Counties in California by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024

Trinity County had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 58 counties in 2024, at 20.7%. Sierra County had the lowest, at 4.4%. The median was 12.8% and the figure for California was 12%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest20.7Trinity County
Lowest4.4Sierra County
Median12.858 counties
California12History

Map of counties, 2024

Alameda County: 9.2 %Alpine County: 10 %Amador County: 8.2 %Butte County: 19.3 %Calaveras County: 13 %Colusa County: 11.4 %Contra Costa County: 8.4 %Del Norte County: 13 %El Dorado County: 8 %Fresno County: 18.3 %Glenn County: 16 %Humboldt County: 18.7 %Imperial County: 19.5 %Inyo County: 10.9 %Kern County: 19.1 %Kings County: 16 %Lake County: 17 %Lassen County: 14 %Los Angeles County: 13.7 %Madera County: 19.2 %Marin County: 8.3 %Mariposa County: 14 %Mendocino County: 15.4 %Merced County: 19.1 %Modoc County: 17.9 %Mono County: 8.6 %Monterey County: 12.7 %Napa County: 8.5 %Nevada County: 11 %Orange County: 9.5 %Placer County: 6.8 %Plumas County: 10.6 %Riverside County: 10.6 %Sacramento County: 12.5 %San Benito County: 6.7 %San Bernardino County: 13.4 %San Diego County: 10.3 %San Francisco County: 11.2 %San Joaquin County: 12.4 %San Luis Obispo County: 12.9 %San Mateo County: 6.7 %Santa Barbara County: 14.7 %Santa Clara County: 7.1 %Santa Cruz County: 11.6 %Shasta County: 13.3 %Sierra County: 4.4 %Siskiyou County: 16.4 %Solano County: 10 %Sonoma County: 8.9 %Stanislaus County: 13.5 %Sutter County: 14.4 %Tehama County: 15.6 %Trinity County: 20.7 %Tulare County: 17.9 %Tuolumne County: 10.4 %Ventura County: 9.3 %Yolo County: 16.7 %Yuba County: 14.2 %
  • Under 8.5
  • 8.5 to 11
  • 11 to 13
  • 13 to 14
  • 14 to 17
  • 17 and over
%, 2024. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All counties, 2024

Trinity County: 20.7 %Trinity County20.7Imperial County: 19.5 %Imperial County19.5Butte County: 19.3 %Butte County19.3Madera County: 19.2 %Madera County19.2Kern County: 19.1 %Kern County19.1Merced County: 19.1 %Merced County19.1Humboldt County: 18.7 %Humboldt County18.7Fresno County: 18.3 %Fresno County18.3Modoc County: 17.9 %Modoc County17.9Tulare County: 17.9 %Tulare County17.9Lake County: 17 %Lake County17Yolo County: 16.7 %Yolo County16.7Siskiyou County: 16.4 %Siskiyou County16.4Kings County: 16 %Kings County16Glenn County: 16 %Glenn County16Tehama County: 15.6 %Tehama County15.6Mendocino County: 15.4 %Mendocino County15.4Santa Barbara County: 14.7 %Santa Barbara County14.7Sutter County: 14.4 %Sutter County14.4Yuba County: 14.2 %Yuba County14.2Mariposa County: 14 %Mariposa County14Lassen County: 14 %Lassen County14Los Angeles County: 13.7 %Los Angeles County13.7Stanislaus County: 13.5 %Stanislaus County13.5San Bernardino County: 13.4 %San Bernardino County13.4Shasta County: 13.3 %Shasta County13.3Calaveras County: 13 %Calaveras County13Del Norte County: 13 %Del Norte County13San Luis Obispo County: 12.9 %San Luis Obispo County12.9Monterey County: 12.7 %Monterey County12.7Sacramento County: 12.5 %Sacramento County12.5San Joaquin County: 12.4 %San Joaquin County12.4Santa Cruz County: 11.6 %Santa Cruz County11.6Colusa County: 11.4 %Colusa County11.4San Francisco County: 11.2 %San Francisco County11.2Nevada County: 11 %Nevada County11Inyo County: 10.9 %Inyo County10.9Riverside County: 10.6 %Riverside County10.6Plumas County: 10.6 %Plumas County10.6Tuolumne County: 10.4 %Tuolumne County10.4San Diego County: 10.3 %San Diego County10.3Solano County: 10 %Solano County10Alpine County: 10 %Alpine County10Orange County: 9.5 %Orange County9.5Ventura County: 9.3 %Ventura County9.3Alameda County: 9.2 %Alameda County9.2Sonoma County: 8.9 %Sonoma County8.9Mono County: 8.6 %Mono County8.6Napa County: 8.5 %Napa County8.5Contra Costa County: 8.4 %Contra Costa County8.4Marin County: 8.3 %Marin County8.3Amador County: 8.2 %Amador County8.2El Dorado County: 8 %El Dorado County8Santa Clara County: 7.1 %Santa Clara County7.1Placer County: 6.8 %Placer County6.8San Mateo County: 6.7 %San Mateo County6.7San Benito County: 6.7 %San Benito County6.7Sierra County: 4.4 %Sierra County4.4Trinity County: 20.7 %Trinity County20.7Imperial County: 19.5 %Imperial County19.5Butte County: 19.3 %Butte County19.3Madera County: 19.2 %Madera County19.2Kern County: 19.1 %Kern County19.1Merced County: 19.1 %Merced County19.1Humboldt County: 18.7 %Humboldt County18.7Fresno County: 18.3 %Fresno County18.3Modoc County: 17.9 %Modoc County17.9Tulare County: 17.9 %Tulare County17.9Lake County: 17 %Lake County17Yolo County: 16.7 %Yolo County16.7Siskiyou County: 16.4 %Siskiyou County16.4Kings County: 16 %Kings County16Glenn County: 16 %Glenn County16Tehama County: 15.6 %Tehama County15.6Mendocino County: 15.4 %Mendocino County15.4Santa Barbara County: 14.7 %Santa Barbara County14.7Sutter County: 14.4 %Sutter County14.4Yuba County: 14.2 %Yuba County14.2Mariposa County: 14 %Mariposa County14Lassen County: 14 %Lassen County14Los Angeles County: 13.7 %Los Angeles County13.7Stanislaus County: 13.5 %Stanislaus County13.5San Bernardino County: 13.4 %San Bernardino County13.4Shasta County: 13.3 %Shasta County13.3Calaveras County: 13 %Calaveras County13Del Norte County: 13 %Del Norte County13San Luis Obispo County: 12.9 %San Luis Obispo County12.9Monterey County: 12.7 %Monterey County12.7Sacramento County: 12.5 %Sacramento County12.5San Joaquin County: 12.4 %San Joaquin County12.4Santa Cruz County: 11.6 %Santa Cruz County11.6Colusa County: 11.4 %Colusa County11.4San Francisco County: 11.2 %San Francisco County11.2Nevada County: 11 %Nevada County11Inyo County: 10.9 %Inyo County10.9Riverside County: 10.6 %Riverside County10.6Plumas County: 10.6 %Plumas County10.6Tuolumne County: 10.4 %Tuolumne County10.4San Diego County: 10.3 %San Diego County10.3Solano County: 10 %Solano County10Alpine County: 10 %Alpine County10Orange County: 9.5 %Orange County9.5Ventura County: 9.3 %Ventura County9.3Alameda County: 9.2 %Alameda County9.2Sonoma County: 8.9 %Sonoma County8.9Mono County: 8.6 %Mono County8.6Napa County: 8.5 %Napa County8.5Contra Costa County: 8.4 %Contra Costa County8.4Marin County: 8.3 %Marin County8.3Amador County: 8.2 %Amador County8.2El Dorado County: 8 %El Dorado County8Santa Clara County: 7.1 %Santa Clara County7.1Placer County: 6.8 %Placer County6.8San Mateo County: 6.7 %San Mateo County6.7San Benito County: 6.7 %San Benito County6.7Sierra County: 4.4 %Sierra County4.4
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2024 (%)Change on 2023
1Trinity County20.7+2.7 pts
2Imperial County19.5-0.1 pts
3Butte County19.3+0.9 pts
4Madera County19.2-0.7 pts
5Kern County19.1+0.1 pts
6Merced County19.1+0.7 pts
7Humboldt County18.7-0.2 pts
8Fresno County18.3-0.4 pts
9Modoc County17.9-2.4 pts
10Tulare County17.9+0.1 pts
11Lake County17+0.3 pts
12Yolo County16.7+0.4 pts
13Siskiyou County16.4-0.2 pts
14Kings County16-0.8 pts
15Glenn County16+3.6 pts
16Tehama County15.6+0.1 pts
17Mendocino County15.4+0.2 pts
18Santa Barbara County14.7+1 pts
19Sutter County14.4-0.3 pts
20Yuba County14.2-1.1 pts
21Mariposa County14+0.1 pts
22Lassen County14+0.3 pts
23Los Angeles County13.7+0.1 pts
24Stanislaus County13.5+0.4 pts
25San Bernardino County13.4-0.2 pts
26Shasta County13.3+0.3 pts
27Calaveras County13-0.4 pts
28Del Norte County13+1.3 pts
29San Luis Obispo County12.9+0.1 pts
30Monterey County12.7+0.2 pts
31Sacramento County12.5-0.1 pts
32San Joaquin County12.4-0.2 pts
33Santa Cruz County11.6+0.4 pts
34Colusa County11.4+0.6 pts
35San Francisco County11.2+0.6 pts
36Nevada County11+0.4 pts
37Inyo County10.9+0.4 pts
38Riverside County10.6-0.4 pts
39Plumas County10.6-0.1 pts
40Tuolumne County10.4-0.3 pts
41San Diego County10.3-0.1 pts
42Solano County10+0.3 pts
43Alpine County10-2.4 pts
44Orange County9.50 pts
45Ventura County9.3+0.3 pts
46Alameda County9.20 pts
47Sonoma County8.9+0.3 pts
48Mono County8.6-2.5 pts
49Napa County8.50 pts
50Contra Costa County8.4+0.1 pts
51Marin County8.3+0.5 pts
52Amador County8.2+0.4 pts
53El Dorado County8-0.3 pts
54Santa Clara County7.1+0.3 pts
55Placer County6.80 pts
56San Mateo County6.7+0.2 pts
57San Benito County6.7-1.1 pts
58Sierra County4.4-7.9 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 counties 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. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-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 (Counties in California by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-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, Counties in California by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/california-counties. 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. Counties in California by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/california-counties.

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, Counties in California by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/california-counties (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_california_by_2024,
  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: Counties in California by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/california-counties. 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. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-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: Counties in California by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/california-counties
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/california-counties.
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. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

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

Trinity County, with 20.7% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Sierra County, with 4.4% in 2024.

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. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

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

Counties in California: more rankings