RANKING · 2000 CENSUS · 250 SHOWN OF 250

Most residents in poverty, Pennsylvania cities · 2000

Pennsylvania cities with the most residents living below the poverty line, as of the 2000 American Community Survey. Ranked by number of people, not the poverty rate. This list covers the 250 cities in Pennsylvania that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

PennsylvaniaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPRESIDENTS IN POVERTYVS 1990

01Philadelphia, PAPA1,574,281347,429+8%

02Pittsburgh, PAPA307,63268,182−14%

03Reading, PAPA95,83221,172+39%

04Allentown, PAPA126,04419,709+46%

05Erie, PAPA91,83819,514−7%

06State College, PAPA40,84418,031+2%

07Harrisburg, PAPA50,52212,022−15%

08Lancaster, PAPA58,36611,932+3%

09Scranton, PAPA75,51411,433−8%

10Bethlehem, PAPA79,64410,720+16%

11Chester, PAPA33,99610,019−5%

12York, PAPA45,3429,744+14%

13Altoona, PAPA42,3478,763−6%

14Wilkes-Barre, PAPA44,5237,660+5%

15Williamsport, PAPA27,3846,597−2%

16Indiana, PAPA14,6976,572+12%

17Johnstown, PAPA17,6545,875−22%

18McKeesport, PAPA16,9075,525−12%

19New Castle, PAPA21,1755,475−2%

20Norristown, PAPA35,9115,387+84%

21Easton, PAPA30,4024,199+16%

22Lebanon, PAPA26,4793,973+10%

23Bloomsburg, PAPA13,3753,866+34%

24West Chester, PAPA19,5913,826+24%

25Wilkinsburg, PAPA13,6023,584−2%

26Hazleton, PAPA30,2863,314−1%

27Uniontown, PAPA9,4343,285+11%

28Washington, PAPA13,3773,166−22%

29Meadville, PAPA12,2303,109−8%

30Butler, PAPA12,8792,885−21%

31Sharon, PAPA12,6482,879−13%

32Lock Haven, PAPA8,5002,759+12%

33Connellsville, PAPA6,5742,581+8%

34Aliquippa, PAPA9,0022,548−31%

35Duquesne, PAPA5,0192,543+17%

36Carlisle, PAPA22,6932,516+39%

37Pottstown, PAPA23,3222,479+32%

38Levittown, PAPA50,9262,476+24%

39Coatesville, PAPA13,2832,398+19%

40Edinboro, PAPA5,7902,391−20%

41Chambersburg, PAPA23,3762,313+6%

42West Mifflin, PAPA18,7072,290−3%

43Beaver Falls, PAPA8,8322,227−22%

44Oil City, PAPA9,3012,191+0%

45Greensburg, PAPA14,4622,166−23%

46Pottsville, PAPA13,1702,165−15%

47Darby, PAPA10,6662,122+7%

48New Kensington, PAPA11,7592,015−20%

49Lewistown, PAPA8,3851,950+3%

50Shamokin, PAPA6,7641,941−3%

51Sunbury, PAPA9,4951,920−1%

52Bradford, PAPA7,4421,897−11%

53Nanticoke, PAPA10,7121,730+16%

54McKees Rocks, PAPA5,6241,673−32%

55Clairton, PAPA5,8761,654−23%

56Berwick, PAPA10,2971,601+37%

57Shippensburg, PAPA5,6151,598+5%

58Kingston, PAPA13,4621,562+19%

59Park Forest, PAPA8,6241,518+220%

60East Stroudsburg, PAPA9,4381,506+74%

61Jeannette, PAPA8,4891,492−18%

62Swissvale, PAPA8,1971,481+11%

63Dunmore, PAPA14,2491,476−12%

64Munhall, PAPA10,2531,455+40%

65Gettysburg, PAPA8,3651,453+25%

66Carbondale, PAPA8,7311,452−12%

67Drexel Hill, PAPA30,4511,450+47%

68Plum, PAPA26,2251,429+31%

69Ambridge, PAPA6,9441,385−27%

70Monessen, PAPA6,6571,358−25%

71Hermitage, PAPA16,3081,324+10%

72DuBois, PAPA7,2541,294+24%

73Millersville, PAPA9,2801,279−6%

74Pittston, PAPA7,7151,252−19%

75Franklin, PAPA5,8991,250−13%

76Lewisburg, PAPA5,2261,245+36%

77Bethel Park, PAPA32,0741,242−3%

78Woodlyn, PAPA9,7361,189+62%

79Columbia, PAPA10,3141,170+2%

80Mount Carmel, PAPA5,5791,162+2%

81Hanover, PAPA16,6841,125−6%

82Corry, PAPA5,9931,121−8%

83Stroudsburg, PAPA5,8091,113+53%

84New Brighton, PAPA5,5031,100−36%

85Warren, PAPA9,0461,098+13%

86Bellevue, PAPA7,8881,075+41%

87Tamaqua, PAPA6,9291,071−11%

88Ellwood City, PAPA7,3621,069−33%

89Baldwin, PAPA20,5161,064+12%

90Punxsutawney, PAPA5,5581,057−21%

91Fullerton, PAPA16,7241,047+28%

92Bristol, PAPA9,9701,035−4%

93Morrisville, PAPA9,6651,001+33%

94Plymouth, PAPA5,801990+1%

95Waynesboro, PAPA11,190990+26%

96Titusville, PAPA5,112977−21%

97Tyrone, PAPA5,226964−1%

98Huntingdon, PAPA6,862963−22%

99Carnegie, PAPA7,777961+18%

100Taylor, PAPA6,232951+39%

101Bryn Mawr, PAPA5,880949+133%

102Whitehall, PAPA14,521928−4%

103Phoenixville, PAPA20,356924+14%

104Lansdale, PAPA18,986904+35%

105Selinsgrove, PAPA5,488900+27%

106Milton, PAPA6,457898+10%

107Clearfield, PAPA5,753892−20%

108Hershey, PAPA14,242887+15%

109Greenville, PAPA5,406880−28%

110Bellefonte, PAPA5,862866+4%

111Latrobe, PAPA7,826845−18%

112Colonial Park, PAPA18,032828+95%

113Lower Burrell, PAPA11,470824+4%

114Ephrata, PAPA13,647814+16%

115Sanatoga, PAPA8,949803+62%

116Willow Grove, PAPA14,131795+98%

117Lehighton, PAPA5,232791+21%

118Somerset, PAPA5,815787−32%

119Canonsburg, PAPA9,529763−33%

120Dormont, PAPA7,816752−4%

121Clifton Heights, PAPA6,835751+35%

122Collingdale, PAPA8,898726−3%

123Progress, PAPA11,017704+92%

124Bangor, PAPA5,118696+75%

125St. Marys, PAPA12,253696+15%

126Steelton, PAPA6,328691+56%

127Grove City, PAPA7,694683−9%

128South Williamsport, PAPA6,124661+58%

129Castle Shannon, PAPA8,006659+2%

130Red Lion, PAPA6,523638+81%

131Brentwood, PAPA9,597636+2%

132Ardmore, PAPA13,909622−7%

133Elizabethtown, PAPA11,961616−9%

134Middletown, PAPA9,776609−34%

135Sharon Hill, PAPA5,995603+6%

136Coraopolis, PAPA5,280595−28%

137Lansdowne, PAPA11,141594+50%

138King of Prussia, PAPA25,857591+25%

139Folcroft, PAPA6,780588+41%

140Weigelstown, PAPA15,485588+113%

141Old Forge, PAPA8,640585−12%

142Croydon, PAPA9,684570−18%

143Olyphant, PAPA5,390562+12%

144Monaca, PAPA5,456559−46%

145Swoyersville, PAPA5,155559+64%

146Homeacre-Lyndora, PAPA6,783557−12%

147Yeadon, PAPA12,320537−18%

148Carnot-Moon, PAPA13,534537−32%

149Quakertown, PAPA9,235528−6%

150Palmerton, PAPA5,615526−0%

151Sayre, PAPA5,328526−7%

152Catasauqua, PAPA6,590525−1%

153Mountain Top, PAPA11,850514–

154Exeter, PAPA5,587509−21%

155Oxford, PAPA5,887508+13%

156Lower Allen, PAPA7,646507+93%

157Broomall, PAPA10,679484+27%

158Mount Joy, PAPA8,319482+64%

159Nazareth, PAPA6,091481+72%

160Kennett Square, PAPA6,893476+7%

161Hollidaysburg, PAPA5,470473+3%

162Schuylkill Haven, PAPA5,253470+3%

163Shiloh, PAPA11,246470+52%

164Northwest Harborcreek, PAPA8,753469+22%

165Crafton, PAPA5,790465−13%

166Fairless Hills, PAPA8,827465−14%

167West View, PAPA6,355462+9%

168Horsham, PAPA16,005455+30%

169Moosic, PAPA5,989454+21%

170Norwood, PAPA5,927454+55%

171Enola, PAPA6,534445+222%

172Wilson, PAPA8,159444+11%

173White Oak, PAPA7,286443+15%

174Conshohocken, PAPA9,266440−31%

175Media, PAPA5,920439+4%

176Archbald, PAPA7,598428−26%

177Dickson City, PAPA5,976428−38%

178Arlington Heights, PAPA6,847427+55%

179Perkasie, PAPA9,312415+122%

180Oakmont, PAPA6,576411−20%

181Emmaus, PAPA12,514398−15%

182Jefferson Hills, PAPA12,357393–

183Mechanicsburg, PAPA10,037383+1%

184Forest Hills, PAPA6,116381+48%

185Duryea, PAPA5,157375−41%

186Glenolden, PAPA7,217373+8%

187Palmyra, PAPA7,762373+46%

188Lititz, PAPA9,689371+45%

189Downingtown, PAPA8,384365+62%

190Doylestown, PAPA8,330365+15%

191Blakely, PAPA6,611363−16%

192West Hazleton, PAPA5,284355−20%

193Ambler, PAPA6,840354+95%

194Franklin Park, PAPA14,978348+291%

195Northampton, PAPA10,570344−11%

196Audubon, PAPA9,229333+45%

197Bridgeport, PAPA5,758329+4%

198Oreland, PAPA5,953319+26%

199Village Green-Green Ridge, PAPA9,073309+19%

200Ridley Park, PAPA7,255305−9%

201Pleasant Hills, PAPA8,212304+26%

202Souderton, PAPA7,288299+10%

203Harleysville, PAPA9,090293+19%

204Wyomissing, PAPA11,285292+51%

205Camp Hill, PAPA8,199285−24%

206Folsom, PAPA8,671285−20%

207Brookhaven, PAPA8,362284+91%

208Prospect Park, PAPA6,409284−34%

209Parkville, PAPA8,128280−12%

210East York, PAPA9,388273+23%

211Glenside, PAPA7,659268−20%

212New Cumberland, PAPA7,590265−21%

213New Holland, PAPA5,754263+91%

214Hellertown, PAPA6,138260+38%

215Fox Chapel, PAPA5,139259+245%

216West York, PAPA5,110258−18%

217Paoli, PAPA6,362255+148%

218Middletown, PAPA7,628248+77%

219Shanor-Northvue, PAPA5,125245+49%

220Hatboro, PAPA8,593243−1%

221Plymouth Meeting, PAPA7,502226+113%

222Economy, PAPA9,098225−56%

223Kulpsville, PAPA8,799225+2%

224Montgomeryville, PAPA13,388225+134%

225Rutherford, PAPA6,890211−40%

226Willow Street, PAPA9,647202+100%

227Clarks Summit, PAPA5,069198+8%

228Shillington, PAPA5,542186+62%

229Treasure Lake, PAPA5,336181+74%

230Blue Bell, PAPA6,424178+112%

231Gilbertsville, PAPA6,165172−4%

232Penn Wynne, PAPA6,070167+20%

233Collegeville, PAPA5,287164+78%

234Linglestown, PAPA6,957138−5%

235Birdsboro, PAPA5,161134−12%

236Swarthmore, PAPA6,561130−23%

237Wyndmoor, PAPA5,633130+69%

238Exton, PAPA6,772125+32%

239Fort Washington, PAPA6,271125+36%

240Richboro, PAPA6,963118+84%

241Churchville, PAPA6,084118+97%

242Maple Glen, PAPA6,643107+60%

243Spring House, PAPA5,137102+76%

244Chesterbrook, PAPA5,83999+168%

245Schlusser, PAPA5,40297−8%

246New Freedom, PAPA5,11694+32%

247Whitfield, PAPA5,22670+112%

248Newtown Grant, PAPA6,19347+422%

249Ancient Oaks, PAPA7,77735−62%

250Campbelltown, PAPA6,09223−78%

SHOWING 1–250 OF 250

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