Data / Rankings / Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Cities in Alabama

Cities in Alabama by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)

Bessemer, AL had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 66 cities in 2022, at 32%. Trussville, AL had the lowest, at 1.7%. The median was 13.8% and the figure for Alabama was 15.7%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest32Bessemer, AL
Lowest1.7Trussville, AL
Median13.866 cities
Alabama15.7History

Top 40 cities, 2022

Bessemer, AL: 32 %Bessemer, AL32Prichard, AL: 31.6 %Prichard, AL31.6Selma, AL: 29.5 %Selma, AL29.5Talladega, AL: 28.9 %Talladega, AL28.9Troy, AL: 27.7 %Troy, AL27.7Jacksonville, AL: 27.6 %Jacksonville, AL27.6Birmingham, AL: 26.1 %Birmingham, AL26.1Phenix City, AL: 25.5 %Phenix City, AL25.5Eufaula, AL: 25.3 %Eufaula, AL25.3Gadsden, AL: 25.1 %Gadsden, AL25.1Auburn, AL: 24.6 %Auburn, AL24.6Boaz, AL: 24.6 %Boaz, AL24.6Fort Payne, AL: 23.6 %Fort Payne, AL23.6Tuscaloosa, AL: 23.1 %Tuscaloosa, AL23.1Sylacauga, AL: 22.5 %Sylacauga, AL22.5Anniston, AL: 22.1 %Anniston, AL22.1Montgomery, AL: 21.2 %Montgomery, AL21.2Ozark, AL: 21.1 %Ozark, AL21.1Alexander City, AL: 21.1 %Alexander City, AL21.1Mobile, AL: 20.7 %Mobile, AL20.7Florence, AL: 19.9 %Florence, AL19.9Scottsboro, AL: 19.3 %Scottsboro, AL19.3Center Point, AL: 19.1 %Center Point, AL19.1Dothan, AL: 18.4 %Dothan, AL18.4Valley, AL: 17.6 %Valley, AL17.6Opelika, AL: 17.4 %Opelika, AL17.4Albertville, AL: 16.7 %Albertville, AL16.7Enterprise, AL: 16.6 %Enterprise, AL16.6Jasper, AL: 15.5 %Jasper, AL15.5Irondale, AL: 15.1 %Irondale, AL15.1Northport, AL: 14.4 %Northport, AL14.4Huntsville, AL: 14.1 %Huntsville, AL14.1Decatur, AL: 13.9 %Decatur, AL13.9Cullman, AL: 13.8 %Cullman, AL13.8Athens, AL: 13.5 %Athens, AL13.5Russellville, AL: 13.1 %Russellville, AL13.1Hartselle, AL: 12.9 %Hartselle, AL12.9Oxford, AL: 12.8 %Oxford, AL12.8Pell City, AL: 12.1 %Pell City, AL12.1Fairhope, AL: 10.7 %Fairhope, AL10.7Bessemer, AL: 32 %Bessemer, AL32Prichard, AL: 31.6 %Prichard, AL31.6Selma, AL: 29.5 %Selma, AL29.5Talladega, AL: 28.9 %Talladega, AL28.9Troy, AL: 27.7 %Troy, AL27.7Jacksonville, AL: 27.6 %Jacksonville, AL27.6Birmingham, AL: 26.1 %Birmingham, AL26.1Phenix City, AL: 25.5 %Phenix City, AL25.5Eufaula, AL: 25.3 %Eufaula, AL25.3Gadsden, AL: 25.1 %Gadsden, AL25.1Auburn, AL: 24.6 %Auburn, AL24.6Boaz, AL: 24.6 %Boaz, AL24.6Fort Payne, AL: 23.6 %Fort Payne, AL23.6Tuscaloosa, AL: 23.1 %Tuscaloosa, AL23.1Sylacauga, AL: 22.5 %Sylacauga, AL22.5Anniston, AL: 22.1 %Anniston, AL22.1Montgomery, AL: 21.2 %Montgomery, AL21.2Ozark, AL: 21.1 %Ozark, AL21.1Alexander City, AL: 21.1 %Alexander City, AL21.1Mobile, AL: 20.7 %Mobile, AL20.7Florence, AL: 19.9 %Florence, AL19.9Scottsboro, AL: 19.3 %Scottsboro, AL19.3Center Point, AL: 19.1 %Center Point, AL19.1Dothan, AL: 18.4 %Dothan, AL18.4Valley, AL: 17.6 %Valley, AL17.6Opelika, AL: 17.4 %Opelika, AL17.4Albertville, AL: 16.7 %Albertville, AL16.7Enterprise, AL: 16.6 %Enterprise, AL16.6Jasper, AL: 15.5 %Jasper, AL15.5Irondale, AL: 15.1 %Irondale, AL15.1Northport, AL: 14.4 %Northport, AL14.4Huntsville, AL: 14.1 %Huntsville, AL14.1Decatur, AL: 13.9 %Decatur, AL13.9Cullman, AL: 13.8 %Cullman, AL13.8Athens, AL: 13.5 %Athens, AL13.5Russellville, AL: 13.1 %Russellville, AL13.1Hartselle, AL: 12.9 %Hartselle, AL12.9Oxford, AL: 12.8 %Oxford, AL12.8Pell City, AL: 12.1 %Pell City, AL12.1Fairhope, AL: 10.7 %Fairhope, AL10.7
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2022 (%)Change on 2021
1Bessemer, AL32+3.3 pts
2Prichard, AL31.6+1.5 pts
3Selma, AL29.5+0.1 pts
4Talladega, AL28.9+2.1 pts
5Troy, AL27.7+0.4 pts
6Jacksonville, AL27.6+0.9 pts
7Birmingham, AL26.1+0.6 pts
8Phenix City, AL25.5-0.9 pts
9Eufaula, AL25.3-4.4 pts
10Gadsden, AL25.1-2.1 pts
11Auburn, AL24.6-0.6 pts
11Boaz, AL24.6+3.1 pts
13Fort Payne, AL23.6+1.1 pts
14Tuscaloosa, AL23.1+0.6 pts
15Sylacauga, AL22.5-2.6 pts
16Anniston, AL22.1-0.7 pts
17Montgomery, AL21.2-0 pts
18Ozark, AL21.1+1.4 pts
19Alexander City, AL21.1+3.3 pts
20Mobile, AL20.7+0.7 pts
21Florence, AL19.9-0.2 pts
22Scottsboro, AL19.3+0.5 pts
23Center Point, AL19.1-0.5 pts
24Dothan, AL18.4+0.2 pts
25Valley, AL17.6+4.1 pts
26Opelika, AL17.4+0.2 pts
27Albertville, AL16.7-4.1 pts
28Enterprise, AL16.6+0.5 pts
29Jasper, AL15.5-0.7 pts
30Irondale, AL15.1+1.5 pts
31Northport, AL14.4+0.8 pts
32Huntsville, AL14.1-0.5 pts
33Decatur, AL13.9-1.3 pts
34Cullman, AL13.8+3 pts
35Athens, AL13.5-0.2 pts
36Russellville, AL13.1-3.8 pts
37Hartselle, AL12.9+1.5 pts
38Oxford, AL12.8+0.2 pts
39Pell City, AL12.1-3.2 pts
40Fairhope, AL10.7+1.9 pts
40Foley, AL10.7+1.1 pts
42Clay, AL10.3-0 pts
43Hueytown, AL10-0.5 pts
44Millbrook, AL9.5-0 pts
45Daphne, AL9.4+0.9 pts
46Saraland, AL9.3+1.5 pts
47Prattville, AL9.2-3.1 pts
48Rainbow City, AL8.8-2.8 pts
49Calera, AL8.7+2 pts
50Moody, AL8.7-3.1 pts
51Gulf Shores, AL8.7+0.4 pts
52Homewood, AL8.3+0.4 pts
53Leeds, AL8.1-0.4 pts
54Muscle Shoals, AL6.5+1.1 pts
55Gardendale, AL6+0.5 pts
56Hoover, AL5.4-1.2 pts
57Pelham, AL5.4+1.2 pts
58Pike Road, AL5.3-0.3 pts
59Alabaster, AL4.9-1.8 pts
60Madison, AL4.5-0.5 pts
61Vestavia Hills, AL3.8-0 pts
62Spanish Fort, AL3.60 pts
63Helena, AL3.5-1.3 pts
64Chelsea, AL3.4+0.4 pts
65Mountain Brook, AL3.3-0.7 pts
66Trussville, AL1.7-2 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People with income in the past 12 months below the official US poverty thresholds, as a percentage of people whose poverty status is determined. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

The headline single-year rate for states and counties is poverty_rate (SAIPE). Poverty status is not determined for people in institutions, military group quarters or college dormitories, or for unrelated children under 15. 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 cities are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in Alabama by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Alabama by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/alabama-cities?period=2022. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in Alabama by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/alabama-cities?period=2022.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Alabama by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/alabama-cities?period=2022 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_alabama_by_2022,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Alabama by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/alabama-cities?period=2022. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Alabama by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/alabama-cities?period=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/alabama-cities?period=2022.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Cities in Alabama by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"poverty_rate_acs","level":"municipality","within":"Alabama","limit":10}
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Questions

Which city has the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Bessemer, AL, with 32% in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Trussville, AL, with 1.7% in 2022.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Cities in Alabama: more rankings