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

US counties by poverty rate

Ziebach County had the highest poverty rate of 3132 counties in 2017, at 56.7%. Loudoun County had the lowest, at 3%. The median was 14.4% and the figure for the United States was 13.4%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest56.7Ziebach County
Lowest3Loudoun County
Median14.43132 counties
United States13.4History

Top 40 counties, 2017

CSVChart (SVG)

Ziebach CountyZiebach County: 56.7 %56.7Todd CountyTodd County: 50.4 %50.4Crowley CountyCrowley County: 47.4 %47.4East Carroll ParishEast Carroll Parish: 46.7 %46.7Buffalo CountyBuffalo County: 43.3 %43.3Claiborne CountyClaiborne County: 42.6 %42.6Corson CountyCorson County: 42.4 %42.4Leflore CountyLeflore County: 42.2 %42.2Clay CountyClay County: 41.7 %41.7Harlan CountyHarlan County: 41.5 %41.5Oglala Lakota CountyOglala Lakota County: 41.5 %41.5Quitman CountyQuitman County: 40.9 %40.9Holmes CountyHolmes County: 40.8 %40.8Lake CountyLake County: 39.9 %39.9Phillips CountyPhillips County: 39.8 %39.8Claiborne ParishClaiborne Parish: 39.5 %39.5Madison ParishMadison Parish: 38.9 %38.9Humphreys CountyHumphreys County: 38.4 %38.4Issaquena CountyIssaquena County: 38.1 %38.1Mellette CountyMellette County: 38 %38McKinley CountyMcKinley County: 37.8 %37.8Kusilvak Census AreaKusilvak Census Area: 37.5 %37.5Wheeler CountyWheeler County: 37.4 %37.4Lee CountyLee County: 37.3 %37.3Perry CountyPerry County: 37.2 %37.2Owsley CountyOwsley County: 36.8 %36.8Allendale CountyAllendale County: 36.7 %36.7Bell CountyBell County: 36.7 %36.7Breathitt CountyBreathitt County: 36.2 %36.2Jackson CountyJackson County: 36.2 %36.2Stewart CountyStewart County: 36.2 %36.2Sunflower CountySunflower County: 36.2 %36.2Shannon CountyShannon County: 35.9 %35.9Sioux CountySioux County: 35.9 %35.9Sumter CountySumter County: 35.9 %35.9Martin CountyMartin County: 35.8 %35.8Sharkey CountySharkey County: 35.5 %35.5Tallahatchie CountyTallahatchie County: 35.2 %35.2Calhoun CountyCalhoun County: 35.1 %35.1Brooks CountyBrooks County: 35 %35
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Full ranking

RankCounties2017 (%)Change on 2016
1Ziebach County56.7+13 pts
2Todd County50.4+1.8 pts
3Crowley County47.4-0.6 pts
4East Carroll Parish46.7+3.2 pts
5Buffalo County43.3+3.8 pts
6Claiborne County42.6+4.4 pts
7Corson County42.4+3.3 pts
8Leflore County42.2+6.6 pts
9Clay County41.7-0.4 pts
10Harlan County41.5+4.4 pts
10Oglala Lakota County41.5+0.8 pts
12Quitman County40.9+6.6 pts
13Holmes County40.8-1.7 pts
14Lake County39.9-2.8 pts
15Phillips County39.8+7.5 pts
16Claiborne Parish39.5+4.6 pts
17Madison Parish38.9-2.4 pts
18Humphreys County38.4-0.5 pts
19Issaquena County38.1-2.4 pts
20Mellette County38+5 pts
21McKinley County37.8+3.4 pts
22Kusilvak Census Area37.5-0.3 pts
23Wheeler County37.4-1.7 pts
24Lee County37.3+1.4 pts
25Perry County37.2+2.2 pts
26Owsley County36.8-8.4 pts
27Allendale County36.7-1.5 pts
27Bell County36.7-2 pts
29Breathitt County36.2+1.9 pts
29Jackson County36.2+5.5 pts
29Stewart County36.2-3 pts
29Sunflower County36.2+1.1 pts
33Shannon County35.9+9.5 pts
33Sioux County35.9+0.6 pts
33Sumter County35.9+3.5 pts
36Martin County35.8-3.5 pts
37Sharkey County35.5+0.5 pts
38Tallahatchie County35.2-2 pts
39Calhoun County35.1+2.1 pts
40Brooks County35+2.8 pts
40Willacy County35-3.3 pts
42Bennett County34.9+1.1 pts
42Dewey County34.9+7.4 pts
42Tensas Parish34.9+3.3 pts
45Coahoma County34.8-6.4 pts
46Knott County34.6-3.6 pts
46Telfair County34.6+3.8 pts
48Noxubee County34.5+2.9 pts
49Bullock County34.4+1.8 pts
49McCreary County34.4-4.9 pts
51Jefferson County34.1+0.4 pts
52Yazoo County33.9-0.9 pts
53Lee County33.7-5.3 pts
53St. Francis County33.7+2.1 pts
55Randolph County33.6+3.1 pts
56Barbour County33.4+3.5 pts
57Greene County33.2-0.8 pts
58Apache County33.1-0.1 pts
58Clay County33.1-2.1 pts
58Wilkinson County33.1-2 pts
61Terrell County33+1.9 pts
62Jenkins County32.8-1.4 pts
62Lawrence County32.8+5.7 pts
64Washington County32.7-1.5 pts
65Adams County32.5+1.1 pts
66Bolivar County32.4-2.9 pts
67Floyd County32.2+1.8 pts
67Knox County32.2-7 pts
69Magoffin County32.1+0.2 pts
70Bent County32-2.1 pts
70Starr County32-7.9 pts
70Wilcox County32+0.1 pts
73McDowell County31.7-4.6 pts
74Zavala County31.6-2.8 pts
75Jackson County31.4-0.5 pts
76Dimmit County31.2+3.6 pts
77Leslie County31-0.8 pts
77Mingo County31+2.8 pts
79Letcher County30.8-0.8 pts
80Wilcox County30.7-0.3 pts
81Macon County30.6+0.6 pts
82Alexander County30.3+1.3 pts
82Hancock County30.3-3.2 pts
82Natchitoches Parish30.3-1.6 pts
85Chicot County30.10 pts
85Cibola County30.1+3.2 pts
85Morgan County30.1+2.9 pts
88Zapata County30+0.9 pts
89Wolfe County29.9-2.3 pts
90Dillon County29.8+4.2 pts
90Kemper County29.8+1.5 pts
92Crisp County29.7-0.6 pts
92Elliott County29.7-1 pts
94Macon County29.6-2.5 pts
95Hidalgo County29.5-1.7 pts
96Jackson County29.2+5.8 pts
96La Salle County29.2+3 pts
96Logan County29.2+4.8 pts
96San Miguel County29.2+3.5 pts
96Seminole County29.2+5.8 pts
101Tunica County29.1-2.2 pts
102Desha County29+2.5 pts
102Fulton County29-1 pts
102Johnson County29-0.4 pts
102Robeson County29+1.2 pts
106Rio Arriba County28.9+6.4 pts
107Athens County28.80 pts
107Pike County28.8-2.6 pts
107Summers County28.8+4.1 pts
110Bethel Census Area28.7+3.2 pts
110Jefferson Davis County28.7+1.8 pts
112Duval County28.6+2.3 pts
112Radford city28.6+1.4 pts
114Mississippi County28.5+0.1 pts
115Benson County28.4-1 pts
115Hancock County28.4-2.5 pts
117Luna County28.3+0.7 pts
117Madison County28.3-3.6 pts
117Socorro County28.3+2.9 pts
120Bacon County28.2+5.3 pts
120Carter County28.2+5.6 pts
120Dougherty County28.2-2.3 pts
120Lee County28.2-1.7 pts
124Halifax County28.1+1.1 pts
124Webster County28.1-1.9 pts
126Evans County28+3.6 pts
126Marlboro County28-0.1 pts
126Morehouse Parish28-0.7 pts
126Pike County28-2.1 pts
130Bronx County27.9-0.7 pts
130Buchanan County27.9+2.8 pts
130Dallas County27.9-7.5 pts
130Franklin Parish27.9-1.3 pts
130Frio County27.9+2.1 pts
130Lincoln Parish27.9-2.3 pts
130Warren County27.9-0.3 pts
137Catahoula Parish27.8+0.3 pts
137Richland Parish27.8+0.6 pts
139Barnwell County27.7+5.1 pts
139Cameron County27.7-1.4 pts
139Concordia Parish27.7-0.8 pts
139Pike County27.7+2.6 pts
143Clinch County27.6+1.6 pts
143Dooly County27.6-0.9 pts
143Emanuel County27.6+0.2 pts
143Falls County27.6+2 pts
143Greene County27.6+3.9 pts
143Menominee County27.6+0.4 pts
143Turner County27.6-2.8 pts
150Marion County27.5+2.3 pts
150Mitchell County27.5-2.4 pts
152Treutlen County27.4+0.3 pts
153Clay County27.3-1.7 pts
153Costilla County27.3-3.1 pts
153Jim Hogg County27.3-0.6 pts
153Monroe County27.3+0.3 pts
153Tattnall County27.3-2.5 pts
153Webb County27.3-4.5 pts
159Adair County27.2-1.8 pts
159Bertie County27.2+2.8 pts
161Rolette County27.1+0.4 pts
162Maverick County27+2.7 pts
163Big Horn County26.8+1.3 pts
163Williamsburg County26.8-3 pts
163Woodruff County26.8+0.5 pts
166Early County26.7-4.7 pts
166Torrance County26.7-0.6 pts
166Washington County26.7-0.2 pts
169Bee County26.6-0.4 pts
169Clarke County26.6-1.3 pts
169Gilmer County26.6-0.5 pts
169Sierra County26.6-0.4 pts
173Bamberg County26.5-1.9 pts
173Echols County26.5+3.3 pts
173Taliaferro County26.5-2.3 pts
173Whitley County26.5-2.8 pts
177Clinton County26.4+1.1 pts
177Navajo County26.4-1.8 pts
177Pemiscot County26.4-4.5 pts
177Scotland County26.4-1.2 pts
181Choctaw County26.3-0.5 pts
181Doña Ana County26.3+0.7 pts
181Putnam County26.3+4.8 pts
184Blaine County26.2+1.9 pts
184Glacier County26.2-2.1 pts
186Cabell County26.1+4.2 pts
186DeSoto County26.1-2.5 pts
186Orleans Parish26.1+2 pts
186Quitman County26.1-1 pts
186Roosevelt County26.1+2.2 pts
186Walthall County26.1+2 pts
192McCurtain County26+0.3 pts
192Northwest Arctic Borough26-1.8 pts
194Greer County25.9-0.8 pts
194Lowndes County25.9-5.8 pts
194Perry County25.9-5 pts
194San Juan County25.9-5.1 pts
198Caddo Parish25.8-0.6 pts
198Lee County25.8-1.9 pts
200Lincoln County25.7+1.5 pts
200Roosevelt County25.7+3.4 pts
200Wyoming County25.7+1.8 pts
203Adair County25.6+1.8 pts
203Charlton County25.6-1.6 pts
203Colquitt County25.6+0.6 pts
203Lewis County25.6-1.2 pts
203St. Landry Parish25.6-1 pts
208Columbia County25.5+1.3 pts
208Edgecombe County25.5+1.6 pts
208Kleberg County25.5+2.6 pts
208Oktibbeha County25.5-2.8 pts
208Sumter County25.5-3.4 pts
213Bienville Parish25.4+1.9 pts
213Clay County25.4+1.5 pts
213Menifee County25.4+1.3 pts
213New Madrid County25.4+0.4 pts
217Garza County25.3-4.7 pts
217Kiowa County25.3+3 pts
217Lowndes County25.3+3.2 pts
217Philadelphia County25.30 pts
221Baldwin County25.2-0.8 pts
221Coleman County25.2+5.1 pts
223Casey County25.1-2.7 pts
223Hale County25.1+1.4 pts
223Hampton County25.1+2.8 pts
223Reeves County25.1+0.1 pts
227Bibb County25-1.3 pts
227Dickenson County25-0.6 pts
229Charles Mix County24.9+3.2 pts
229Coffee County24.9+1.9 pts
229Wayne County24.9-2 pts
232Calhoun County24.8+3 pts
232Clay County24.8+2.8 pts
232Cochran County24.8+1.3 pts
232Estill County24.8-2.5 pts
232Hidalgo County24.8-1.9 pts
232Muskogee County24.8+3.4 pts
232Richmond County24.8-0.1 pts
232Washington County24.8-1.3 pts
240Candler County24.7-0.3 pts
240Lenoir County24.7+4.1 pts
240Marion County24.7-2.3 pts
240Ouachita Parish24.7+0.2 pts
240Somerset County24.7+0.4 pts
245Avoyelles Parish24.6-1.3 pts
245Baker County24.6-3.2 pts
245Bulloch County24.6+0.6 pts
245Del Norte County24.6+0.9 pts
245Dunklin County24.6-2.6 pts
245Jackson Parish24.6+3.4 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 2017 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/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.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?

Ziebach County, with 56.7% in 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest poverty rate?

Loudoun County, with 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. 11 counties have no value for 2017 and are not ranked.

Poverty rate (US official measure): other rankings

US counties: more rankings