Counties in Texas by poverty rate
Brooks County had the highest poverty rate of 254 counties in 2017, at 35%. Rockwall County had the lowest, at 5.3%. The median was 16.2% and the figure for Texas was 14.7%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.
Top 40 counties, 2017
Full ranking
| Rank | Counties | 2017 (%) | Change on 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brooks County | 35 | +2.8 pts |
| 1 | Willacy County | 35 | -3.3 pts |
| 3 | Starr County | 32 | -7.9 pts |
| 4 | Zavala County | 31.6 | -2.8 pts |
| 5 | Dimmit County | 31.2 | +3.6 pts |
| 6 | Zapata County | 30 | +0.9 pts |
| 7 | Hidalgo County | 29.5 | -1.7 pts |
| 8 | La Salle County | 29.2 | +3 pts |
| 9 | Duval County | 28.6 | +2.3 pts |
| 10 | Frio County | 27.9 | +2.1 pts |
| 11 | Cameron County | 27.7 | -1.4 pts |
| 12 | Falls County | 27.6 | +2 pts |
| 13 | Jim Hogg County | 27.3 | -0.6 pts |
| 13 | Webb County | 27.3 | -4.5 pts |
| 15 | Maverick County | 27 | +2.7 pts |
| 16 | Bee County | 26.6 | -0.4 pts |
| 17 | Kleberg County | 25.5 | +2.6 pts |
| 18 | Garza County | 25.3 | -4.7 pts |
| 19 | Coleman County | 25.2 | +5.1 pts |
| 20 | Reeves County | 25.1 | +0.1 pts |
| 21 | Cochran County | 24.8 | +1.3 pts |
| 22 | Hall County | 24 | -1.8 pts |
| 23 | Brazos County | 23.9 | -1 pts |
| 23 | Nacogdoches County | 23.9 | -1.5 pts |
| 25 | Jim Wells County | 23.7 | +0.5 pts |
| 26 | Presidio County | 23.4 | -0.7 pts |
| 27 | Walker County | 23.1 | +0.8 pts |
| 28 | Marion County | 22.8 | +0.2 pts |
| 29 | Edwards County | 22.6 | -0.7 pts |
| 30 | Crosby County | 22.3 | -1.8 pts |
| 30 | Houston County | 22.3 | +0.2 pts |
| 32 | Culberson County | 22.1 | -1.5 pts |
| 32 | Karnes County | 22.1 | +0.3 pts |
| 34 | Dawson County | 21.7 | +0.3 pts |
| 35 | San Augustine County | 21.6 | -2.2 pts |
| 36 | Terry County | 21.5 | -0.3 pts |
| 37 | Val Verde County | 21.4 | +0.7 pts |
| 38 | Cottle County | 21.2 | -0.2 pts |
| 38 | Dickens County | 21.2 | -0.6 pts |
| 40 | El Paso County | 21 | -1.7 pts |
| 40 | Trinity County | 21 | +0.9 pts |
| 42 | Jones County | 20.9 | -0.4 pts |
| 43 | Newton County | 20.8 | -2 pts |
| 43 | Shelby County | 20.8 | -0.3 pts |
| 45 | Haskell County | 20.6 | -3.9 pts |
| 45 | Knox County | 20.6 | -0.5 pts |
| 45 | Menard County | 20.6 | -0.8 pts |
| 45 | Mitchell County | 20.6 | -1 pts |
| 45 | Pecos County | 20.6 | +3.5 pts |
| 50 | Uvalde County | 20.5 | -4.8 pts |
| 51 | Camp County | 20.3 | +1.1 pts |
| 51 | Childress County | 20.3 | -1.2 pts |
| 53 | Floyd County | 20.2 | -2.6 pts |
| 53 | Sabine County | 20.2 | +2.7 pts |
| 55 | Kinney County | 20.1 | +0.1 pts |
| 56 | Angelina County | 20 | +1 pts |
| 56 | Jasper County | 20 | +0.8 pts |
| 56 | Lamb County | 20 | -1.5 pts |
| 59 | Donley County | 19.9 | +1.3 pts |
| 59 | Hale County | 19.9 | -1.7 pts |
| 59 | Swisher County | 19.9 | -2.3 pts |
| 62 | Tyler County | 19.6 | +1.2 pts |
| 63 | Red River County | 19.5 | +2.4 pts |
| 63 | Stephens County | 19.5 | -1.9 pts |
| 65 | McCulloch County | 19.4 | +1 pts |
| 66 | Milam County | 19.3 | +3 pts |
| 66 | Nolan County | 19.3 | +0.9 pts |
| 66 | Terrell County | 19.3 | +0.6 pts |
| 69 | Limestone County | 19.1 | -2 pts |
| 70 | Cass County | 19 | +1.6 pts |
| 70 | San Patricio County | 19 | +3.2 pts |
| 72 | Lubbock County | 18.9 | 0 pts |
| 73 | Anderson County | 18.8 | -1.7 pts |
| 73 | DeWitt County | 18.8 | +0.6 pts |
| 75 | Jefferson County | 18.6 | -1.5 pts |
| 75 | Kimble County | 18.6 | -0.8 pts |
| 77 | Potter County | 18.5 | -3.5 pts |
| 78 | Morris County | 18.4 | -1.6 pts |
| 79 | Hudspeth County | 18.3 | -3.1 pts |
| 79 | Madison County | 18.3 | +1 pts |
| 81 | Real County | 18.2 | -0.2 pts |
| 81 | San Jacinto County | 18.2 | +0.5 pts |
| 83 | Aransas County | 18.1 | -0.7 pts |
| 83 | Howard County | 18.1 | +0.2 pts |
| 83 | Lynn County | 18.1 | +0.2 pts |
| 86 | Collingsworth County | 18 | -1.7 pts |
| 86 | Foard County | 18 | 0 pts |
| 86 | Grimes County | 18 | +1.3 pts |
| 86 | Hardeman County | 18 | +0.2 pts |
| 86 | Matagorda County | 18 | +0.6 pts |
| 86 | Polk County | 18 | -2.3 pts |
| 92 | Baylor County | 17.7 | +0.1 pts |
| 92 | Deaf Smith County | 17.7 | +0.6 pts |
| 92 | Motley County | 17.7 | -0.5 pts |
| 95 | Delta County | 17.5 | -1 pts |
| 96 | Jack County | 17.4 | +0.2 pts |
| 96 | Live Oak County | 17.4 | +0.2 pts |
| 96 | Robertson County | 17.4 | -1.3 pts |
| 99 | Harrison County | 17.3 | -0.1 pts |
| 99 | McLennan County | 17.3 | -1.2 pts |
| 99 | Runnels County | 17.3 | +0.1 pts |
| 102 | Bailey County | 17.2 | +0.6 pts |
| 102 | Castro County | 17.2 | -0.9 pts |
| 102 | Cherokee County | 17.2 | -2.2 pts |
| 102 | Henderson County | 17.2 | +0.4 pts |
| 102 | Scurry County | 17.2 | +2 pts |
| 107 | San Saba County | 17.1 | -3 pts |
| 108 | Gray County | 17 | -2.4 pts |
| 108 | Rains County | 17 | +2.2 pts |
| 110 | Atascosa County | 16.9 | +0.6 pts |
| 110 | Hunt County | 16.9 | +0.6 pts |
| 110 | Navarro County | 16.9 | -0.9 pts |
| 110 | Refugio County | 16.9 | +1.2 pts |
| 114 | Brown County | 16.8 | -0.3 pts |
| 114 | Crockett County | 16.8 | -0.1 pts |
| 114 | Eastland County | 16.8 | -3.2 pts |
| 114 | Palo Pinto County | 16.8 | +0.4 pts |
| 114 | Wichita County | 16.8 | 0 pts |
| 119 | Gonzales County | 16.7 | -0.4 pts |
| 120 | Burleson County | 16.6 | +2.2 pts |
| 121 | Gregg County | 16.5 | -0.9 pts |
| 122 | Upshur County | 16.4 | +1 pts |
| 122 | Wilbarger County | 16.4 | +0.6 pts |
| 124 | Calhoun County | 16.3 | +0.6 pts |
| 124 | Titus County | 16.3 | +1.4 pts |
| 126 | Hockley County | 16.2 | -0.9 pts |
| 126 | Lamar County | 16.2 | -3.7 pts |
| 126 | Schleicher County | 16.2 | -0.4 pts |
| 129 | Freestone County | 16.1 | -3 pts |
| 129 | Hamilton County | 16.1 | +1 pts |
| 129 | Leon County | 16.1 | -1.9 pts |
| 129 | Nueces County | 16.1 | +1 pts |
| 133 | Bosque County | 16 | +0.2 pts |
| 133 | Jackson County | 16 | +2.5 pts |
| 133 | Wharton County | 16 | -1.4 pts |
| 136 | Bowie County | 15.9 | -3.4 pts |
| 136 | Harris County | 15.9 | -0.7 pts |
| 138 | Erath County | 15.8 | -3.7 pts |
| 138 | Mills County | 15.8 | 0 pts |
| 138 | Young County | 15.8 | +1.2 pts |
| 141 | Victoria County | 15.7 | +1.5 pts |
| 142 | Bexar County | 15.6 | -0.7 pts |
| 142 | Smith County | 15.6 | -0.1 pts |
| 144 | Liberty County | 15.5 | -0.4 pts |
| 144 | Waller County | 15.5 | -1 pts |
| 146 | Concho County | 15.4 | -10.4 pts |
| 146 | Throckmorton County | 15.4 | +0.5 pts |
| 148 | Briscoe County | 15.3 | -0.1 pts |
| 148 | Montague County | 15.3 | -1.2 pts |
| 148 | Stonewall County | 15.3 | -0.3 pts |
| 151 | Goliad County | 15.2 | +0.9 pts |
| 151 | Kenedy County | 15.2 | -1 pts |
| 151 | Rusk County | 15.2 | -0.4 pts |
| 151 | Taylor County | 15.2 | -1.6 pts |
| 151 | Wood County | 15.2 | +2 pts |
| 156 | Ward County | 15.1 | +2.3 pts |
| 157 | Comanche County | 15 | -2.1 pts |
| 157 | Gaines County | 15 | +0.4 pts |
| 157 | Panola County | 15 | -0.6 pts |
| 160 | Colorado County | 14.9 | +0.4 pts |
| 160 | Hill County | 14.9 | -1.3 pts |
| 162 | Dallas County | 14.8 | -1.5 pts |
| 162 | Franklin County | 14.8 | -1 pts |
| 164 | Fisher County | 14.7 | -0.9 pts |
| 164 | Medina County | 14.7 | +0.3 pts |
| 164 | Winkler County | 14.7 | -0.3 pts |
| 167 | Caldwell County | 14.5 | -2.1 pts |
| 167 | Wheeler County | 14.5 | +1.1 pts |
| 169 | Sutton County | 14.3 | +0.2 pts |
| 170 | Shackelford County | 14.2 | -0.6 pts |
| 171 | Brewster County | 14 | -0.9 pts |
| 171 | Callahan County | 14 | -0.9 pts |
| 171 | Upton County | 14 | +0.4 pts |
| 174 | King County | 13.9 | +3.2 pts |
| 175 | Bell County | 13.8 | +0.9 pts |
| 176 | Hopkins County | 13.7 | -1.6 pts |
| 176 | Orange County | 13.7 | -0.3 pts |
| 178 | Coryell County | 13.6 | -0.6 pts |
| 179 | Ector County | 13.5 | -0.4 pts |
| 179 | Tom Green County | 13.5 | +0.1 pts |
| 181 | Grayson County | 13.4 | +0.2 pts |
| 181 | Lipscomb County | 13.4 | +1 pts |
| 183 | Coke County | 13.3 | -2.3 pts |
| 183 | Kent County | 13.3 | +1.8 pts |
| 183 | Kerr County | 13.3 | -1.5 pts |
| 183 | Martin County | 13.3 | +0.3 pts |
| 183 | Parmer County | 13.3 | -2.2 pts |
| 188 | Lampasas County | 13.2 | -0.4 pts |
| 189 | Van Zandt County | 13.1 | -1.7 pts |
| 190 | Andrews County | 13 | +1.3 pts |
| 190 | Cooke County | 13 | -0.8 pts |
| 192 | Fannin County | 12.9 | -3.2 pts |
| 192 | Hutchinson County | 12.9 | -0.2 pts |
| 192 | Llano County | 12.9 | -0.5 pts |
| 192 | Washington County | 12.9 | -1.2 pts |
| 196 | Jeff Davis County | 12.8 | -0.2 pts |
| 196 | Oldham County | 12.8 | -1.5 pts |
| 198 | Hardin County | 12.7 | +1.9 pts |
| 198 | Lee County | 12.7 | 0 pts |
| 200 | Mason County | 12.5 | -0.7 pts |
| 200 | Sherman County | 12.5 | -0.6 pts |
| 202 | Ochiltree County | 12.3 | +0.9 pts |
| 203 | Hays County | 12.2 | -0.2 pts |
| 203 | Sterling County | 12.2 | -0.5 pts |
| 205 | Lavaca County | 12.1 | -0.4 pts |
| 206 | Galveston County | 12 | -0.9 pts |
| 206 | Yoakum County | 12 | -0.2 pts |
| 208 | Bandera County | 11.9 | -2.7 pts |
| 208 | Hansford County | 11.9 | -1.5 pts |
| 210 | Clay County | 11.8 | -1.5 pts |
| 211 | Crane County | 11.7 | +1.4 pts |
| 211 | Moore County | 11.7 | -0.1 pts |
| 213 | McMullen County | 11.6 | -0.4 pts |
| 213 | Tarrant County | 11.6 | -2 pts |
| 215 | Bastrop County | 11.5 | -1.7 pts |
| 215 | Dallam County | 11.5 | +0.2 pts |
| 215 | Travis County | 11.5 | -0.7 pts |
| 218 | Reagan County | 11.4 | -0.4 pts |
| 219 | Wise County | 11.1 | -0.9 pts |
| 220 | Borden County | 11 | +0.4 pts |
| 221 | Gillespie County | 10.9 | +1.1 pts |
| 222 | Fayette County | 10.8 | -0.3 pts |
| 223 | Austin County | 10.7 | -3.6 pts |
| 223 | Midland County | 10.7 | +1 pts |
| 225 | Armstrong County | 10.6 | -0.2 pts |
| 225 | Blanco County | 10.6 | -0.1 pts |
| 225 | Hood County | 10.6 | +0.3 pts |
| 228 | Burnet County | 10.4 | -1.1 pts |
| 228 | Johnson County | 10.4 | -0.9 pts |
| 228 | Somervell County | 10.4 | -0.4 pts |
| 231 | Archer County | 10.1 | -0.4 pts |
| 232 | Hemphill County | 10 | 0 pts |
| 233 | Loving County | 9.7 | -3.6 pts |
| 234 | Chambers County | 9.5 | +0.3 pts |
| 235 | Glasscock County | 9.4 | +0.7 pts |
| 236 | Guadalupe County | 9.3 | -0.5 pts |
| 236 | Irion County | 9.3 | +1.3 pts |
| 236 | Kaufman County | 9.3 | -2.1 pts |
| 239 | Wilson County | 9.1 | -1.3 pts |
| 240 | Brazoria County | 9 | -0.9 pts |
| 241 | Comal County | 8.9 | +0.3 pts |
| 241 | Hartley County | 8.9 | -0.7 pts |
| 241 | Montgomery County | 8.9 | -2 pts |
| 244 | Randall County | 8.8 | -0.3 pts |
| 245 | Carson County | 8.5 | -0.1 pts |
| 245 | Ellis County | 8.5 | -1.2 pts |
| 247 | Fort Bend County | 8 | -0.3 pts |
| 247 | Parker County | 8 | -1.3 pts |
| 249 | Kendall County | 7.3 | -0.1 pts |
| 250 | Denton County | 7.1 | -1.1 pts |
Other periods
About this ranking
People living in families or alone with income below the official US poverty thresholds, as a percentage of people whose poverty status can be determined. United States: Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), all ages.
Absolute thresholds set by the US government, so not comparable with the EU at_risk_of_poverty_rate.
Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.
How to cite
U.S. Census Bureau. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people of all ages in poverty, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-08.
Use this data in your AI agent
Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:
Rank Counties in Texas by poverty rate using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"poverty_rate","level":"province","within":"Texas","limit":10}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/rank?indicator=poverty_rate&level=province&within=Texas&limit=10
Questions
Which county has the highest poverty rate?
Brooks County, with 35% in 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Which county has the lowest poverty rate?
Rockwall County, with 5.3% in 2017.
Where does this ranking come from?
Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people of all ages in poverty, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-08.
Poverty rate (US official measure): other rankings
- US states
- US counties
- Counties in Georgia
- Counties in Virginia
- Counties in Kentucky
- Counties in Missouri
- Counties in Kansas
- Counties in Illinois
- Counties in North Carolina
- Counties in Iowa
- Counties in Tennessee
- Counties in Nebraska
Counties in Texas: more rankings
- Asian population share
- Bachelor's degree or higher, population 25 and over
- Live births, July to June
- Black or African American population share
- Crude birth rate, July to June
- Crude death rate, July to June
- Deaths, July to June
- Foreign-born population share
- Real GDP growth
- GDP per capita, US dollars
- Gross domestic product (GDP), US dollars
- Hispanic or Latino population share
- Homeownership rate (US, housing units)
- Median age
- Median gross rent (monthly)
- Median home value