This is a list of lowest-income places in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, the following are the places in the United States with the lowest median household income. Locations with populations from the 2013—2017 American Community Survey are ranked by median household income — the median household income figures are also from the 2013—2017 American Community Survey.[1] The "places" used in this article are what the U.S. Census Bureau defines as "places" (such as Census-Designated Places, or CDPs). In the United States (in 2017), the place with the lowest median household income was Little River, California (population 117), while the place with the lowest median household income with a population of more than 1,000 was Comerío Zona Urbana in Comerío, Puerto Rico (population 4,312).[1]
In terms of geographic size, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and the adjacent Rosebud Indian Reservation (Lakota Sioux Reservations, South Dakota) have long been among the lowest income areas in the United States — Wounded Knee, South Dakota, which is within the Pine Ridge Reservation, had the 7th lowest median household income out of all places in the 50 states/D.C./Puerto Rico (in 2017).[1]
In terms of population size, 3 out of 5 of the largest counties (populations over 1000) are predominantly, or majority white, ranging from 98% to 99% white, while two counties are predominantly black at 60% and 68% black, while the fifth one is 99% Native American.
The U.S. territories have the highest poverty rates in the United States (higher than the poverty rates of the U.S. mainland), and many of the lowest-income places in the United States are found in the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and American Samoa.[2] [3] In 2018, Comerío Municipality, Puerto Rico had a median household income of $12,812 — the lowest of any county or county-equivalent in the United States.[4]
The data below is for annual median household income in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico — the data is based on 2013–2017 American Community Survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau; populations are also from the 2013–2017 American Community Survey.[1] Places with a population of over 1,000 are shown in bold.
Most of the lowest-income places with more than 1,000 people are located in Puerto Rico. Places in Puerto Rico such as zona urbanas and comunidads are Census-Designated Places. Locations in the U.S. territories (other than Puerto Rico) are included, but are not ranked because they have 2010 data.[5] Data is collected annually for the 50 states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico (in American Community Survey estimates), but data is not collected annually in other U.S. territories.
For comparison, in 2017 the median household income of the United States (excluding the U.S. territories) was $57,652.[6]
| data-sort-type="number" | Rank ! | Place | State or territory | 2013 - 2017 Annual Median Household Income | Population (2013 - 2017 ACS estimates)[7] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3,194 | 82 | |||
| 2 | $4,638 | 111 | |||
| 3 | $5,685 | 137 | |||
| 4 | $5,857 | 395 | |||
| 5 | Comerío Zona Urbana | Puerto Rico | $6,242 | 4,312 | |
| 6 | $7,206 | 122 | |||
| 7 | $7,292 | 521 | |||
| 8 | Barceloneta Zona Urbana | Puerto Rico | $7,897 | 3,920 | |
| 9 | Sabana comunidad | Puerto Rico | $8,687 | 1,093 | |
| 10 | $8,750 | 143 | |||
| 11 | Palmarejo comunidad (Lajas Municipality) | Puerto Rico | $8,839 | 1,563 | |
| 12 | $8,846 | 486 | |||
| 13 | $8,882 | 41 | |||
| 14 | $8,889 | 495 | |||
| 15 | $8,947 | 198 | |||
| 16 | $9,063 | 242 | |||
| 17 | Santa Clara comunidad | Puerto Rico | $9,063 | 1,037 | |
| 18 | $9,107 | 949 | |||
| 19 | Whitley City CDP | Kentucky | $9,234 | 1,231 | |
| 20 | Boqueron comunidad (Las Piedras Municipality) | Puerto Rico | $9,238 | 1,139 | |
| 21 | Aguada Zona Urbana | Puerto Rico | $9,255 | 2,615 | |
| 22 | Sabana Eneas comunidad | Puerto Rico | $9,409 | 1,204 | |
| 23 | $9,464 | 11 | |||
| 24 | Suarez comunidad | Puerto Rico | $9,524 | 1,931 | |
| 25 | $9,538 | 235 | |||
| 26 | $9,583 | 59 | |||
| 27 | $9,659 | 391 | |||
| 28 | Fuig comunidad | Puerto Rico | $10,067 | 1,108 | |
| 29 | Adjuntas Zona Urbana | Puerto Rico | $10,257 | 4,302 | |
| 30 | $10,278 | 131 | |||
| 31 | $10,313 | 602 | |||
| 32 | El Tumbao comunidad | Puerto Rico | $10,396 | 1,802 | |
| 33 | $10,450 | 262 | |||
| 34 | $10,455 | 816 | |||
| 35 | $10,500 | 57 | |||
| 36 | Maria Antonia comunidad | Puerto Rico | $10,526 | 1,115 | |
| 37 | Naranjito Zona Urbana | Puerto Rico | $10,532 | 1,593 | |
| 38 | $10,608 | 631 | |||
| 39 | El Ojo comunidad | Puerto Rico | $10,625 | 1,329 | |
| 40 | Miranda comunidad | Puerto Rico | $10,640 | 1,717 | |
| 41 | $10,667 | 662 | |||
| 42 | $10,882 | 692 | |||
| 43 | $10,972 | 132 | |||
| 44 | Caban comunidad | Puerto Rico | $11,039 | 3,408 | |
| 45 | Pole Ojea comunidad | Puerto Rico | $11,113 | 1,644 | |
| 46 | Ceiba comunidad | Puerto Rico | $11,150 | 2,524 | |
| 47 | Palomas comunidad (Yauco Municipality) | Puerto Rico | $11,156 | 2,083 | |
| 48 | Camuy Zona Urbana | Puerto Rico | $11,163 | 3,816 | |
| 49 | $11,207 | 729 | |||
| 50 | $11,250 | 73 | |||
| 51 | Lomas comunidad | Puerto Rico | $11,280 | 1,253 | |
| 52 | Aguadilla Zona Urbana | Puerto Rico | $11,441 | 11,581 | |
| 53 | Barranquitas Zona Urbana | Puerto Rico | $11,573 | 1,945 | |
| 54 | $11,591 | 525 | |||
| 55 | $11,696 | 264 | |||
| 56 | Playita Cortada comunidad | Puerto Rico | $11,714 | 1,273 | |
| 57 | $11,750 | 63 | |||
| 58 | $11,753 | 224 | |||
| 59 | $11,808 | 212 | |||
| 60 | $11,824 | 843 | |||
| 61 | Morovis Zona Urbana | Puerto Rico | $11,847 | 2,198 | |
| 62 | San Sebastian Zona Urbana | Puerto Rico | $11,858 | 8,614 | |
| 63 | Loiza Zona Urbana | Puerto Rico | $11,889 | 3,439 | |
| 64 | Playa Fortuna comunidad | Puerto Rico | $11,960 | 1,375 | |
| 65 | $11,964 | 993 | |||
| 66 | La Alianza comunidad | Puerto Rico | $11,995 | 1,793 | |
| — | $12,000 | 175 | |||
| 67 | $12,083 | 470 | |||
| 68 | $12,117 | 263 | |||
| 69 | Vieques comunidad | Puerto Rico | $12,147 | 2,648 | |
| 70 | $12,188 | 184 | |||
| 71 | Acietunas comunidad | Puerto Rico | $12,215 | 1,706 | |
| 72 | Palmer comunidad | Puerto Rico | $12,266 | 1,108 | |
| 73 | $12,344 | 136 | |||
| 74 | Casa Blanca CDP | Arizona | $12,396 | 1,189 | |
| 75 | $12,411 | 147 | |||
| — | San Antonio village | Northern Mariana Islands | $12,414 | 1,149 | |
| 76 | Playita comunidad (Yabucoa Municipality) | Puerto Rico | $12,448 | 1,561 | |
| 77 | La Playa comunidad | Puerto Rico | $12,467 | 2,349 | |
| 78 | $12,487 | 490 | |||
| — | $12,500 | 172 | |||
| 79 | $12,500 | 225 | |||
| 80 | Tallaboa Alta comunidad | Puerto Rico | $12,500 | 1,934 | |
| 81 | $12,527 | 866 | |||
| 82 | Santa Isabel Zona Urbana | Puerto Rico | $12,603 | 6,042 | |
| 83 | Corozal Zona Urbana | Puerto Rico | $12,691 | 9,203 | |
| 84 | Mountain Road CDP | Virginia | $12,791 | 1,055 | |
| 85 | Jobos comunidad | Puerto Rico | $12,727 | 2,132 | |
| 86 | Lares Zona Urbana | Puerto Rico | $12,742 | 4,615 | |
| 87 | Patillas Zona Urbana | Puerto Rico | $12,748 | 3,826 | |
| 88 | $12,788 | 157 | |||
| 89 | Las Ollas comunidad | Puerto Rico | $12,806 | 1,772 | |
| 90 | $12,813 | 63 | |||
| 91 | $12,857 | 250 | |||
| 92 | Ciales Zona Urbana | Puerto Rico | $12,914 | 2,276 | |
| 93 | Buena Vista comunidad (Arroyo Municipality) | Puerto Rico | $12,957 | 1,257 | |
| 94 | Liborio Negron Torres comunidad | Puerto Rico | $12,966 | 1,482 | |
| 95 | Cidra Zona Urbana | Puerto Rico | $13,011 | 5,427 | |
| 96 | $13,105 | 460 | |||
| 97 | $13,112 | 747 | |||
| 98 | $13,125 | 100 | |||
| 99 | $13,125 | 456 | |||
| 100 | Lluveras comunidad | Puerto Rico | $13,141 | 1,228 | |
| 101 | Livingston | Alabama | $13,272 | 3,416 | |
| 102 | Manati Zona Urbana | Puerto Rico | $13,278 | 13,130 | |
| 103 | $13,281 | 59 | |||
| 104 | Palmas comunidad | Puerto Rico | $13,288 | 1,135 | |
| 105 | McKee | Kentucky | $13,306 | 1,179 |
Other places (in the 50 states) that had a low median household income and a population greater than 1,000 (in 2017):[1]
Other places in the U.S. territories (excluding Puerto Rico) with a low median household income in 2010:[5]
American Samoa has the lowest per capita income in the United States.[8] American Samoa's Manu'a District had a per capita income of $5,441 in 2010, while American Samoa overall had a per capita income of $6,311 in 2010.[9] Puerto Rico's municipalities also have low per capita incomes — in 2018, Maricao Municipality, Puerto Rico had a per capita income of $5,974, the lowest of any county or county-equivalent in the American Community Survey.[10] Puerto Rico overall had a per capita income of $12,451 in 2018.[11]
Among U.S. states, Mississippi had a low per capita income in 2018 ($23,434).[12]
For the survey, a large city is defined as a city with a population of 250,000 or more. Percentage of residents living below the U.S. government established poverty income level is listed, based on 2018 US Census estimates.[13]
The U.S. has the highest level of income inequality among its (post-)industrialized peers.[14] When measured for all households, U.S. income inequality is comparable to other developed countries before taxes and transfers, but is among the highest after taxes and transfers, meaning the U.S. shifts relatively less income from higher income households to lower income households. In 2016, average market income was $15,600 for the lowest quintile and $280,300 for the highest quintile. The degree of inequality accelerated within the top quintile, with the top 1% at $1.8 million, approximately 30 times the $59,300 income of the middle quintile.[15]
The economic and political impacts of inequality may include slower GDP growth, reduced income mobility, higher poverty rates, greater usage of household debt leading to increased risk of financial crises, and political polarization.[16] [17] Causes of inequality may include executive compensation increasing relative to the average worker, financialization, greater industry concentration, lower unionization rates, lower effective tax rates on higher incomes, and technology changes that reward higher educational attainment.[18]