Data / Rankings / Poverty rate (US official measure) / Counties in Texas

Counties in Texas by poverty rate

Willacy County had the highest poverty rate of 254 counties in 2021, at 34.3%. Rockwall County had the lowest, at 5.1%. The median was 15.5% and the figure for Texas was 14.2%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest34.3Willacy County
Lowest5.1Rockwall County
Median15.5254 counties
Texas14.2History

Top 40 counties, 2021

CSVChart (SVG)

Willacy CountyWillacy County: 34.3 %34.3Starr CountyStarr County: 31.6 %31.6Duval CountyDuval County: 30 %30Zapata CountyZapata County: 28.9 %28.9Hidalgo CountyHidalgo County: 28.8 %28.8Brooks CountyBrooks County: 28.6 %28.6La Salle CountyLa Salle County: 28.6 %28.6Bee CountyBee County: 27.1 %27.1Frio CountyFrio County: 26.7 %26.7Dimmit CountyDimmit County: 25.7 %25.7Zavala CountyZavala County: 25.4 %25.4Garza CountyGarza County: 24.8 %24.8Cameron CountyCameron County: 24.6 %24.6Kleberg CountyKleberg County: 24.6 %24.6Hall CountyHall County: 24.1 %24.1Hudspeth CountyHudspeth County: 24 %24Walker CountyWalker County: 23.9 %23.9Jasper CountyJasper County: 23.8 %23.8Crosby CountyCrosby County: 23.2 %23.2Jim Hogg CountyJim Hogg County: 23.2 %23.2Marion CountyMarion County: 23 %23Matagorda CountyMatagorda County: 22.9 %22.9San Augustine CountySan Augustine County: 22.7 %22.7Brazos CountyBrazos County: 22.6 %22.6Pecos CountyPecos County: 22.6 %22.6Webb CountyWebb County: 22.6 %22.6Terry CountyTerry County: 22.3 %22.3Reeves CountyReeves County: 22.2 %22.2Karnes CountyKarnes County: 22.1 %22.1Jim Wells CountyJim Wells County: 21.4 %21.4Cochran CountyCochran County: 21.3 %21.3Dawson CountyDawson County: 21.3 %21.3Jeff Davis CountyJeff Davis County: 21.3 %21.3Presidio CountyPresidio County: 21.3 %21.3Childress CountyChildress County: 21.1 %21.1Swisher CountySwisher County: 20.9 %20.9Nacogdoches CountyNacogdoches County: 20.8 %20.8Dickens CountyDickens County: 20.7 %20.7Potter CountyPotter County: 20.7 %20.7Haskell CountyHaskell County: 20.6 %20.6
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Full ranking

RankCounties2021 (%)Change on 2020
1Willacy County34.3+9.6 pts
2Starr County31.6+6.4 pts
3Duval County30+10 pts
4Zapata County28.9+4.3 pts
5Hidalgo County28.8+4.9 pts
6Brooks County28.6-0.1 pts
6La Salle County28.6+4.6 pts
8Bee County27.1+4 pts
9Frio County26.7+4.4 pts
10Dimmit County25.7+0.2 pts
11Zavala County25.4-1.8 pts
12Garza County24.8+4.2 pts
13Cameron County24.6+0.2 pts
13Kleberg County24.6+3.8 pts
15Hall County24.1+5.5 pts
16Hudspeth County24-0.2 pts
17Walker County23.9+5.9 pts
18Jasper County23.8+6.5 pts
19Crosby County23.2+3.4 pts
19Jim Hogg County23.2+3.1 pts
21Marion County23+3 pts
22Matagorda County22.9+5.6 pts
23San Augustine County22.7+3.1 pts
24Brazos County22.6+0.3 pts
24Pecos County22.6+6.1 pts
24Webb County22.6+2.7 pts
27Terry County22.3+3.8 pts
28Reeves County22.2+3.2 pts
29Karnes County22.1+4.6 pts
30Jim Wells County21.4+1.3 pts
31Cochran County21.3+2.1 pts
31Dawson County21.3+2.6 pts
31Jeff Davis County21.3-0.9 pts
31Presidio County21.3+1.9 pts
35Childress County21.1-0.3 pts
36Swisher County20.9+1.3 pts
37Nacogdoches County20.8+1.3 pts
38Dickens County20.7+1.8 pts
38Potter County20.7-0.1 pts
40Haskell County20.6+0.6 pts
41Maverick County20.5+0.5 pts
41Uvalde County20.5+1.5 pts
43Anderson County20.4-0.5 pts
44Falls County20.3+0.3 pts
45Edwards County20.1+1 pts
45El Paso County20.1+2.5 pts
47Houston County19.8-0.2 pts
47Newton County19.8-1.5 pts
49Jones County19.7+0.2 pts
50Culberson County19.6+1 pts
50Hale County19.6+2 pts
50Shelby County19.6+1.6 pts
53Menard County19.4+0.3 pts
54Coleman County19.3+3.3 pts
55Jefferson County19.2+0.9 pts
55Mitchell County19.2+0.5 pts
57Lamb County19.1+1.5 pts
58Kinney County19+1.1 pts
59Cottle County18.8+0.9 pts
59Val Verde County18.8+3.2 pts
61Red River County18.7+3 pts
62Eastland County18.5+1.5 pts
62Morris County18.5+1.5 pts
64Angelina County18.4+1.4 pts
65Nolan County18.3+1.1 pts
66Cass County18.2+0.5 pts
66Floyd County18.2+0.5 pts
66Nueces County18.2+0.7 pts
69Cherokee County18.1+1.4 pts
70Erath County17.9+5.3 pts
70San Saba County17.9+0.5 pts
70Taylor County17.9+5.7 pts
73Bowie County17.8+0.4 pts
74Gray County17.7+3.5 pts
74Live Oak County17.7+0.7 pts
76Baylor County17.6+2.3 pts
77Madison County17.5+0.1 pts
77Tyler County17.5-1.4 pts
79Foard County17.4+0.6 pts
79Terrell County17.4+3.4 pts
81Deaf Smith County17.3+1.8 pts
81McCulloch County17.3+1.1 pts
81San Jacinto County17.3+1.2 pts
84Hardeman County17.2+2.2 pts
85DeWitt County17.1-3.4 pts
85Knox County17.1+0.8 pts
85Trinity County17.1+0.3 pts
88Lamar County17-2.6 pts
89Collingsworth County16.90 pts
89Donley County16.9+0.6 pts
89Howard County16.9+1.2 pts
89Motley County16.9+0.6 pts
89Polk County16.9+1.9 pts
89Robertson County16.9+2.7 pts
95Limestone County16.80 pts
95Lynn County16.8+2.4 pts
95Rusk County16.8+2.6 pts
98Camp County16.70 pts
99Ector County16.6+3 pts
100Atascosa County16.4+1.5 pts
100Harris County16.4+0.5 pts
100Hockley County16.4+3.5 pts
100San Patricio County16.4+1.6 pts
104Leon County16.3+2.5 pts
104Sabine County16.3+0.3 pts
106Castro County16.2+0.9 pts
106Stephens County16.2+0.6 pts
106Victoria County16.2-0.3 pts
109Bailey County16.1+1.7 pts
109Comanche County16.1+0.2 pts
109Gonzales County16.1+1.8 pts
109Gregg County16.1-2 pts
109Grimes County16.1+0.8 pts
109Lubbock County16.1+0.3 pts
115Jack County16+2.4 pts
115Navarro County16+1.2 pts
115Titus County16+1.7 pts
118Wharton County15.9+2.1 pts
119Delta County15.8+1.5 pts
119Freestone County15.8+2.5 pts
119Henderson County15.8+1.6 pts
122Oldham County15.7+1.7 pts
123Kimble County15.6-0.1 pts
123Liberty County15.6+1.2 pts
123Real County15.6-0.8 pts
123Upton County15.6+3.5 pts
127Refugio County15.5+0.2 pts
127Stonewall County15.5+1.2 pts
129Brown County15.3-0.3 pts
129Fisher County15.3+2 pts
129Runnels County15.3+1 pts
132Parmer County15.2+3 pts
133Aransas County15.1-2 pts
133Coke County15.1+3.7 pts
133Scurry County15.1+1.3 pts
136Harrison County15-0.6 pts
136Throckmorton County15+1.5 pts
138Concho County14.9+1.4 pts
138Upshur County14.9+2.3 pts
140Bexar County14.8-0.2 pts
140Franklin County14.8+1.9 pts
140Hamilton County14.8+0.1 pts
140Palo Pinto County14.8+0.9 pts
140Schleicher County14.8+1.6 pts
140Young County14.80 pts
146Briscoe County14.7+1.3 pts
146Goliad County14.7+1.5 pts
146McLennan County14.7-2.3 pts
146Winkler County14.7+2.9 pts
150Calhoun County14.6+2.2 pts
150Crockett County14.6+2.2 pts
150Milam County14.6-2.8 pts
150Wichita County14.6-1.4 pts
154Hopkins County14.5+1.8 pts
155Burleson County14.4+1.3 pts
155Dallas County14.4+0.7 pts
157Bell County14.3-0.4 pts
157Fannin County14.3-1.1 pts
159Kenedy County14.2+3.4 pts
159Medina County14.2+3 pts
161Montague County14.1+1.7 pts
161Ward County14.1+4.3 pts
161Wheeler County14.1+0.6 pts
161Wilbarger County14.1-0.5 pts
161Wood County14.1+0.6 pts
166Washington County14+2.3 pts
167Hill County13.9-0.1 pts
167Sutton County13.9+2.2 pts
169Gaines County13.8+2.7 pts
169Hunt County13.8+1.2 pts
171Mills County13.7-0.7 pts
172Coryell County13.6+0.9 pts
172Waller County13.6+1 pts
174Jackson County13.5+0.8 pts
174Panola County13.5-1.8 pts
176Brewster County13.3-0.7 pts
176Lipscomb County13.3+2 pts
176Martin County13.3+2.2 pts
176Van Zandt County13.3+0.4 pts
180Bosque County13.2+0.7 pts
180Tom Green County13.2+1.2 pts
182Cooke County13+1.7 pts
182Smith County13+0.3 pts
184Caldwell County12.8+0.1 pts
184Lee County12.8+2.2 pts
184Rains County12.8-0.8 pts
184Yoakum County12.8+2 pts
188Hutchinson County12.6+0.5 pts
189Orange County12.5-2.6 pts
190Colorado County12.4-0.3 pts
190Hays County12.4+2.8 pts
190Kerr County12.4+0.8 pts
190Lavaca County12.4+1.8 pts
194Lampasas County12.2+2.2 pts
195Callahan County12.1-0.1 pts
195Galveston County12.1+2.2 pts
195Llano County12.1+1.2 pts
195McMullen County12.1+2.4 pts
199Shackelford County12-0.5 pts
199Sherman County12+0.7 pts
201Moore County11.9+1.3 pts
201Reagan County11.9+3.6 pts
203Andrews County11.8+2.6 pts
203Mason County11.8+2 pts
203Ochiltree County11.8+2.6 pts
203Sterling County11.8+1.6 pts
207Hansford County11.7+1 pts
208King County11.6-0.8 pts
208Tarrant County11.6+1.1 pts
210Bastrop County11.5+0.7 pts
210Kent County11.5+0.2 pts
212Bandera County11.4+0.4 pts
213Crane County11.3+2.3 pts
214Grayson County11.2-2.4 pts
214Travis County11.2+1 pts
216Fayette County11+1.6 pts
217Clay County10.7-0.4 pts
218Dallam County10.5-0.6 pts
218Midland County10.5+0.8 pts
218Montgomery County10.5+2.3 pts
221Austin County10.4-1 pts
221Chambers County10.4+1.1 pts
221Hartley County10.4+0.9 pts
224Hemphill County10.2+0.7 pts
224Hood County10.2+0.8 pts
224Wise County10.2+0.2 pts
227Armstrong County9.9+0.6 pts
227Borden County9.9+2.4 pts
227Burnet County9.9+0.4 pts
230Johnson County9.8+0.3 pts
230Wilson County9.8+0.4 pts
232Hardin County9.7-0.7 pts
233Archer County9.6+2.7 pts
234Guadalupe County9.5+1 pts
235Somervell County9.3+1 pts
236Carson County9.1+0.8 pts
236Randall County9.1-0.5 pts
238Blanco County9-0.8 pts
238Brazoria County9+0.7 pts
240Kaufman County8.9-0.3 pts
241Ellis County8.8+0.9 pts
241Gillespie County8.8-0.4 pts
241Irion County8.8+1.9 pts
244Glasscock County8.5+1.2 pts
245Parker County7.9-0.1 pts
246Denton County7.4+0.5 pts
246Roberts County7.4+1 pts
248Fort Bend County7.2-0.2 pts
249Kendall County6.8+0.1 pts
250Collin County6.6+0.4 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

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Rank Counties in Texas by poverty rate using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which county has the highest poverty rate?

Willacy County, with 34.3% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest poverty rate?

Rockwall County, with 5.1% in 2021.

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