Counties in Texas by poverty rate

Brooks County had the highest poverty rate of 254 counties in 2020, at 28.7%. Loving County had the lowest, at 3.9%. The median was 14.3% and the figure for Texas was 13.4%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest28.7Brooks County
Lowest3.9Loving County
Median14.3254 counties
Texas13.4History

Top 40 counties, 2020

CSVChart (SVG)

Brooks CountyBrooks County: 28.7 %28.7Zavala CountyZavala County: 27.2 %27.2Dimmit CountyDimmit County: 25.5 %25.5Starr CountyStarr County: 25.2 %25.2Willacy CountyWillacy County: 24.7 %24.7Zapata CountyZapata County: 24.6 %24.6Cameron CountyCameron County: 24.4 %24.4Hudspeth CountyHudspeth County: 24.2 %24.2La Salle CountyLa Salle County: 24 %24Hidalgo CountyHidalgo County: 23.9 %23.9Bee CountyBee County: 23.1 %23.1Brazos CountyBrazos County: 22.3 %22.3Frio CountyFrio County: 22.3 %22.3Jeff Davis CountyJeff Davis County: 22.2 %22.2Childress CountyChildress County: 21.4 %21.4Newton CountyNewton County: 21.3 %21.3Anderson CountyAnderson County: 20.9 %20.9Kleberg CountyKleberg County: 20.8 %20.8Potter CountyPotter County: 20.8 %20.8Garza CountyGarza County: 20.6 %20.6DeWitt CountyDeWitt County: 20.5 %20.5Jim Hogg CountyJim Hogg County: 20.1 %20.1Jim Wells CountyJim Wells County: 20.1 %20.1Duval CountyDuval County: 20 %20Falls CountyFalls County: 20 %20Haskell CountyHaskell County: 20 %20Houston CountyHouston County: 20 %20Marion CountyMarion County: 20 %20Maverick CountyMaverick County: 20 %20Webb CountyWebb County: 19.9 %19.9Crosby CountyCrosby County: 19.8 %19.8Lamar CountyLamar County: 19.6 %19.6San Augustine CountySan Augustine County: 19.6 %19.6Swisher CountySwisher County: 19.6 %19.6Jones CountyJones County: 19.5 %19.5Nacogdoches CountyNacogdoches County: 19.5 %19.5Presidio CountyPresidio County: 19.4 %19.4Cochran CountyCochran County: 19.2 %19.2Edwards CountyEdwards County: 19.1 %19.1Menard CountyMenard County: 19.1 %19.1
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Full ranking

RankCounties2020 (%)Change on 2019
1Brooks County28.7-0.9 pts
2Zavala County27.2-2.4 pts
3Dimmit County25.5+0.2 pts
4Starr County25.2-7.3 pts
5Willacy County24.7-5.8 pts
6Zapata County24.6-5.5 pts
7Cameron County24.4-1.1 pts
8Hudspeth County24.2-3.8 pts
9La Salle County24-2.6 pts
10Hidalgo County23.9-3 pts
11Bee County23.1-0.9 pts
12Brazos County22.3+2.3 pts
12Frio County22.3-5.4 pts
14Jeff Davis County22.2+9.5 pts
15Childress County21.4-0.5 pts
16Newton County21.3-1.5 pts
17Anderson County20.9+1.1 pts
18Kleberg County20.8-2.5 pts
18Potter County20.8+0.5 pts
20Garza County20.6-3.6 pts
21DeWitt County20.5+3.4 pts
22Jim Hogg County20.1-2.7 pts
22Jim Wells County20.1-0.9 pts
24Duval County20-3.9 pts
24Falls County20-1.6 pts
24Haskell County20-0.7 pts
24Houston County20-0.9 pts
24Marion County20-1.4 pts
24Maverick County20-6.9 pts
30Webb County19.9-1 pts
31Crosby County19.8-2.3 pts
32Lamar County19.6+1.2 pts
32San Augustine County19.6-2.9 pts
32Swisher County19.6-1 pts
35Jones County19.5-0.9 pts
35Nacogdoches County19.5-1.4 pts
37Presidio County19.4+0.2 pts
38Cochran County19.2-0.3 pts
39Edwards County19.1-1.6 pts
39Menard County19.1-1.6 pts
41Reeves County19-3.1 pts
41Uvalde County19-0.8 pts
43Dickens County18.9-0.5 pts
43Tyler County18.9+1.7 pts
45Dawson County18.7-1.9 pts
45Mitchell County18.7-0.8 pts
47Culberson County18.6-1.1 pts
47Hall County18.6-6.8 pts
49Terry County18.5-3.1 pts
50Jefferson County18.3+1.4 pts
51Gregg County18.1+1.6 pts
52Shelby County18-3.4 pts
52Walker County18-3.4 pts
54Cottle County17.9-1 pts
54Kinney County17.9-1 pts
56Cass County17.7+0.4 pts
56Floyd County17.7+0.4 pts
58El Paso County17.6-1.2 pts
58Hale County17.6-0.3 pts
58Lamb County17.6-0.9 pts
61Karnes County17.5-3.5 pts
61Nueces County17.5+1 pts
63Bowie County17.4+0.6 pts
63Madison County17.4-0.4 pts
63Milam County17.4+1.1 pts
63San Saba County17.4-3.3 pts
67Jasper County17.3-2.2 pts
67Matagorda County17.3-0.2 pts
69Nolan County17.2-0.3 pts
70Aransas County17.1-1.6 pts
71Angelina County17+1.4 pts
71Eastland County17+0.3 pts
71Live Oak County17+0.5 pts
71McLennan County17-1 pts
71Morris County17-1.1 pts
76Collingsworth County16.9-2.9 pts
77Foard County16.8-0.2 pts
77Limestone County16.8-2.4 pts
77Trinity County16.8-1.1 pts
80Camp County16.7+0.1 pts
80Cherokee County16.7+0.2 pts
82Pecos County16.5-2.2 pts
82Victoria County16.5+2.2 pts
84Real County16.4-1.3 pts
85Donley County16.3-0.1 pts
85Knox County16.3-2.8 pts
85Motley County16.3-1.3 pts
88McCulloch County16.2-1.4 pts
89San Jacinto County16.1-0.7 pts
90Coleman County16-1.7 pts
90Sabine County16-1.6 pts
90Wichita County16+2.1 pts
93Comanche County15.9+2.4 pts
93Harris County15.9+0.9 pts
95Lubbock County15.8-2.1 pts
96Howard County15.7-1.3 pts
96Kimble County15.7-1.3 pts
96Red River County15.7-3.9 pts
99Brown County15.6+1.9 pts
99Harrison County15.6-2.2 pts
99Stephens County15.6-1.4 pts
99Val Verde County15.6-5.2 pts
103Deaf Smith County15.5-1.5 pts
104Fannin County15.4+2.2 pts
105Baylor County15.3-0.6 pts
105Castro County15.30 pts
105Grimes County15.3-0.6 pts
105Panola County15.3+1 pts
105Refugio County15.3-2.7 pts
110Orange County15.1+2.6 pts
111Bexar County15-0.2 pts
111Hardeman County15-4.2 pts
111Polk County15-1.7 pts
114Atascosa County14.9+0.2 pts
115Navarro County14.8+1.4 pts
115San Patricio County14.8+0.4 pts
115Young County14.8+1.2 pts
118Bell County14.7+0.9 pts
118Hamilton County14.7+0.4 pts
120Wilbarger County14.6-0.3 pts
121Bailey County14.4-1.5 pts
121Liberty County14.40 pts
121Lynn County14.4-1.6 pts
121Mills County14.4+1.2 pts
125Delta County14.3-1.7 pts
125Gonzales County14.3-1.9 pts
125Runnels County14.3-2.9 pts
125Stonewall County14.3-0.8 pts
125Titus County14.3-2 pts
130Gray County14.2-0.3 pts
130Henderson County14.2-3.3 pts
130Robertson County14.2-6.5 pts
130Rusk County14.2-1.2 pts
134Brewster County14+0.9 pts
134Hill County14+0.9 pts
134Oldham County14+0.9 pts
134Terrell County14-3.5 pts
138Palo Pinto County13.9-3.3 pts
139Leon County13.8-0.6 pts
139Scurry County13.8-0.9 pts
139Wharton County13.8-2.6 pts
142Dallas County13.7-0.3 pts
143Ector County13.6+1.5 pts
143Grayson County13.6+2 pts
143Jack County13.6-2 pts
143Rains County13.6+0.2 pts
147Concho County13.5-1.6 pts
147Throckmorton County13.5-0.4 pts
147Wheeler County13.5+1.9 pts
147Wood County13.5-0.8 pts
151Briscoe County13.4-1.6 pts
152Fisher County13.30 pts
152Freestone County13.3-2.2 pts
154Goliad County13.2-0.2 pts
154Schleicher County13.2-1.8 pts
156Burleson County13.1-0.7 pts
157Franklin County12.9-1.5 pts
157Hockley County12.9-2.6 pts
157Van Zandt County12.9-0.7 pts
160Caldwell County12.7-1.7 pts
160Colorado County12.7-0.9 pts
160Coryell County12.7+0.9 pts
160Hopkins County12.7-2 pts
160Jackson County12.7-1.1 pts
160Smith County12.7-0.2 pts
166Erath County12.6-2.6 pts
166Hunt County12.6-2.2 pts
166Upshur County12.6-2.3 pts
166Waller County12.6-0.6 pts
170Bosque County12.5-1.2 pts
170Shackelford County12.5-0.2 pts
172Calhoun County12.4-2.3 pts
172Crockett County12.4-1.4 pts
172King County12.4+1.4 pts
172Montague County12.4-0.5 pts
176Callahan County12.2+0.1 pts
176Parmer County12.2+0.4 pts
176Taylor County12.2-1.8 pts
179Hutchinson County12.1+0.7 pts
179Upton County12.1-1.7 pts
181Tom Green County12-0.9 pts
182Winkler County11.8-0.7 pts
183Sutton County11.7-1.4 pts
183Washington County11.7+1.1 pts
185Kerr County11.6-0.9 pts
186Austin County11.4+0.3 pts
186Coke County11.4-1.7 pts
188Cooke County11.3-1.4 pts
188Kent County11.3-0.2 pts
188Lipscomb County11.3-1.1 pts
188Sherman County11.3+0.2 pts
192Medina County11.2-1 pts
193Clay County11.1-0.4 pts
193Dallam County11.1-0.3 pts
193Gaines County11.1-2.1 pts
193Martin County11.1-1 pts
197Bandera County11-1.9 pts
198Llano County10.9+0.1 pts
199Bastrop County10.8-3.2 pts
199Kenedy County10.8-3.4 pts
199Yoakum County10.8+0.2 pts
202Hansford County10.7-1 pts
203Lavaca County10.6-0.4 pts
203Lee County10.6-0.1 pts
203Moore County10.6-1.3 pts
206Tarrant County10.5+0.3 pts
207Hardin County10.4-1.7 pts
208Sterling County10.2-0.5 pts
208Travis County10.2-0.6 pts
210Lampasas County10-2.4 pts
210Wise County10+1.7 pts
212Galveston County9.9-1.4 pts
213Blanco County9.8+1.2 pts
213Mason County9.8-1.9 pts
213Ward County9.8-2.6 pts
216McMullen County9.7-0.8 pts
216Midland County9.7-0.2 pts
218Hays County9.6-1.6 pts
218Randall County9.6+0.6 pts
220Burnet County9.5-1 pts
220Hartley County9.5+0.9 pts
220Hemphill County9.5+0.4 pts
220Johnson County9.5-1.5 pts
224Fayette County9.4-1.5 pts
224Hood County9.4+0.2 pts
224Wilson County9.4+1.1 pts
227Armstrong County9.3-1.3 pts
227Chambers County9.3+0.7 pts
229Andrews County9.2-1 pts
229Gillespie County9.2+0.7 pts
229Kaufman County9.2-0.6 pts
229Ochiltree County9.2-2.2 pts
233Crane County9-0.6 pts
234Guadalupe County8.5+1.1 pts
235Brazoria County8.3-0.3 pts
235Carson County8.3-0.2 pts
235Reagan County8.3-0.6 pts
235Somervell County8.3-1.1 pts
239Montgomery County8.2-0.7 pts
240Parker County8-0.2 pts
241Ellis County7.9-0.8 pts
242Borden County7.5-3.1 pts
242Comal County7.5+0.8 pts
244Fort Bend County7.4+0.8 pts
245Glasscock County7.3-0.6 pts
246Archer County6.9-3.4 pts
246Denton County6.9+0.4 pts
246Irion County6.9-0.5 pts
249Kendall County6.7-0.7 pts
250Roberts County6.4-1 pts

Showing the top 250 of 254. The CSV download has every row.

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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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

Connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor in one step. The trial answers 25 calls a day without an account.

Questions

Which county has the highest poverty rate?

Brooks County, with 28.7% in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest poverty rate?

Loving County, with 3.9% in 2020.

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

Counties in Texas: more rankings