.7%–

49New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24620.6%–

50Louisiana, LALA4,611,96123.6%–

51Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77925.2%–

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-08-08 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS

Frequently asked

Which state has the lowest poverty rate?

New Hampshire ranks #1 with 6.4% (1990 Decennial Census).

What are the top 5 states by poverty rate?

New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey, Hawaii, Maryland.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 1990 Decennial Census data.

How is poverty rate measured?

Share of people with income below the federal poverty line. Source: US Census Bureau, 1990 Decennial Census.