Data / Rankings / Poverty rate (US official measure) / US counties

US counties by poverty rate

Todd County had the highest poverty rate of 3132 counties in 2016, at 48.6%. Douglas County had the lowest, at 3.4%. The median was 14.9% and the figure for the United States was 14%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest48.6Todd County
Lowest3.4Douglas County
Median14.93132 counties
United States14History

Top 40 counties, 2016

CSVChart (SVG)

Todd CountyTodd County: 48.6 %48.6Crowley CountyCrowley County: 48 %48Owsley CountyOwsley County: 45.2 %45.2Ziebach CountyZiebach County: 43.7 %43.7East Carroll ParishEast Carroll Parish: 43.5 %43.5Lake CountyLake County: 42.7 %42.7Holmes CountyHolmes County: 42.5 %42.5Clay CountyClay County: 42.1 %42.1Madison ParishMadison Parish: 41.3 %41.3Coahoma CountyCoahoma County: 41.2 %41.2Oglala Lakota CountyOglala Lakota County: 40.7 %40.7Issaquena CountyIssaquena County: 40.5 %40.5Starr CountyStarr County: 39.9 %39.9Buffalo CountyBuffalo County: 39.5 %39.5Martin CountyMartin County: 39.3 %39.3McCreary CountyMcCreary County: 39.3 %39.3Knox CountyKnox County: 39.2 %39.2Stewart CountyStewart County: 39.2 %39.2Corson CountyCorson County: 39.1 %39.1Wheeler CountyWheeler County: 39.1 %39.1Lee CountyLee County: 39 %39Humphreys CountyHumphreys County: 38.9 %38.9Bell CountyBell County: 38.7 %38.7Willacy CountyWillacy County: 38.3 %38.3Allendale CountyAllendale County: 38.2 %38.2Claiborne CountyClaiborne County: 38.2 %38.2Knott CountyKnott County: 38.2 %38.2Kusilvak Census AreaKusilvak Census Area: 37.8 %37.8Tallahatchie CountyTallahatchie County: 37.2 %37.2Harlan CountyHarlan County: 37.1 %37.1McDowell CountyMcDowell County: 36.3 %36.3Lee CountyLee County: 35.9 %35.9Leflore CountyLeflore County: 35.6 %35.6Dallas CountyDallas County: 35.4 %35.4Bolivar CountyBolivar County: 35.3 %35.3Sioux CountySioux County: 35.3 %35.3Clay CountyClay County: 35.2 %35.2Sunflower CountySunflower County: 35.1 %35.1Wilkinson CountyWilkinson County: 35.1 %35.1Perry CountyPerry County: 35 %35
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Full ranking

RankCounties2016 (%)Change on 2015
1Todd County48.6+4.6 pts
2Crowley County48+3.7 pts
3Owsley County45.2+2.8 pts
4Ziebach County43.7-3.4 pts
5East Carroll Parish43.50 pts
6Lake County42.7-0.4 pts
7Holmes County42.5-0.8 pts
8Clay County42.1-4.7 pts
9Madison Parish41.3+3.7 pts
10Coahoma County41.2+6.2 pts
11Oglala Lakota County40.7-3.5 pts
12Issaquena County40.5+0.1 pts
13Starr County39.9+9 pts
14Buffalo County39.5+2.7 pts
15Martin County39.3-0.7 pts
15McCreary County39.3-2.2 pts
17Knox County39.2+7.2 pts
17Stewart County39.2-2.8 pts
19Corson County39.1-8.3 pts
19Wheeler County39.1-0.2 pts
21Lee County39+4.3 pts
22Humphreys County38.9-2.6 pts
23Bell County38.7-6 pts
24Willacy County38.3+2.9 pts
25Allendale County38.2-2.8 pts
25Claiborne County38.2-8.1 pts
25Knott County38.2+4.4 pts
28Kusilvak Census Area37.8+6 pts
29Tallahatchie County37.2+4.3 pts
30Harlan County37.1+1.6 pts
31McDowell County36.3+1.8 pts
32Lee County35.90 pts
33Leflore County35.6-6.7 pts
34Dallas County35.4+0.8 pts
35Bolivar County35.3-0.8 pts
35Sioux County35.3-5.1 pts
37Clay County35.2+0.9 pts
38Sunflower County35.1-4.2 pts
38Wilkinson County35.1+0.6 pts
40Perry County35-5 pts
40Sharkey County35+0.7 pts
42Claiborne Parish34.9+4 pts
43Yazoo County34.8+0.6 pts
44McKinley County34.4+0.3 pts
44Zavala County34.4+2.4 pts
46Breathitt County34.3+1.4 pts
46Quitman County34.3-3.9 pts
48Jenkins County34.2-1.7 pts
48Washington County34.2-2 pts
50Bent County34.1-2.6 pts
51Greene County34-3.7 pts
52Bennett County33.8-1.3 pts
53Jefferson County33.7-5.6 pts
54Hancock County33.5-1.2 pts
55Apache County33.2-4.8 pts
56Calhoun County33-4.5 pts
56Mellette County33-2.6 pts
58Bullock County32.6-7 pts
59Sumter County32.4-0.8 pts
60Phillips County32.3-5 pts
61Brooks County32.2+0.5 pts
61Wolfe County32.2+1.5 pts
63Macon County32.1-1.4 pts
64Jackson County31.9+0.7 pts
64Madison County31.9+4.9 pts
64Magoffin County31.9-0.7 pts
64Natchitoches Parish31.9+2.3 pts
64Wilcox County31.9-1.3 pts
69Leslie County31.8-1.9 pts
69Webb County31.8+1.3 pts
71Lowndes County31.7-3.5 pts
72Letcher County31.6-1.6 pts
72Noxubee County31.6-2.7 pts
72St. Francis County31.6+0.9 pts
72Tensas Parish31.6-3.5 pts
76Adams County31.4+1.8 pts
76Early County31.4+4.9 pts
76Pike County31.4+6.4 pts
79Tunica County31.3+2.4 pts
80Hidalgo County31.2+0.1 pts
81Terrell County31.1-5.4 pts
82San Juan County31+2.5 pts
82Wilcox County31+0.6 pts
84Hancock County30.9+0.8 pts
84Pemiscot County30.9+2.9 pts
84Perry County30.9+2.4 pts
87Telfair County30.8-3.9 pts
88Elliott County30.7-3.7 pts
88Jackson County30.7-1.8 pts
90Dougherty County30.5+1.1 pts
90Randolph County30.5+3.6 pts
92Costilla County30.4+2.2 pts
92Floyd County30.4+0.9 pts
92Turner County30.4+2 pts
95Crisp County30.3-2 pts
96Lincoln Parish30.2+4.7 pts
97Chicot County30.1-1.3 pts
97Pike County30.10 pts
99Fulton County30-0.4 pts
99Garza County30+3.2 pts
99Macon County30-2.2 pts
99Webster County30+0.4 pts
103Barbour County29.9-2.1 pts
103Decatur County29.9+2.6 pts
103Lee County29.9+4 pts
103Mitchell County29.9+1.9 pts
103Texas County29.9+6.6 pts
108Tattnall County29.8+2.3 pts
108Williamsburg County29.8-3.8 pts
110Benson County29.4+1.5 pts
110Evangeline Parish29.4+3.7 pts
110Johnson County29.4-0.8 pts
113Whitley County29.3+0.1 pts
114Franklin Parish29.2+3.8 pts
115Cameron County29.1-2.9 pts
115Zapata County29.1-1.8 pts
117Adair County29+0.6 pts
117Alexander County29+0.4 pts
117Clarke County29+6.8 pts
117Clay County29+1.3 pts
121Hamilton County28.9-2.9 pts
121Sumter County28.9-1.9 pts
123Athens County28.8-2.7 pts
123Taliaferro County28.8-4.7 pts
125Morehouse Parish28.7-2.4 pts
126Bronx County28.6-1.7 pts
126DeSoto County28.6-1.9 pts
128Concordia Parish28.5-1 pts
128Dooly County28.5-5.3 pts
130Bamberg County28.4-4.3 pts
130Harrisonburg city28.4-2.5 pts
130Mississippi County28.4+1.8 pts
133Glacier County28.3+0.2 pts
133Kemper County28.3-3.6 pts
133Oktibbeha County28.3+1.2 pts
136Mingo County28.2-0.8 pts
136Navajo County28.2+0.1 pts
136Warren County28.2+0.5 pts
139Conecuh County28.1-0.2 pts
139Marlboro County28.1-0.1 pts
141Clarke County27.9-10.2 pts
141Jim Hogg County27.9+4.7 pts
143Baker County27.8-0.9 pts
143Casey County27.8+2.7 pts
143Northwest Arctic Borough27.8+1.5 pts
143Robeson County27.8-2.8 pts
143Washington Parish27.8+1.6 pts
148Lee County27.7-0.6 pts
148Ripley County27.7+2.3 pts
150Dimmit County27.6+3.2 pts
150Lincoln County27.6+2.5 pts
150Luna County27.6-3.3 pts
150Saguache County27.6-2 pts
150Scotland County27.6-1.4 pts
150Screven County27.6+0.6 pts
156Catahoula Parish27.5+0.3 pts
156Dewey County27.5+2.8 pts
158Emanuel County27.4+0.4 pts
158Lafayette County27.4+4.7 pts
160Estill County27.3-0.9 pts
160Torrance County27.3+1.1 pts
160Tyrrell County27.3+2.3 pts
163Charlton County27.2-5.3 pts
163Dunklin County27.2-0.4 pts
163Menominee County27.2-8 pts
163Morgan County27.2-4.1 pts
163Radford city27.2-5.6 pts
163Richland Parish27.2+2.5 pts
169Copiah County27.1+1 pts
169Gilmer County27.1+1.3 pts
169Lawrence County27.1+2.1 pts
169Quitman County27.1-1.8 pts
169Treutlen County27.1-1.6 pts
174Bee County27+3.6 pts
174Halifax County27-0.9 pts
174Marion County27+2.8 pts
174Monroe County27-3.9 pts
174Sierra County27-1.7 pts
179Cibola County26.9-2.3 pts
179Jefferson Davis County26.9-3.6 pts
179Washington County26.9+0.6 pts
179Wayne County26.9-1.1 pts
183Choctaw County26.8-3.1 pts
183Lewis County26.8+2.1 pts
185Burke County26.7+1.6 pts
185Greer County26.7+3 pts
185Hidalgo County26.7+1.5 pts
185Rolette County26.7+1.2 pts
189St. Landry Parish26.6-0.4 pts
190Desha County26.5-4.4 pts
190Powell County26.5+0.5 pts
192Atkinson County26.4-0.5 pts
192Ben Hill County26.4-6.1 pts
192Bladen County26.4+1 pts
192Caddo Parish26.4+4.2 pts
192Shannon County26.4+2.5 pts
192Warren County26.4-0.9 pts
198Bibb County26.3-0.4 pts
198Duval County26.3+0.9 pts
198Red River Parish26.3+0.6 pts
198Woodruff County26.3+0.5 pts
202La Salle County26.2-1.7 pts
202Richmond city26.2+1.8 pts
204Adair County26.1-1.1 pts
204Harmon County26.1+2.5 pts
204Hertford County26.1-0.8 pts
204Washington County26.1+2.7 pts
208Baldwin County260 pts
208Clinch County26-2.2 pts
208Wayne County26+1.7 pts
211Avoyelles Parish25.9+0.6 pts
211Johnson County25.90 pts
211Whitman County25.9+5.1 pts
214Concho County25.8-0.6 pts
214Frio County25.8-3.5 pts
214Hall County25.8+0.3 pts
214Marengo County25.8+2.5 pts
214Pickens County25.8+1.5 pts
219McCurtain County25.7+0.4 pts
219Monroe County25.7-2.9 pts
219San Miguel County25.7-3 pts
222Dickenson County25.6+0.6 pts
222Dillon County25.6-5.6 pts
222Doña Ana County25.6-0.1 pts
222Falls County25.6+1.7 pts
222Laurens County25.6+0.1 pts
222Richmond County25.6+1.3 pts
228Bethel Census Area25.5+1.3 pts
228Big Horn County25.5-5.5 pts
228Crittenden County25.5-0.4 pts
228Fresno County25.5+0.3 pts
228Ware County25.5-2.9 pts
233Claiborne County25.4+3.8 pts
233Dixie County25.4-3.9 pts
233Forrest County25.4-1.2 pts
233Greensville County25.4-2.5 pts
233Johnson County25.4-1.8 pts
233Nacogdoches County25.4+0.9 pts
233Rowan County25.4-1.8 pts
233Socorro County25.4+1.9 pts
241Benton County25.30 pts
241Clinton County25.3-1.1 pts
241Cumberland County25.3+0.5 pts
241Ozark County25.3-2.4 pts
241Philadelphia County25.3-0.1 pts
241Thurston County25.3-0.3 pts
241Uvalde County25.3+4.6 pts
241Wayne County25.3+0.8 pts
249Dodge County25.2+0.4 pts
249Hardeman County25.2+1 pts

Showing the top 250 of 3132. 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. 11 counties with data in other periods have no value for 2016 and are left out rather than filled from another source. 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/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

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Rank US counties by poverty rate using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which county has the highest poverty rate?

Todd County, with 48.6% in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest poverty rate?

Douglas County, with 3.4% in 2016.

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. 11 counties have no value for 2016 and are not ranked.

Poverty rate (US official measure): other rankings

US counties: more rankings