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

Cities in Pennsylvania by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024

State College, PA had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 68 cities in 2024, at 38.1%. Franklin Park, PA had the lowest, at 0.7%. The median was 16.7% and the figure for Pennsylvania was 11.7%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest38.1State College, PA
Lowest0.7Franklin Park, PA
Median16.768 cities
Pennsylvania11.7History

Top 40 cities, 2024

State College, PA: 38.1 %State College, PA38.1McKeesport, PA: 32 %McKeesport, PA32Johnstown, PA: 31.9 %Johnstown, PA31.9Harrisburg, PA: 30.5 %Harrisburg, PA30.5Darby, PA: 30 %Darby, PA30Chester, PA: 29 %Chester, PA29Reading, PA: 28.7 %Reading, PA28.7New Castle, PA: 28 %New Castle, PA28Bloomsburg, PA: 26.5 %Bloomsburg, PA26.5Williamsport, PA: 25.4 %Williamsport, PA25.4Hazleton, PA: 25 %Hazleton, PA25Erie, PA: 23.3 %Erie, PA23.3Wilkes-Barre, PA: 23.1 %Wilkes-Barre, PA23.1Scranton, PA: 23 %Scranton, PA23Lebanon, PA: 22.9 %Lebanon, PA22.9Meadville, PA: 22.3 %Meadville, PA22.3Indiana, PA: 21.7 %Indiana, PA21.7Butler, PA: 21.4 %Butler, PA21.4Columbia, PA: 21.4 %Columbia, PA21.4Philadelphia, PA: 21.4 %Philadelphia, PA21.4York, PA: 21.2 %York, PA21.2Allentown, PA: 21 %Allentown, PA21West Chester, PA: 20.5 %West Chester, PA20.5Wilkinsburg, PA: 20.4 %Wilkinsburg, PA20.4Lancaster, PA: 20.3 %Lancaster, PA20.3Pittsburgh, PA: 20.1 %Pittsburgh, PA20.1Sharon, PA: 20 %Sharon, PA20Pottsville, PA: 19.9 %Pottsville, PA19.9Nanticoke, PA: 19.4 %Nanticoke, PA19.4Norristown, PA: 18.5 %Norristown, PA18.5Kingston, PA: 18.3 %Kingston, PA18.3Coatesville, PA: 18.1 %Coatesville, PA18.1Pottstown, PA: 17.5 %Pottstown, PA17.5Washington, PA: 16.8 %Washington, PA16.8Altoona, PA: 16.6 %Altoona, PA16.6Berwick, PA: 16.5 %Berwick, PA16.5Easton, PA: 16.3 %Easton, PA16.3New Kensington, PA: 16 %New Kensington, PA16Bethlehem, PA: 15.7 %Bethlehem, PA15.7Chambersburg, PA: 15.3 %Chambersburg, PA15.3State College, PA: 38.1 %State College, PA38.1McKeesport, PA: 32 %McKeesport, PA32Johnstown, PA: 31.9 %Johnstown, PA31.9Harrisburg, PA: 30.5 %Harrisburg, PA30.5Darby, PA: 30 %Darby, PA30Chester, PA: 29 %Chester, PA29Reading, PA: 28.7 %Reading, PA28.7New Castle, PA: 28 %New Castle, PA28Bloomsburg, PA: 26.5 %Bloomsburg, PA26.5Williamsport, PA: 25.4 %Williamsport, PA25.4Hazleton, PA: 25 %Hazleton, PA25Erie, PA: 23.3 %Erie, PA23.3Wilkes-Barre, PA: 23.1 %Wilkes-Barre, PA23.1Scranton, PA: 23 %Scranton, PA23Lebanon, PA: 22.9 %Lebanon, PA22.9Meadville, PA: 22.3 %Meadville, PA22.3Indiana, PA: 21.7 %Indiana, PA21.7Butler, PA: 21.4 %Butler, PA21.4Columbia, PA: 21.4 %Columbia, PA21.4Philadelphia, PA: 21.4 %Philadelphia, PA21.4York, PA: 21.2 %York, PA21.2Allentown, PA: 21 %Allentown, PA21West Chester, PA: 20.5 %West Chester, PA20.5Wilkinsburg, PA: 20.4 %Wilkinsburg, PA20.4Lancaster, PA: 20.3 %Lancaster, PA20.3Pittsburgh, PA: 20.1 %Pittsburgh, PA20.1Sharon, PA: 20 %Sharon, PA20Pottsville, PA: 19.9 %Pottsville, PA19.9Nanticoke, PA: 19.4 %Nanticoke, PA19.4Norristown, PA: 18.5 %Norristown, PA18.5Kingston, PA: 18.3 %Kingston, PA18.3Coatesville, PA: 18.1 %Coatesville, PA18.1Pottstown, PA: 17.5 %Pottstown, PA17.5Washington, PA: 16.8 %Washington, PA16.8Altoona, PA: 16.6 %Altoona, PA16.6Berwick, PA: 16.5 %Berwick, PA16.5Easton, PA: 16.3 %Easton, PA16.3New Kensington, PA: 16 %New Kensington, PA16Bethlehem, PA: 15.7 %Bethlehem, PA15.7Chambersburg, PA: 15.3 %Chambersburg, PA15.3
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2024 (%)Change on 2023
1State College, PA38.1-1 pts
2McKeesport, PA32-0.9 pts
3Johnstown, PA31.9+0.7 pts
4Harrisburg, PA30.5+1.4 pts
5Darby, PA30-1.6 pts
6Chester, PA29-1.9 pts
7Reading, PA28.7+1.7 pts
8New Castle, PA28+1.9 pts
9Bloomsburg, PA26.5-4 pts
10Williamsport, PA25.4+0.2 pts
11Hazleton, PA25-2 pts
12Erie, PA23.3-1.3 pts
13Wilkes-Barre, PA23.1+2 pts
14Scranton, PA23+1 pts
15Lebanon, PA22.9-0.1 pts
16Meadville, PA22.3+4.1 pts
17Indiana, PA21.7+1.9 pts
18Butler, PA21.4-1.5 pts
18Columbia, PA21.4+4 pts
20Philadelphia, PA21.4-0.6 pts
21York, PA21.2-1.5 pts
22Allentown, PA21-0.6 pts
23West Chester, PA20.5+2.1 pts
24Wilkinsburg, PA20.40 pts
25Lancaster, PA20.3-0.3 pts
26Pittsburgh, PA20.1+0.6 pts
27Sharon, PA20-1.4 pts
28Pottsville, PA19.9+1.6 pts
29Nanticoke, PA19.4+1.7 pts
30Norristown, PA18.5-0.4 pts
31Kingston, PA18.3-1 pts
32Coatesville, PA18.1-2.3 pts
33Pottstown, PA17.5-2.3 pts
34Washington, PA16.8+0.6 pts
35Altoona, PA16.6-2.3 pts
36Berwick, PA16.5-5.2 pts
37Easton, PA16.3-1.6 pts
38New Kensington, PA16-0.8 pts
39Bethlehem, PA15.7-0.1 pts
40Chambersburg, PA15.3+3.5 pts
41Carlisle, PA15.1-2.3 pts
42Hanover, PA14.5+1.4 pts
43Greensburg, PA14.4+0.4 pts
44Munhall, PA13.9+0.1 pts
45Yeadon, PA12.6+4.3 pts
46Dunmore, PA12+0.6 pts
47Lansdowne, PA11.8+1.2 pts
48Lansdale, PA11.3+1.8 pts
49West Mifflin, PA11.2-0.7 pts
50Hermitage, PA10.9+0.8 pts
51Monroeville, PA10.7+0.9 pts
52Waynesboro, PA10.2+1 pts
53Baldwin, PA9.5-0.9 pts
54Phoenixville, PA8.2-0.2 pts
55Ephrata, PA7.9-1.3 pts
56St. Marys, PA7.9-0.6 pts
57Lower Burrell, PA7.8+0.3 pts
58Elizabethtown, PA7.6+0.2 pts
59Emmaus, PA7.3+1.6 pts
60Wyomissing, PA7.3+1.3 pts
61Whitehall, PA6.7-1.5 pts
62Northampton, PA6.7-0.4 pts
63Mechanicsburg, PA5.6+0.5 pts
64Bethel Park, PA4-0.3 pts
65Plum, PA3.6+0.5 pts
66Jefferson Hills, PA2.8+0.8 pts
67Murrysville, PA2.5-1.4 pts
68Franklin Park, PA0.7-0.3 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/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, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in Pennsylvania 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, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Pennsylvania 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/pennsylvania-cities. 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 Pennsylvania 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/pennsylvania-cities.

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 Pennsylvania 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/pennsylvania-cities (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_pennsylvania_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, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Pennsylvania 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/pennsylvania-cities. 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/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, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Pennsylvania 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/pennsylvania-cities
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/pennsylvania-cities.
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/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Cities in Pennsylvania by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

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

State College, PA, with 38.1% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Franklin Park, PA, with 0.7% 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, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

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

Cities in Pennsylvania: more rankings