RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Lowest poverty rate, US states · 2020

US states with the lowest share of residents below the federal poverty line (2020 ACS). New Hampshire leads at 7.4%. 51 states qualify in total.

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SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOVERTY RATEVS 2000

USUnited States331,449,28112.8%–

01New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,8687.4%+13%

02Maryland, MDMD6,206,0119.0%+6%

03Utah, UTUT3,392,3319.1%−3%

04Hawaii, HIHI1,445,2359.3%−13%

05Minnesota, MNMN5,739,4459.3%+18%

06New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,8099.7%+14%

07Colorado, COCO5,862,1899.8%+6%

08Connecticut, CTCT3,624,5089.8%+24%

09Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,0569.8%+5%

10Virginia, VAVA8,705,17010.0%+4%

11Washington, WAWA7,816,11610.2%−4%

12Alaska, AKAK735,70610.3%+10%

13Nebraska, NENE1,978,70710.4%+7%

14North Dakota, NDND784,84110.5%−11%

15Wyoming, WYWY582,39710.8%−6%

16Vermont, VTVT647,10610.8%+14%

17Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87211.0%+27%

18Maine, MEME1,387,81711.1%+1%

19Iowa, IAIA3,210,50711.1%+22%

20Delaware, DEDE1,021,19111.4%+24%

21Kansas, KSKS2,947,19711.4%+16%

22Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80111.6%−3%

23Idaho, IDID1,934,26211.9%+1%

24Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63912.0%+9%

25Illinois, ILIL12,694,79812.0%+12%

26Oregon, OROR4,254,29312.4%+6%

27California, CACA39,287,37712.6%−12%

28Nevada, NVNV3,184,61212.8%+22%

29Montana, MTMT1,116,87512.8%−12%

30South Dakota, SDSD907,42812.8%−3%

31Indiana, ININ6,851,07312.9%+36%

32Missouri, MOMO6,191,81413.0%+11%

33Florida, FLFL22,416,07713.3%+7%

34New York, NYNY19,852,36613.6%−7%

35Ohio, OHOH11,810,29313.6%+29%

36Michigan, MIMI10,077,76113.7%+30%

37North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40414.0%+14%

38Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83814.1%+2%

39Texas, TXTX30,188,42414.2%−7%

40Georgia, GAGA10,940,40714.3%+10%

41Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38314.6%+8%

42South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22514.7%+4%

43Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63415.3%+4%

44District of Columbia, DCDC681,29415.5%−24%

45Alabama, ALAL5,086,76816.0%−1%

46Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39116.1%+2%

47Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82416.6%+5%

48West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37317.1%−5%

49New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24618.6%+1%

50Louisiana, LALA4,611,96118.6%−5%

51Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77919.6%−2%

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS

Frequently asked

Which state has the lowest poverty rate?

New Hampshire ranks #1 with 7.4% (2020 Decennial Census).

What are the top 5 states by poverty rate?

New Hampshire, Maryland, Utah, Hawaii, Minnesota.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2020 Decennial Census data.

How is poverty rate measured?

Share of people with income below the federal poverty line. Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census.