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RANKING · 2000 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Lowest poverty rate, US states · 2000

US states with the lowest share of residents below the federal poverty line (2000 ACS). New Hampshire leads at 6.5%. 51 states qualify in total.

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RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOVERTY RATEVS 1990
USUnited States281,421,90612.4%–
01New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,8686.5%+0.1 pts
02Connecticut, CTCT3,624,5087.9%+1.0 pts
03Minnesota, MNMN5,739,4457.9%−2.3 pts
04Maryland, MDMD6,206,0118.5%+0.2 pts
05New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,8098.5%+0.9 pts
06Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,8728.7%−2.0 pts
07Iowa, IAIA3,210,5079.1%−2.3 pts
08Delaware, DEDE1,021,1919.2%+0.5 pts
09Colorado, COCO5,862,1899.3%−2.4 pts
10Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,0569.3%+0.4 pts
11Alaska, AKAK735,7069.4%+0.4 pts
12Utah, UTUT3,392,3319.4%−2.0 pts
13Vermont, VTVT647,1069.4%−0.4 pts
14Indiana, ININ6,851,0739.5%−1.2 pts
15Virginia, VAVA8,705,1709.6%−0.7 pts
16Nebraska, NENE1,978,7079.7%−1.4 pts
17Kansas, KSKS2,947,1979.9%−1.6 pts
18Nevada, NVNV3,184,61210.5%+0.3 pts
19Michigan, MIMI10,077,76110.5%−2.6 pts
20Ohio, OHOH11,810,29310.6%−1.9 pts
21Washington, WAWA7,816,11610.6%−0.3 pts
22Illinois, ILIL12,694,79810.7%−1.2 pts
23Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23510.7%+2.4 pts
24Maine, MEME1,387,81710.9%+0.1 pts
25Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63911.0%−0.1 pts
26Wyoming, WYWY582,39711.4%−0.4 pts
27Oregon, OROR4,254,29311.6%−0.8 pts
28Missouri, MOMO6,191,81411.7%−1.6 pts
29Idaho, IDID1,934,26211.8%−1.5 pts
30North Dakota, NDND784,84111.9%−2.5 pts
31Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80111.9%+2.3 pts
32North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40412.3%−0.7 pts
33Florida, FLFL22,416,07712.5%−0.2 pts
34Georgia, GAGA10,940,40713.0%−1.7 pts
35South Dakota, SDSD907,42813.2%−2.7 pts
36Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38313.5%−2.2 pts
37Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83813.9%−1.8 pts
38South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22514.1%−1.3 pts
39California, CACA39,287,37714.2%+1.7 pts
40New York, NYNY19,852,36614.6%+1.6 pts
41Montana, MTMT1,116,87514.6%−1.5 pts
42Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63414.7%−2.0 pts
43Texas, TXTX30,188,42415.4%−2.7 pts
44Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82415.8%−3.2 pts
45Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39115.8%−3.2 pts
46Alabama, ALAL5,086,76816.1%−2.2 pts
47West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37317.9%−1.8 pts
48New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24618.4%−2.2 pts
49Louisiana, LALA4,611,96119.6%−3.9 pts
50Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77919.9%−5.3 pts
51District of Columbia, DCDC681,29420.2%+3.3 pts
SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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

Frequently asked

Which state has the lowest poverty rate?

New Hampshire ranks #1 with 6.5% (2000 Decennial Census).

What are the top 5 states by poverty rate?

New Hampshire, Connecticut, Minnesota, Maryland, New Jersey.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states 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.