Most residents in poverty, US cities
US cities with the most residents living below the poverty line, as of the 2024 American Community Survey. Ranked by number of people, not the poverty rate. New York, New York leads at 1,519,224. 6,823 cities qualify in total. Cities with fewer than 5,000 residents are excluded. Texas carries 6 of the top 25 entries. The median across all 6,823 is 1,429. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Louisville, KY, up 29 places to #27.
UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES
Frequently asked
Which city has the highest residents in poverty?
New York, New York ranks #1 with 1,519,224 (2024 American Community Survey).
What are the top 5 cities by residents in poverty?
New York, New York, Los Angeles, California, Houston, Texas, Chicago, Illinois, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
How many cities are in this ranking?
6,823 cities qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability (minimum 5,000 residents). The ranking covers 2024 ACS 5-year data.
How is residents in poverty measured?
Estimated number of residents living below the federal poverty line, from the poverty rate applied to total population. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024).