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

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

Carthage, MO had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 81 cities in 2023, at 33%. Dardenne Prairie, MO had the lowest, at 1.3%. The median was 12.7% and the figure for Missouri was 12.6%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest33Carthage, MO
Lowest1.3Dardenne Prairie, MO
Median12.781 cities
Missouri12.6History

Top 40 cities, 2023

Carthage, MO: 33 %Carthage, MO33West Plains, MO: 31 %West Plains, MO31Kirksville, MO: 27.2 %Kirksville, MO27.2Maryville, MO: 26 %Maryville, MO26Ferguson, MO: 24.9 %Ferguson, MO24.9Jennings, MO: 24.1 %Jennings, MO24.1Rolla, MO: 23.8 %Rolla, MO23.8Poplar Bluff, MO: 23.5 %Poplar Bluff, MO23.5Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO: 22.4 %Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO22.4Moberly, MO: 21.6 %Moberly, MO21.6Bolivar, MO: 21.1 %Bolivar, MO21.1Cape Girardeau, MO: 20.7 %Cape Girardeau, MO20.7Webb City, MO: 20.7 %Webb City, MO20.7Kennett, MO: 20.6 %Kennett, MO20.6Lebanon, MO: 20.5 %Lebanon, MO20.5Columbia, MO: 20 %Columbia, MO20St. Louis, MO: 19.8 %St. Louis, MO19.8Springfield, MO: 19.4 %Springfield, MO19.4Farmington, MO: 19.2 %Farmington, MO19.2Branson, MO: 19 %Branson, MO19Monett, MO: 18.8 %Monett, MO18.8St. Joseph, MO: 18.7 %St. Joseph, MO18.7Warrensburg, MO: 18.3 %Warrensburg, MO18.3Joplin, MO: 17.9 %Joplin, MO17.9Hannibal, MO: 17.3 %Hannibal, MO17.3Sedalia, MO: 17.2 %Sedalia, MO17.2Mexico, MO: 17.1 %Mexico, MO17.1Festus, MO: 16.6 %Festus, MO16.6Sikeston, MO: 16.6 %Sikeston, MO16.6Marshall, MO: 16.3 %Marshall, MO16.3Grandview, MO: 16.1 %Grandview, MO16.1Neosho, MO: 15.8 %Neosho, MO15.8Republic, MO: 15.7 %Republic, MO15.7Independence, MO: 15.3 %Independence, MO15.3Kansas City, MO: 14.6 %Kansas City, MO14.6Ozark, MO: 14.2 %Ozark, MO14.2Hazelwood, MO: 14.2 %Hazelwood, MO14.2Excelsior Springs, MO: 13.7 %Excelsior Springs, MO13.7University City, MO: 13.4 %University City, MO13.4Raytown, MO: 12.8 %Raytown, MO12.8Carthage, MO: 33 %Carthage, MO33West Plains, MO: 31 %West Plains, MO31Kirksville, MO: 27.2 %Kirksville, MO27.2Maryville, MO: 26 %Maryville, MO26Ferguson, MO: 24.9 %Ferguson, MO24.9Jennings, MO: 24.1 %Jennings, MO24.1Rolla, MO: 23.8 %Rolla, MO23.8Poplar Bluff, MO: 23.5 %Poplar Bluff, MO23.5Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO: 22.4 %Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO22.4Moberly, MO: 21.6 %Moberly, MO21.6Bolivar, MO: 21.1 %Bolivar, MO21.1Cape Girardeau, MO: 20.7 %Cape Girardeau, MO20.7Webb City, MO: 20.7 %Webb City, MO20.7Kennett, MO: 20.6 %Kennett, MO20.6Lebanon, MO: 20.5 %Lebanon, MO20.5Columbia, MO: 20 %Columbia, MO20St. Louis, MO: 19.8 %St. Louis, MO19.8Springfield, MO: 19.4 %Springfield, MO19.4Farmington, MO: 19.2 %Farmington, MO19.2Branson, MO: 19 %Branson, MO19Monett, MO: 18.8 %Monett, MO18.8St. Joseph, MO: 18.7 %St. Joseph, MO18.7Warrensburg, MO: 18.3 %Warrensburg, MO18.3Joplin, MO: 17.9 %Joplin, MO17.9Hannibal, MO: 17.3 %Hannibal, MO17.3Sedalia, MO: 17.2 %Sedalia, MO17.2Mexico, MO: 17.1 %Mexico, MO17.1Festus, MO: 16.6 %Festus, MO16.6Sikeston, MO: 16.6 %Sikeston, MO16.6Marshall, MO: 16.3 %Marshall, MO16.3Grandview, MO: 16.1 %Grandview, MO16.1Neosho, MO: 15.8 %Neosho, MO15.8Republic, MO: 15.7 %Republic, MO15.7Independence, MO: 15.3 %Independence, MO15.3Kansas City, MO: 14.6 %Kansas City, MO14.6Ozark, MO: 14.2 %Ozark, MO14.2Hazelwood, MO: 14.2 %Hazelwood, MO14.2Excelsior Springs, MO: 13.7 %Excelsior Springs, MO13.7University City, MO: 13.4 %University City, MO13.4Raytown, MO: 12.8 %Raytown, MO12.8
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Carthage, MO33-2 pts
2West Plains, MO31-2.8 pts
3Kirksville, MO27.2-2.7 pts
4Maryville, MO26-0 pts
5Ferguson, MO24.9+3.8 pts
6Jennings, MO24.1-5.5 pts
7Rolla, MO23.8-0.7 pts
8Poplar Bluff, MO23.5-3.4 pts
9Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO22.4-0.5 pts
10Moberly, MO21.6-1.7 pts
11Bolivar, MO21.1-0.8 pts
12Cape Girardeau, MO20.7-0.9 pts
13Webb City, MO20.7-0.3 pts
14Kennett, MO20.6-0.3 pts
15Lebanon, MO20.5+0.1 pts
16Columbia, MO20-1.4 pts
17St. Louis, MO19.8-0.4 pts
18Springfield, MO19.4-0.9 pts
19Farmington, MO19.2+2.1 pts
20Branson, MO19-7.8 pts
21Monett, MO18.8+0.3 pts
22St. Joseph, MO18.7+0.6 pts
23Warrensburg, MO18.3-1.5 pts
24Joplin, MO17.9+0.6 pts
25Hannibal, MO17.3+0.7 pts
26Sedalia, MO17.2-0.4 pts
27Mexico, MO17.1+0.1 pts
28Festus, MO16.6+4.4 pts
29Sikeston, MO16.6-3.4 pts
30Marshall, MO16.3+2.7 pts
31Grandview, MO16.1+0.9 pts
32Neosho, MO15.8-4.1 pts
33Republic, MO15.7+2.3 pts
34Independence, MO15.3+0.1 pts
35Kansas City, MO14.6-0.3 pts
36Ozark, MO14.2+1.5 pts
37Hazelwood, MO14.2-0.1 pts
38Excelsior Springs, MO13.7+0.9 pts
39University City, MO13.4+0.1 pts
40Raytown, MO12.8+1.8 pts
41Fulton, MO12.7+3.4 pts
42Jefferson City, MO12.5+0.2 pts
43Gladstone, MO12.1+0.6 pts
44Bridgeton, MO12-0.1 pts
45St. Ann, MO12-0.6 pts
46Troy, MO11.7+0.6 pts
47Overland, MO9.7-0.6 pts
48Florissant, MO9.5+0.3 pts
49Belton, MO9.3+0.3 pts
50Smithville, MO8.8+1.7 pts
51Jackson, MO8.7+0.3 pts
52Clayton, MO8.1-0 pts
53Union, MO7.8+0.3 pts
54Arnold, MO7.7-0.6 pts
55Harrisonville, MO7.6-3 pts
55Washington, MO7.6+1.4 pts
57Nixa, MO7.5+0.3 pts
58Liberty, MO7.3-0.4 pts
59Blue Springs, MO7+0.6 pts
60Creve Coeur, MO6.3+1.1 pts
61Grain Valley, MO6.3-0.7 pts
62Eureka, MO6.2+0.7 pts
63St. Charles, MO6+0.1 pts
64Manchester, MO5.7-1.9 pts
65Maryland Heights, MO5.6+0.3 pts
66Ballwin, MO5.5+0.2 pts
66Lee's Summit, MO5.5+0.2 pts
68Raymore, MO5.5-0.8 pts
69Kirkwood, MO5.2+0.5 pts
70St. Peters, MO5.1+1.1 pts
71O'Fallon, MO4.7+0.2 pts
72Wentzville, MO4.6+0.6 pts
73Crestwood, MO4.3-2.4 pts
74Lake St. Louis, MO4.1+0.6 pts
75Ellisville, MO3.8+0.7 pts
76Webster Groves, MO3.7-1.1 pts
77Chesterfield, MO3.3-0.6 pts
78Kearney, MO3.3+0.8 pts
79Wildwood, MO3-0.1 pts
80Town and Country, MO2.5-1 pts
81Dardenne Prairie, MO1.3-0.3 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/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-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 Missouri by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-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 Missouri by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/missouri-cities?period=2023. 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 Missouri by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/missouri-cities?period=2023.

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 Missouri by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/missouri-cities?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_missouri_by_2023,
  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 Missouri by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/missouri-cities?period=2023. 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/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-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 Missouri by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/missouri-cities?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/missouri-cities?period=2023.
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/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Cities in Missouri by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"poverty_rate_acs","level":"municipality","within":"Missouri","limit":10}
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Questions

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

Carthage, MO, with 33% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Dardenne Prairie, MO, with 1.3% in 2023.

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 Missouri: more rankings