PlainCities

States ranked

The poorest U.S. states by poverty rate

Louisiana and Mississippi share first place by share of residents below the poverty line (18.9%); New Hampshire is last (7.2%). The share of people whose family income is below the federal poverty threshold for its size.

Which states have the highest poverty rate?

First to fifth: Louisiana (18.9%), Mississippi (18.9%), New Mexico (17.8%), West Virginia (16.7%) and Kentucky (16.1%).

The poorest U.S. states by poverty rate, by share of residents below the poverty line. "Within the margin": the survey cannot tell it from the next one.
RankStateShare of residents below the poverty lineResidents, 2025
1 Louisianawithin the margin 18.9%±0.3 pts 4,618,189
1 Mississippi 18.9%±0.3 pts 2,954,160
3 New Mexico 17.8%±0.4 pts 2,125,498
4 West Virginia 16.7%±0.4 pts 1,766,147
5 Kentuckywithin the margin 16.1%±0.3 pts 4,606,864
6 Arkansas 16.0%±0.2 pts 3,114,791
7 Alabama 15.6%±0.2 pts 5,193,088
8 Oklahoma 15.3%±0.2 pts 4,123,288
9 South Carolinawithin the margin 14.1%±0.2 pts 5,570,274
10 New Yorkwithin the margin 14.0%±0.2 pts 20,002,427
11 Texaswithin the margin 13.8%±0.1 pts 31,709,821
11 Tennessee 13.8%±0.2 pts 7,315,076
13 Georgiawithin the margin 13.4%±0.2 pts 11,302,748
14 Ohiowithin the margin 13.3%±0.2 pts 11,900,510
15 Michiganwithin the margin 13.2%±0.2 pts 10,127,884
16 North Carolina 13.0%±0.2 pts 11,197,968
17 Floridawithin the margin 12.6%±0.1 pts 23,462,518
17 Missouriwithin the margin 12.6%±0.2 pts 6,270,541
19 Arizonawithin the margin 12.5%±0.2 pts 7,623,818
20 Nevadawithin the margin 12.4%±0.3 pts 3,282,188
21 Indiana 12.3%±0.2 pts 6,973,333
22 Californiawithin the margin 12.0%±0.1 pts 39,355,309
23 Oregonwithin the margin 11.9%±0.2 pts 4,273,586
23 South Dakotawithin the margin 11.9%±0.4 pts 935,094
25 Illinoiswithin the margin 11.8%±0.1 pts 12,719,141
26 Pennsylvaniawithin the margin 11.7%±0.1 pts 13,059,432
27 Montanawithin the margin 11.5%±0.3 pts 1,144,694
28 Kansaswithin the margin 11.3%±0.2 pts 2,977,220
29 Rhode Islandwithin the margin 11.2%±0.4 pts 1,114,521
30 Iowawithin the margin 11.1%±0.2 pts 3,238,387
31 North Dakotawithin the margin 10.8%±0.4 pts 799,358
32 Mainewithin the margin 10.7%±0.3 pts 1,414,874
33 Idahowithin the margin 10.6%±0.3 pts 2,029,733
33 Nebraskawithin the margin 10.6%±0.3 pts 2,018,006
33 Wisconsinwithin the margin 10.6%±0.1 pts 5,972,787
36 Wyomingwithin the margin 10.5%±0.6 pts 588,753
37 Delawarewithin the margin 10.4%±0.4 pts 1,059,952
38 Alaskawithin the margin 10.1%±0.4 pts 737,270
38 Vermontwithin the margin 10.1%±0.4 pts 644,663
40 Massachusettswithin the margin 10.0%±0.1 pts 7,154,084
40 Connecticutwithin the margin 10.0%±0.2 pts 3,688,496
40 Hawaiiwithin the margin 10.0%±0.3 pts 1,432,820
43 Washingtonwithin the margin 9.9%±0.2 pts 8,001,020
43 Virginiawithin the margin 9.9%±0.2 pts 8,880,107
45 New Jersey 9.7%±0.2 pts 9,548,215
46 Marylandwithin the margin 9.4%±0.2 pts 6,265,347
46 Coloradowithin the margin 9.4%±0.2 pts 6,012,561
48 Minnesota 9.3%±0.2 pts 5,830,405
49 Utah 8.5%±0.2 pts 3,538,904
50 New Hampshire 7.2%±0.3 pts 1,415,342

Not states, so not ranked: District of Columbia, 15.4%; Puerto Rico, 40.5%.

Source: ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau · Check it at data.census.gov

How is this ranking made?

One figure is read for each of the 50 states: the share of residents below the poverty line. A survey estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40% is left out. Equal figures share a rank. A ranking measures one number; it is not a judgment of a place. The rules are on the methodology page (how a survey figure's reliability is judged), and every ranking is on the rankings page.

Source: PlainCities ranking method applied to the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau · How ranks are computed