Which metro area has the highest residents in poverty?

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ranks #1 with 2,025,321 (1990 Decennial Census).

What are the top 5 metro areas by residents in poverty?

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI.

How many metro areas are in this ranking?

918 metro areas qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 1990 Decennial Census 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, 1990 Decennial Census.

RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 418 SHOWN OF 918

Most residents in poverty, US metro areas · 1990

US metro areas with the most residents living below the poverty line, as of the 1990 American Community Survey. Ranked by number of people, not the poverty rate.

All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities Counties States

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPRESIDENTS IN POVERTYVS –

501Kalispell, MTMT115,4298,567–

502Centralia, WAWA88,0628,554–

503Mount Sterling, KYKY48,4288,536–

504El Campo, TXTX42,0608,519–

505Marietta, OHOH58,3898,512–

506Ardmore, OKOK48,9108,459–

507Oneonta, NYNY60,5898,420–

508Coeur d'Alene, IDID191,8648,416–

509Auburn, NYNY74,3658,415–

510Rexburg, IDID69,3808,412–

511Key West, FLFL80,4068,406–

512Midland, MIMI83,7548,386–

513Punta Gorda, FLFL217,2128,375–

514Moultrie, GAGA47,4388,346–

515Picayune, MSMS59,3638,305–

516Kingsville, TXTX30,3158,284–

517Douglas, GAGA52,8618,281–

518Farmington, MOMO67,8098,262–

519Lexington Park, MDMD211,1768,260–

520Bemidji, MNMN47,0558,254–

521Washington, NCNC44,6708,248–

522Lebanon, PAPA146,3808,232–

523Americus, GAGA33,3948,224–

524Marion, OHOH65,1158,171–

525Sayre, PAPA59,6008,088–

526Enid, OKOK61,7798,019–

527Kahului, HIHI160,6747,998–

528West Plains, MOMO40,7987,977–

529Ontario, OROR60,0857,957–

530McAlester, OKOK43,3207,954–

531Boone, NCNC54,7867,951–

532Scottsboro, ALAL54,2817,942–

533Madisonville, KYKY45,1277,930–

534Stevens Point, WIWI71,9437,918–

535Marinette, WIWI65,5157,906–

536North Wilkesboro, NCNC66,2337,902–

537Sebastian, FLFL172,7997,892–

538Raymondville, TXTX19,9717,881–

539Durant, OKOK51,3677,862–

540Nogales, AZAZ50,0207,837–

541Martinsville, VAVA63,0917,828–

542Corsicana, TXTX57,1817,824–

543Galesburg, ILIL47,7677,821–

544Houghton, MIMI40,0287,807–

545Walla Walla, WAWA62,3617,773–

546Clearlake, CACA67,7727,741–

547Cheyenne, WYWY102,9387,740–

548Bay City, TXTX36,4637,658–

549Henderson, NCNC42,6387,631–

550Red Bluff, CACA64,6657,616–

551Napa, CACA132,9497,612–

552Duncan, OKOK44,3107,574–

553Vidalia, GAGA36,1807,525–

554Troy, ALAL33,6887,518–

555Weatherford, OKOK39,0597,485–

556Rockingham, NCNC42,0417,474–

557Lewiston, IDID65,4507,470–

558Ada, OKOK38,5287,420–

559Camden, ARAR26,3637,392–

560Owosso, MIMI67,6817,387–

561Payson, AZAZ53,8017,366–

562Newport, TNTN37,8897,362–

563Ozark, ALAL49,9127,342–

564Uvalde, TXTX24,9637,250–

565Whitewater, WIWI106,1277,231–

566Fergus Falls, MNMN61,0417,197–

567Brookhaven, MSMS35,0127,142–

568Eufaula, ALAL26,8617,132–

569Brownwood, TXTX38,7117,098–

570Safford, AZAZ40,1577,088–

571Casper, WYWY80,5267,081–

572Port Angeles, WAWA78,2027,072–

573Mount Airy, NCNC72,2877,045–

574Gloversville, NYNY52,2167,027–

575Bradford, PAPA38,9847,018–

576Alamosa, COCO27,8967,004–

577Kirksville, MOMO29,8247,001–

578Forest City, NCNC65,7456,993–

579Gallipolis, OHOH29,0726,961–

580East Stroudsburg, PAPA167,1796,960–

581Grand Island, NENE78,0766,904–

582Milledgeville, GAGA44,0296,900–

583Beeville, TXTX32,5156,890–

584Fond du Lac, WIWI104,6696,886–

585Cambridge, OHOH38,3796,818–

586Centralia, ILIL36,3826,803–

587Sturgis, MIMI60,9686,770–

588Platteville, WIWI52,4466,757–

589Hutchinson, KSKS61,5396,744–

590Greenfield, MAMA70,6986,743–

591Helena, MTMT97,1536,742–

592Sheboygan, WIWI118,0476,738–

593Macomb, ILIL25,9166,715–

594Sevierville, TNTN101,3426,714–

595Bloomsburg, PAPA66,1936,710–

596Manitowoc, WIWI81,7106,704–

597Pittsburg, KSKS39,0086,677–

598Concord, NHNH158,0786,644–

599Gaffney, SCSC58,2756,618–

600Corinth, MSMS34,5696,602–

601Sterling, ILIL54,1216,597–

602Big Spring, TXTX30,5046,583–

603Warrensburg, MOMO56,6706,559–

604Seneca, SCSC83,7756,549–

605Pinehurst, NCNC110,6196,527–

606Rolla, MOMO45,2476,523–

607Grand Rapids, MNMN45,4046,472–

608St. George, UTUT213,6706,470–

609Tullahoma, TNTN69,3396,452–

610Salina, KSKS59,1216,425–

611Tiffin, OHOH54,5226,422–

612Riverton, WYWY39,4646,421–

613Taos, NMNM34,5646,363–

614Campbellsville, KYKY38,4076,352–

615Crossville, TNTN66,3006,290–

616Laurinburg, NCNC33,3226,278–

617Wisconsin Rapids, WIWI74,0606,275–

618Magnolia, ARAR21,8946,261–

619Vincennes, ININ35,6526,261–

620The Villages, FLFL157,7726,261–

621Enterprise, ALAL56,9536,251–

622Cortland, NYNY45,8506,240–

623Alexander City, ALAL40,9536,224–

624Ponca City, OKOK43,4906,220–

625Harrison, ARAR45,6546,194–

626Elizabeth City, NCNC42,2016,180–

627Lewistown, PAPA46,1276,170–

628Miami, OKOK30,4386,158–

629Okeechobee, FLFL42,6086,155–

630Dyersburg, TNTN36,3206,137–

631Amsterdam, NYNY50,0466,136–

632Frankfort, KYKY77,8746,132–

633Fort Leonard Wood, MOMO54,4426,122–

634Winona, MNMN50,5236,103–

635Morehead City, NCNC70,4696,098–

636Shawano, WIWI45,7596,092–

637Elkins, WVWV26,8826,090–

638Laramie, WYWY38,5586,083–

639Sanford, NCNC70,2586,068–

640Truckee, CACA101,9116,057–

641Hudson, NYNY60,1686,034–

642Rutland, VTVT59,6535,992–

643Menomonie, WIWI46,2235,973–

644Waynesville, NCNC63,3695,970–

645Cadillac, MIMI49,7195,959–

646Bainbridge, GAGA29,4325,954–

647Kearney, NENE57,9625,950–

648New Castle, ININ49,1375,946–

649Mount Vernon, ILIL36,1475,944–

650Clewiston, FLFL61,5465,942–

651Huntingdon, PAPA43,0015,925–

652Mount Vernon, OHOH64,0025,911–

653Sault Ste. Marie, MIMI36,0815,909–

654Canton, ILIL32,9015,900–

655Fairbanks, AKAK93,9725,894–

656Silver City, NMNM27,2525,880–

657Burlington, IAIA44,0615,878–

658Blackfoot, IDID51,1535,870–

659Stephenville, TXTX43,9115,862–

660Coldwater, MIMI45,9935,845–

661Cordele, GAGA19,2375,807–

662Scottsbluff, NENE36,2725,764–

663Russellville, ALAL32,4495,762–

664Lock Haven, PAPA37,8705,715–

665Deming, NMNM25,4075,696–

666Albemarle, NCNC68,8305,694–

667Paragould, ARAR47,4115,684–

668Moscow, IDID41,8425,673–

669Mayfield, KYKY37,0505,656–

670Newport, OROR50,6365,597–

671Hannibal, MOMO38,9695,591–

672Fremont, OHOH58,6555,575–

673Hillsdale, MIMI45,7385,561–

674McMinnville, TNTN43,7175,556–

675Bucyrus, OHOH41,8965,549–

676Escanaba, MIMI36,5825,521–

677Clinton, IAIA46,0025,513–

678Cedartown, GAGA45,5145,510–

679DeRidder, LALA36,6735,501–

680Alma, MIMI41,1905,489–

681Kerrville, TXTX54,0375,458–

682Emporia, KSKS34,8385,448–

683Ottumwa, IAIA35,2105,446–

684Columbus, ININ85,7295,440–

685Murray, KYKY39,4215,439–

686Lawrenceburg, TNTN46,9145,412–

687Ellensburg, WAWA48,8035,408–

688Burley, IDID49,3085,404–

689Ashland, OHOH52,5235,389–

690Batesville, ARAR38,7855,349–

691Norwalk, OHOH58,2505,345–

692Willmar, MNMN44,7205,320–

693Sulphur Springs, TXTX39,0635,316–

694Hereford, TXTX18,6265,298–

695Gettysburg, PAPA107,5945,287–

696Paris, TNTN32,8965,276–

697Altus, OKOK24,7645,267–

698Aberdeen, SDSD41,5835,222–

699Bartlesville, OKOK54,0375,220–

700Cañon City, COCO50,0395,201–

701Arkadelphia, ARAR20,9385,133–

702Mountain Home, ARAR42,9825,089–

703Beaver Dam, WIWI89,0975,087–

704Newberry, SCSC39,5615,079–

705Durango, COCO56,8985,065–

706Shelton, WAWA71,1655,054–

707Gainesville, TXTX44,4615,051–

708Winchester, TNTN45,5794,995–

709Butte-Silver Bow, MTMT36,1184,995–

710Fort Madison, IAIA32,3064,976–

711Norfolk, NENE49,2284,973–

712Mason City, IAIA49,7104,962–

713Detroit Lakes, MNMN35,4974,958–

714Martin, TNTN33,2614,948–

715Keene, NHNH78,2694,943–

716Sedalia, MOMO44,2544,897–

717Watertown, WIWI86,5054,877–

718Mineral Wells, TXTX30,7914,875–

719Shelbyville, TNTN55,2734,862–

720Malvern, ARAR33,4514,860–

721Greenville, OHOH51,5204,818–

722Union City, TNTN30,0674,811–

723Astoria, OROR40,9264,798–

724Fort Dodge, IAIA36,8384,771–

725Findlay, OHOH75,0344,769–

726Sparta, WIWI46,5724,763–

727Freeport, ILIL43,2204,761–

728Jesup, GAGA32,4814,740–

729Maryville, MOMO20,1744,728–

730Brenham, TXTX38,2884,728–

731Jacksonville, ILIL37,3814,726–

732Rice Lake, WIWI46,4844,708–

733Bonham, TXTX39,2654,675–

734Coshocton, OHOH37,1884,672–

735Arcadia, FLFL37,0784,595–

736Dickinson, NDND39,1424,588–

737Town of Pecos, TXTX12,1384,566–

738Barre, VTVT59,6524,554–

739Baraboo, WIWI66,6524,553–

740Lebanon, MOMO36,9434,546–

741Brookings, SDSD37,6354,483–

742Washington Court House, OHOH28,5524,455–

743Bellefontaine, OHOH46,3024,429–

744Hastings, NENE40,5774,426–

745Sonora, CACA53,1604,414–

746Oak Harbor, WAWA85,6574,406–

747Batavia, NYNY58,4164,400–

748Warren, PAPA37,0384,342–

749Wilmington, OHOH42,3014,339–

750Warsaw, ININ80,8924,337–

751Faribault, MNMN69,9394,294–

752Cambridge, MDMD33,6284,284–

753Washington, ININ34,2094,279–

754Jefferson, GAGA99,2654,245–

755Bedford, ININ45,5684,164–

756Vernal, UTUT38,2784,158–

757Sandpoint, IDID54,4204,146–

758Effingham, ILIL44,7274,138–

759Alpena, MIMI28,8534,124–

760Marion, NCNC45,1984,080–

761Bennington, VTVT36,6304,051–

762Selinsgrove, PAPA39,6554,040–

763North Platte, NENE33,9724,039–

764Peru, ININ34,4874,036–

765Muscatine, IAIA41,8534,031–

766Taylorville, ILIL33,4434,030–

767Moberly, MOMO24,5134,030–

768Fayetteville, TNTN36,8533,987–

769Logansport, ININ37,8363,975–

770Seymour, ININ47,3703,959–

771Toccoa, GAGA27,8543,942–

772Brattleboro, VTVT45,2043,932–

773Arkansas City, KSKS34,3823,923–

774Calhoun, GAGA61,7013,901–

775Hays, KSKS29,0753,870–

776Thomaston, GAGA28,5003,865–

777Ocean Pines, MDMD54,4593,852–

778Elk City, OKOK22,1593,844–

779Alexandria, MNMN40,1203,837–

780Zapata, TXTX13,7533,802–

781Austin, MNMN40,9713,748–

782Lewisburg, PAPA42,3133,736–

783La Grande, OROR25,9003,734–

784Mitchell, SDSD25,9133,719–

785Kapaa, HIHI73,4003,692–

786Crescent City, CACA26,4103,678–

787Susanville, CACA28,1173,677–

788Pontiac, ILIL35,0573,665–

789Decatur, ININ36,6503,618–

790Rifle, COCO80,0993,592–

791Ludington, MIMI29,0403,591–

792Columbus, NENE46,5833,584–

793Fitzgerald, GAGA17,0993,574–

794Port Lavaca, TXTX19,5993,555–

795Sweetwater, TXTX14,1173,536–

796Mexico, MOMO24,5283,517–

797Garden City, KSKS37,5053,512–

798Seneca Falls, NYNY32,8833,511–

799Fort Morgan, COCO30,3063,504–

800Cedar City, UTUT67,1413,496–

801Branson, MOMO57,0013,484–

802Sidney, OHOH48,0653,479–

803Great Bend, KSKS24,7903,477–

804Borger, TXTX19,6333,477–

805Montrose, COCO44,5913,469–

806Madison, ININ33,2793,467–

807Kingsland, GAGA60,1433,462–

808Defiance, OHOH38,2923,446–

809Brevard, NCNC34,2113,443–

810Albert Lea, MNMN30,4403,390–

811Rochelle, ILIL51,3993,330–

812Lincoln, ILIL27,1823,320–

813Marshalltown, IAIA39,8903,318–

814Pampa, TXTX21,7863,317–

815Elko, NVNV56,6823,315–

816St. Marys, PAPA29,9263,311–

817Red Wing, MNMN48,1953,309–

818Snyder, TXTX16,1623,294–

819Dodge City, KSKS33,9933,269–

820Iron Mountain, MIMI30,5753,259–

821Summerville, GAGA25,3003,247–

822Beatrice, NENE21,7113,246–

823Vermillion, SDSD15,0313,242–

824Carson, NVNV58,5713,239–

825Crawfordsville, ININ38,9543,236–

826Wabash, ININ30,7133,224–

827Laconia, NHNH65,1473,197–

828Cornelia, GAGA50,4163,194–

829Marshall, MOMO23,2653,184–

830Plymouth, ININ46,5993,183–

831Urbana, OHOH38,8203,179–

832Brigham City, UTUT70,4053,131–

833Rock Springs, WYWY41,2673,112–

834Fremont, NENE38,0573,079–

835Kendallville, ININ47,9373,049–

836Wahpeton, NDND23,0193,045–

837Dixon, ILIL32,9143,035–

838Pella, IAIA34,1923,004–

839Williston, NDND41,7672,953–

840Vernon, TXTX12,4812,923–

841Marshall, MNMN25,6842,914–

842Frankfort, ININ33,3222,913–

843Price, UTUT20,6802,907–

844The Dalles, OROR26,3102,903–

845Spearfish, SDSD29,4592,897–

846Watertown, SDSD29,5622,843–

847Granbury, TXTX70,5012,819–

848Lewisburg, TNTN38,0712,819–

849Oskaloosa, IAIA21,8802,808–

850Connersville, ININ23,5332,806–

851Wapakoneta, OHOH45,9092,795–

852Liberal, KSKS21,0732,765–

853Fairmont, MNMN19,4402,720–

854Jamestown, NDND21,4142,715–

855Port Townsend, WAWA33,9702,713–

856Mountain Home, IDID29,4652,702–

857Woodward, OKOK19,8272,697–

858Atchison, KSKS16,1722,679–

859Hood River, OROR23,7202,647–

860Celina, OHOH42,7372,644–

861Steamboat Springs, COCO38,4512,637–

862Sterling, COCO20,6542,619–

863Easton, MDMD38,2382,607–

864Ottawa, KSKS26,2992,603–

865Yankton, SDSD23,6352,601–

866Greencastle, ININ37,8762,508–

867Gillette, WYWY48,1452,472–

868Ruidoso, NMNM19,8442,461–

869Fredericksburg, TXTX28,5272,440–

870Sheridan, WYWY33,2412,439–

871Huron, SDSD19,6242,413–

872Hutchinson, MNMN36,6312,413–

873Andrews, TXTX18,9142,403–

874Brookings, OROR22,6212,392–

875Othello, WAWA21,4882,382–

876Franklin, KYKY20,7882,348–

877Worthington, MNMN22,3382,346–

878Dumas, TXTX21,8912,339–

879Huntington, ININ37,2242,326–

880Lexington, NENE26,2552,282–

881Auburn, ININ44,5352,281–

882Carroll, IAIA20,3032,263–

883Baker City, OROR16,6582,249–

884Jasper, ININ44,0162,247–

885New Ulm, MNMN25,5172,243–

886Cody, WYWY31,1712,198–

887Guymon, OKOK20,3222,196–

888Bishop, CACA18,1582,175–

889Van Wert, OHOH29,0132,160–

890Greensburg, ININ26,5762,143–

891Petoskey, MIMI33,7752,132–

892Le Mars, IAIA25,6972,113–

893Gardnerville Ranchos, NVNV51,1542,072–

894Owatonna, MNMN37,4642,066–

895Hemlock Farms, PAPA62,8081,982–

896Fallon, NVNV25,8511,973–

897McPherson, KSKS30,0641,924–

898Heber, UTUT81,6551,921–

899Kill Devil Hills, NCNC38,2451,878–

900Pahrump, NVNV57,3361,874–

901Evanston, WYWY23,4151,860–

902Pierre, SDSD20,5881,849–

903Monticello, ININ25,1641,792–

904Spencer, IAIA16,2021,750–

905Breckenridge, COCO39,0691,750–

906Storm Lake, IAIA20,4491,745–

907Edwards, COCO54,2911,654–

908Hailey, IDID32,4361,577–

909Lake of the Woods, VAVA40,0831,570–

910Angola, ININ34,7991,546–

911Jackson, WYWY36,5871,533–

912Juneau city and, AKAK31,6091,496–

913Spirit Lake, IAIA18,0771,366–

914Winnemucca, NVNV17,2671,323–

915Vineyard Haven, MAMA21,219782–

916Ketchikan, AKAK13,549580–

917Los Alamos, NMNM19,407435–

918Nantucket, MAMA14,758344–

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS