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

Arcata, CA had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 376 cities in 2022, at 34.5%. Clayton, CA had the lowest, at 1.7%. The median was 10% and the figure for California was 12.1%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest34.5Arcata, CA
Lowest1.7Clayton, CA
Median10376 cities
California12.1History

Top 40 cities, 2022

Arcata, CA: 34.5 %Arcata, CA34.5Lindsay, CA: 33.9 %Lindsay, CA33.9Mendota, CA: 32.7 %Mendota, CA32.7San Luis Obispo, CA: 31.5 %San Luis Obispo, CA31.5Arvin, CA: 28.7 %Arvin, CA28.7Dinuba, CA: 27.8 %Dinuba, CA27.8Madera, CA: 27.7 %Madera, CA27.7Corcoran, CA: 27.6 %Corcoran, CA27.6Parlier, CA: 27.4 %Parlier, CA27.4McFarland, CA: 26.8 %McFarland, CA26.8Cudahy, CA: 26.7 %Cudahy, CA26.7Davis, CA: 26.4 %Davis, CA26.4Merced, CA: 25.2 %Merced, CA25.2Clearlake, CA: 24.7 %Clearlake, CA24.7Farmersville, CA: 24.6 %Farmersville, CA24.6Marysville, CA: 24.2 %Marysville, CA24.2Bell Gardens, CA: 23.6 %Bell Gardens, CA23.6Brawley, CA: 23.6 %Brawley, CA23.6Bell, CA: 23.4 %Bell, CA23.4Oroville, CA: 23.3 %Oroville, CA23.3California City, CA: 23.2 %California City, CA23.2Blythe, CA: 22.8 %Blythe, CA22.8Shafter, CA: 22.7 %Shafter, CA22.7Calexico, CA: 22.6 %Calexico, CA22.6Barstow, CA: 22.5 %Barstow, CA22.5Chico, CA: 22.2 %Chico, CA22.2Fresno, CA: 22.1 %Fresno, CA22.1Kerman, CA: 21.9 %Kerman, CA21.9Selma, CA: 21.2 %Selma, CA21.2South El Monte, CA: 21.2 %South El Monte, CA21.2El Centro, CA: 21.1 %El Centro, CA21.1Desert Hot Springs, CA: 21 %Desert Hot Springs, CA21Red Bluff, CA: 20.9 %Red Bluff, CA20.9Wasco, CA: 20.5 %Wasco, CA20.5Maywood, CA: 20.3 %Maywood, CA20.3Avenal, CA: 20.2 %Avenal, CA20.2San Bernardino, CA: 20.2 %San Bernardino, CA20.2Yucca Valley, CA: 20.2 %Yucca Valley, CA20.2Delano, CA: 19.6 %Delano, CA19.6Eureka, CA: 19.3 %Eureka, CA19.3Arcata, CA: 34.5 %Arcata, CA34.5Lindsay, CA: 33.9 %Lindsay, CA33.9Mendota, CA: 32.7 %Mendota, CA32.7San Luis Obispo, CA: 31.5 %San Luis Obispo, CA31.5Arvin, CA: 28.7 %Arvin, CA28.7Dinuba, CA: 27.8 %Dinuba, CA27.8Madera, CA: 27.7 %Madera, CA27.7Corcoran, CA: 27.6 %Corcoran, CA27.6Parlier, CA: 27.4 %Parlier, CA27.4McFarland, CA: 26.8 %McFarland, CA26.8Cudahy, CA: 26.7 %Cudahy, CA26.7Davis, CA: 26.4 %Davis, CA26.4Merced, CA: 25.2 %Merced, CA25.2Clearlake, CA: 24.7 %Clearlake, CA24.7Farmersville, CA: 24.6 %Farmersville, CA24.6Marysville, CA: 24.2 %Marysville, CA24.2Bell Gardens, CA: 23.6 %Bell Gardens, CA23.6Brawley, CA: 23.6 %Brawley, CA23.6Bell, CA: 23.4 %Bell, CA23.4Oroville, CA: 23.3 %Oroville, CA23.3California City, CA: 23.2 %California City, CA23.2Blythe, CA: 22.8 %Blythe, CA22.8Shafter, CA: 22.7 %Shafter, CA22.7Calexico, CA: 22.6 %Calexico, CA22.6Barstow, CA: 22.5 %Barstow, CA22.5Chico, CA: 22.2 %Chico, CA22.2Fresno, CA: 22.1 %Fresno, CA22.1Kerman, CA: 21.9 %Kerman, CA21.9Selma, CA: 21.2 %Selma, CA21.2South El Monte, CA: 21.2 %South El Monte, CA21.2El Centro, CA: 21.1 %El Centro, CA21.1Desert Hot Springs, CA: 21 %Desert Hot Springs, CA21Red Bluff, CA: 20.9 %Red Bluff, CA20.9Wasco, CA: 20.5 %Wasco, CA20.5Maywood, CA: 20.3 %Maywood, CA20.3Avenal, CA: 20.2 %Avenal, CA20.2San Bernardino, CA: 20.2 %San Bernardino, CA20.2Yucca Valley, CA: 20.2 %Yucca Valley, CA20.2Delano, CA: 19.6 %Delano, CA19.6Eureka, CA: 19.3 %Eureka, CA19.3
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2022 (%)Change on 2021
1Arcata, CA34.5-0.2 pts
2Lindsay, CA33.9+4.4 pts
3Mendota, CA32.7-4.7 pts
4San Luis Obispo, CA31.5+1.9 pts
5Arvin, CA28.7+0.8 pts
6Dinuba, CA27.8-4.1 pts
7Madera, CA27.7+0.3 pts
8Corcoran, CA27.60 pts
9Parlier, CA27.4-2.8 pts
10McFarland, CA26.8-2.5 pts
11Cudahy, CA26.7-2.4 pts
12Davis, CA26.4-0 pts
13Merced, CA25.2-1.4 pts
14Clearlake, CA24.7-1.8 pts
15Farmersville, CA24.6+0.1 pts
16Marysville, CA24.2+0.7 pts
17Bell Gardens, CA23.6-2 pts
18Brawley, CA23.6-2.2 pts
19Bell, CA23.40 pts
20Oroville, CA23.3+2.1 pts
21California City, CA23.2-2.2 pts
22Blythe, CA22.8+0.4 pts
23Shafter, CA22.7+0.4 pts
24Calexico, CA22.6+1.6 pts
25Barstow, CA22.5-7.3 pts
26Chico, CA22.2+0.4 pts
27Fresno, CA22.1-0.8 pts
28Kerman, CA21.9+5.7 pts
29Selma, CA21.2-2.2 pts
30South El Monte, CA21.2-0.3 pts
31El Centro, CA21.1-2.5 pts
32Desert Hot Springs, CA21-5.3 pts
33Red Bluff, CA20.9-6 pts
34Wasco, CA20.5+1.4 pts
35Maywood, CA20.3-0.6 pts
36Avenal, CA20.2-5.4 pts
37San Bernardino, CA20.2-0.7 pts
38Yucca Valley, CA20.2+1.2 pts
39Delano, CA19.6+0.9 pts
40Eureka, CA19.3-0.2 pts
40Exeter, CA19.3-2.7 pts
42King City, CA19.2+2.4 pts
43Victorville, CA19.2+0.4 pts
44Anderson, CA19.1-0.6 pts
45Banning, CA18.9-0.1 pts
46El Cajon, CA18.9-0.3 pts
47Coalinga, CA18.7+2.2 pts
48Santa Cruz, CA18.70 pts
49Grass Valley, CA18.2+2.5 pts
50Shasta Lake, CA18.1+0.7 pts
51Hesperia, CA18.1-0.8 pts
52Adelanto, CA17.9-3.1 pts
53Huntington Park, CA17.9-2.1 pts
54Berkeley, CA17.7+0.1 pts
54Porterville, CA17.7-3.3 pts
56Compton, CA17.7+0.3 pts
57Lancaster, CA17.6-2.2 pts
58Atwater, CA17.5+0.1 pts
59Susanville, CA17.5+0.2 pts
60Tulare, CA17.5+1.4 pts
61Hemet, CA17.4+0.2 pts
62Cathedral City, CA17.3-1.5 pts
63Santa Paula, CA17.3+0.2 pts
64Lompoc, CA17.3-2.1 pts
64Soledad, CA17.3-2.8 pts
66Twentynine Palms, CA17.2-2.8 pts
67San Jacinto, CA17.1-1 pts
68Apple Valley, CA17+0.1 pts
69El Monte, CA16.9-1.2 pts
70Ukiah, CA16.7-1.3 pts
71Chowchilla, CA16.7+0.7 pts
72Los Angeles, CA16.70 pts
73Livingston, CA16.6-2 pts
74Bakersfield, CA16.5+0.2 pts
75Paradise, CA16.5+0.6 pts
76Lynwood, CA16.1-0.4 pts
77Reedley, CA16-2.4 pts
78Placerville, CA16+2.7 pts
79Highland, CA15.9+1.5 pts
80Sanger, CA15.9-1.5 pts
81Westminster, CA15.7-0.1 pts
82Hawthorne, CA15.6-0.4 pts
83Stockton, CA15.6-0.7 pts
84Colton, CA15.4+0.7 pts
85Inglewood, CA15.4+0.6 pts
86Imperial Beach, CA15.3+1.9 pts
87Ceres, CA15.3-0.7 pts
88Long Beach, CA15.1-0.4 pts
89Los Banos, CA15+1.2 pts
90Lemoore, CA15+2.3 pts
91Montclair, CA14.9-2.9 pts
92Pomona, CA14.9-1.5 pts
93Sacramento, CA14.8-0 pts
94Fortuna, CA14.6-0.1 pts
95Hanford, CA14.5-1 pts
96Auburn, CA14.5+1.6 pts
97Hawaiian Gardens, CA14.4-2.8 pts
98West Sacramento, CA14.30 pts
99Lodi, CA14.3-0.1 pts
99Richmond, CA14.3+0.9 pts
101Bellflower, CA14.2+1.5 pts
101Salinas, CA14.2-0.1 pts
103Redding, CA14.1-1 pts
104Palmdale, CA14.1-1.7 pts
105National City, CA14.1-1.2 pts
106Palm Springs, CA13.9-0.6 pts
107Watsonville, CA13.8+0.9 pts
108Modesto, CA13.8+1 pts
109Baldwin Park, CA13.8+0.7 pts
110South Gate, CA13.7-0.6 pts
111Yuba City, CA13.7+0.6 pts
112Santa Maria, CA13.5+0.7 pts
113Commerce, CA13.5-1.3 pts
114Pasadena, CA13.4+0.2 pts
115Glendale, CA13.4-0.5 pts
115Paramount, CA13.4-1.1 pts
117South Lake Tahoe, CA13.3+0.6 pts
118Riverbank, CA13.3-1 pts
119Escondido, CA13.2+0.2 pts
120Azusa, CA13.2-1.4 pts
121Oakland, CA13.2-0.3 pts
122Indio, CA13.2-1.4 pts
123Turlock, CA13.1-1.6 pts
124Rialto, CA13-1.6 pts
124Santa Barbara, CA13+0.1 pts
126Oakdale, CA13+0.9 pts
126Port Hueneme, CA13+0.3 pts
128Montebello, CA13+1.6 pts
129Seaside, CA13+0.7 pts
130Palm Desert, CA12.9-0.8 pts
131Ontario, CA12.9-0.1 pts
131San Gabriel, CA12.9+0.4 pts
131Stanton, CA12.9-1 pts
134Moreno Valley, CA12.9-0.6 pts
135Loma Linda, CA12.8-0.8 pts
136Riverside, CA12.8-0.1 pts
137Perris, CA12.7+0.7 pts
137West Hollywood, CA12.7+0.8 pts
139Visalia, CA12.7-0.8 pts
140Tehachapi, CA12.6+1.6 pts
141Anaheim, CA12.6-0.4 pts
141Garden Grove, CA12.6-0.7 pts
143Rosemead, CA12.60 pts
144Alhambra, CA12.5-0.2 pts
145Irvine, CA12.5+0.2 pts
146Fullerton, CA12.3-0.3 pts
147Greenfield, CA12.2+0.3 pts
148East Palo Alto, CA12.2+0.2 pts
149Emeryville, CA12.2-1.3 pts
150Antioch, CA12.1-0.8 pts
150Lomita, CA12.1+0.4 pts
152Monterey Park, CA12+0.6 pts
153San Pablo, CA11.8-0.7 pts
154La Mesa, CA11.7-0.2 pts
155Santa Monica, CA11.6+1 pts
156Rancho Cordova, CA11.6+0.4 pts
157Vallejo, CA11.5+0.6 pts
158Santa Ana, CA11.5-0.8 pts
159Goleta, CA11.5+1.3 pts
160San Diego, CA11.4-0.2 pts
161Coachella, CA11.2-3.4 pts
162San Fernando, CA11.1+1 pts
163Imperial, CA11.1+1.9 pts
164Gardena, CA11.1-1.2 pts
165Rancho Mirage, CA11-0.3 pts
166Marina, CA11+0.8 pts
166Vista, CA11+0.3 pts
168El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA11+1.8 pts
169Healdsburg, CA10.8+0.8 pts
170Oxnard, CA10.7+0.1 pts
171Burbank, CA10.7-0.2 pts
171Monterey, CA10.7-1.2 pts
173Laguna Woods, CA10.7-0.5 pts
174Grover Beach, CA10.6+1.2 pts
175Ridgecrest, CA10.6-0.8 pts
176Fontana, CA10.5-1 pts
177Lawndale, CA10.5+0.7 pts
177Upland, CA10.5-0.3 pts
179San Francisco, CA10.5+0.2 pts
180Lake Elsinore, CA10.3-2.9 pts
181Jurupa Valley, CA10.3-1.3 pts
181Santa Fe Springs, CA10.3-1.3 pts
183Beverly Hills, CA10.20 pts
184Temple City, CA10.1-0.1 pts
185Monrovia, CA10.1+0.9 pts
186Citrus Heights, CA10.1+0.6 pts
186Tustin, CA10.1-0.2 pts
188Manteca, CA10-0.7 pts
189Santa Rosa, CA10+0.2 pts
190Lemon Grove, CA10+1.2 pts
190Wildomar, CA10+0.3 pts
192Pittsburg, CA9.9-0.5 pts
193La Habra, CA9.8-0.6 pts
194Morro Bay, CA9.8+1.8 pts
195San Marcos, CA9.7+0.5 pts
196Rohnert Park, CA9.7-0.7 pts
197Hayward, CA9.6+1.6 pts
197La Puente, CA9.6+0.2 pts
199San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA9.60 pts
200Pico Rivera, CA9.6-0.4 pts
201Kingsburg, CA9.6+1.1 pts
202La Quinta, CA9.5-1.4 pts
202Signal Hill, CA9.5-6 pts
204Downey, CA9.5+0.3 pts
205Costa Mesa, CA9.5-0.2 pts
206Hollister, CA9.4+0.2 pts
207Woodland, CA9.30 pts
208San Dimas, CA9.3+0.6 pts
209West Covina, CA9.3+0.3 pts
210Fairfield, CA9.2+0.4 pts
210Orange, CA9.2-1 pts
212Concord, CA9.2+0.1 pts
213Oceanside, CA9.2-0.3 pts
214Carson, CA9.20 pts
215Rio Vista, CA9.1-1.6 pts
216Albany, CA9.1+1 pts
217San Juan Capistrano, CA9.1+2.6 pts
218Calabasas, CA9-0.3 pts
218Canyon Lake, CA9+2.6 pts
220San Marino, CA9+3 pts
221Norwalk, CA9+0.1 pts
222Suisun City, CA9-0.8 pts
223Truckee, CA9-1 pts
224Menifee, CA9+1.1 pts
225Arcadia, CA8.90 pts
226San Rafael, CA8.9-0.3 pts
227Sonoma, CA8.8-2.1 pts
228Buena Park, CA8.8-1 pts
228Elk Grove, CA8.8+0.4 pts
230Whittier, CA8.8-0.4 pts
231Chula Vista, CA8.8-0.4 pts
232Los Alamitos, CA8.8-1.4 pts
233Atascadero, CA8.80 pts
233Novato, CA8.8+0.8 pts
235Tracy, CA8.7-1.1 pts
236Diamond Bar, CA8.7+0.8 pts
237Redlands, CA8.6-0.2 pts
238Corona, CA8.5-0.5 pts
239Lathrop, CA8.5-2.8 pts
240La Verne, CA8.50 pts
240Yucaipa, CA8.5-1.1 pts
242Santee, CA8.4+0.4 pts
243Clovis, CA8.4+0.3 pts
244San Leandro, CA8.4-1 pts
245Laguna Hills, CA8.3-1.4 pts
246Chino, CA8.2+0.3 pts
247Placentia, CA8.2+1 pts
248Newman, CA8.1+0.4 pts
249Napa, CA8.1+0.3 pts
250El Cerrito, CA8.1+1.3 pts

Showing the top 250 of 376. The Excel download has every row.

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 California 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 California 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/california-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 California 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/california-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 California 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/california-cities?period=2022 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_california_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 California 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/california-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 California 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/california-cities?period=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/california-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 California by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"poverty_rate_acs","level":"municipality","within":"California","limit":10}
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Questions

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

Arcata, CA, with 34.5% in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Clayton, CA, 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 California: more rankings