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

Donna, TX had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 256 cities in 2023, at 40.4%. Lavon, TX had the lowest, at 1.2%. The median was 11.9% and the figure for Texas was 13.8%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest40.4Donna, TX
Lowest1.2Lavon, TX
Median11.9256 cities
Texas13.8History

Top 40 cities, 2023

Donna, TX: 40.4 %Donna, TX40.4Roma, TX: 34.2 %Roma, TX34.2Rio Grande City, TX: 33.9 %Rio Grande City, TX33.9Mercedes, TX: 31.5 %Mercedes, TX31.5Raymondville, TX: 31.5 %Raymondville, TX31.5Robstown, TX: 31 %Robstown, TX31Kingsville, TX: 31 %Kingsville, TX31Nacogdoches, TX: 30.8 %Nacogdoches, TX30.8Alice, TX: 30.4 %Alice, TX30.4Pharr, TX: 29.8 %Pharr, TX29.8Port Arthur, TX: 29.1 %Port Arthur, TX29.1Jacksonville, TX: 29 %Jacksonville, TX29College Station, TX: 28.6 %College Station, TX28.6Alton, TX: 28.1 %Alton, TX28.1San Benito, TX: 28 %San Benito, TX28Palmview, TX: 27.1 %Palmview, TX27.1San Marcos, TX: 26.7 %San Marcos, TX26.7Bay City, TX: 26.7 %Bay City, TX26.7Uvalde, TX: 26.3 %Uvalde, TX26.3San Elizario, TX: 26.2 %San Elizario, TX26.2Paris, TX: 25.8 %Paris, TX25.8Marshall, TX: 25.8 %Marshall, TX25.8Edinburg, TX: 25.7 %Edinburg, TX25.7Weslaco, TX: 25 %Weslaco, TX25Brownsville, TX: 24.9 %Brownsville, TX24.9Hidalgo, TX: 24.6 %Hidalgo, TX24.6Harlingen, TX: 24.6 %Harlingen, TX24.6Alamo, TX: 24.5 %Alamo, TX24.5San Juan, TX: 24.5 %San Juan, TX24.5Huntsville, TX: 24.4 %Huntsville, TX24.4Waco, TX: 24 %Waco, TX24Galena Park, TX: 23.8 %Galena Park, TX23.8South Houston, TX: 23.5 %South Houston, TX23.5Sweetwater, TX: 23.4 %Sweetwater, TX23.4Bonham, TX: 23.3 %Bonham, TX23.3Bryan, TX: 23.2 %Bryan, TX23.2Plainview, TX: 22.7 %Plainview, TX22.7Horizon City, TX: 22.6 %Horizon City, TX22.6Bellmead, TX: 22.1 %Bellmead, TX22.1Texarkana, TX: 21.6 %Texarkana, TX21.6Donna, TX: 40.4 %Donna, TX40.4Roma, TX: 34.2 %Roma, TX34.2Rio Grande City, TX: 33.9 %Rio Grande City, TX33.9Mercedes, TX: 31.5 %Mercedes, TX31.5Raymondville, TX: 31.5 %Raymondville, TX31.5Robstown, TX: 31 %Robstown, TX31Kingsville, TX: 31 %Kingsville, TX31Nacogdoches, TX: 30.8 %Nacogdoches, TX30.8Alice, TX: 30.4 %Alice, TX30.4Pharr, TX: 29.8 %Pharr, TX29.8Port Arthur, TX: 29.1 %Port Arthur, TX29.1Jacksonville, TX: 29 %Jacksonville, TX29College Station, TX: 28.6 %College Station, TX28.6Alton, TX: 28.1 %Alton, TX28.1San Benito, TX: 28 %San Benito, TX28Palmview, TX: 27.1 %Palmview, TX27.1San Marcos, TX: 26.7 %San Marcos, TX26.7Bay City, TX: 26.7 %Bay City, TX26.7Uvalde, TX: 26.3 %Uvalde, TX26.3San Elizario, TX: 26.2 %San Elizario, TX26.2Paris, TX: 25.8 %Paris, TX25.8Marshall, TX: 25.8 %Marshall, TX25.8Edinburg, TX: 25.7 %Edinburg, TX25.7Weslaco, TX: 25 %Weslaco, TX25Brownsville, TX: 24.9 %Brownsville, TX24.9Hidalgo, TX: 24.6 %Hidalgo, TX24.6Harlingen, TX: 24.6 %Harlingen, TX24.6Alamo, TX: 24.5 %Alamo, TX24.5San Juan, TX: 24.5 %San Juan, TX24.5Huntsville, TX: 24.4 %Huntsville, TX24.4Waco, TX: 24 %Waco, TX24Galena Park, TX: 23.8 %Galena Park, TX23.8South Houston, TX: 23.5 %South Houston, TX23.5Sweetwater, TX: 23.4 %Sweetwater, TX23.4Bonham, TX: 23.3 %Bonham, TX23.3Bryan, TX: 23.2 %Bryan, TX23.2Plainview, TX: 22.7 %Plainview, TX22.7Horizon City, TX: 22.6 %Horizon City, TX22.6Bellmead, TX: 22.1 %Bellmead, TX22.1Texarkana, TX: 21.6 %Texarkana, TX21.6
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Donna, TX40.4+2.4 pts
2Roma, TX34.2+0.5 pts
3Rio Grande City, TX33.9+3.9 pts
4Mercedes, TX31.5+2.2 pts
4Raymondville, TX31.5-1.6 pts
6Robstown, TX31+0.6 pts
7Kingsville, TX31-2.1 pts
8Nacogdoches, TX30.8-0.1 pts
9Alice, TX30.4+2.7 pts
10Pharr, TX29.8-0.6 pts
11Port Arthur, TX29.1+2.4 pts
12Jacksonville, TX29+5.3 pts
13College Station, TX28.6+0.1 pts
14Alton, TX28.1-0 pts
15San Benito, TX28-1.8 pts
16Palmview, TX27.1+0.7 pts
17San Marcos, TX26.7-0.9 pts
18Bay City, TX26.7-1.9 pts
19Uvalde, TX26.3-2.4 pts
20San Elizario, TX26.2-2.2 pts
21Paris, TX25.8+3.8 pts
22Marshall, TX25.8+2.9 pts
23Edinburg, TX25.7-0 pts
24Weslaco, TX25+0.3 pts
25Brownsville, TX24.9-1.2 pts
26Hidalgo, TX24.6-2.3 pts
27Harlingen, TX24.6-1.4 pts
28Alamo, TX24.5+0.4 pts
28San Juan, TX24.5+0.9 pts
30Huntsville, TX24.4-2.7 pts
31Waco, TX24-0.8 pts
32Galena Park, TX23.8-6.6 pts
33South Houston, TX23.5+0.5 pts
34Sweetwater, TX23.4+5.1 pts
35Bonham, TX23.3+6.9 pts
36Bryan, TX23.2-1.4 pts
37Plainview, TX22.7+1.1 pts
38Horizon City, TX22.6+2.4 pts
39Bellmead, TX22.1+0.2 pts
40Texarkana, TX21.6-0.4 pts
41Eagle Pass, TX21.5-1.8 pts
42Beeville, TX21.5-5.2 pts
43Laredo, TX20.8-0.2 pts
44Mineral Wells, TX20.8+2.6 pts
45Town of Pecos, TX20.7+0.7 pts
46McAllen, TX20.2-0.8 pts
47Socorro, TX20.1-3.3 pts
48Del Rio, TX20.1+1.3 pts
49Gainesville, TX19.9-1.8 pts
50Galveston, TX19.9+0.6 pts
51Beaumont, TX19.8-0.6 pts
52Houston, TX19.7+0.1 pts
53Kilgore, TX19.6+3.1 pts
54Lufkin, TX19.2+1.2 pts
55Lubbock, TX19-0.2 pts
56Brownwood, TX18.9+1.2 pts
57Dayton, TX18.8+2 pts
58Brenham, TX18.7+0.5 pts
59Big Spring, TX18.4+0.8 pts
60El Paso, TX18.4-0.6 pts
61Stephenville, TX18.4-1.3 pts
62Pasadena, TX18.3+0.3 pts
63Corsicana, TX18.3+0.6 pts
64Longview, TX18.2+1.1 pts
65Humble, TX18.1+0.8 pts
66Victoria, TX18-0.1 pts
67Seguin, TX17.90 pts
68Baytown, TX17.7+0.3 pts
69Mission, TX17.7-2.6 pts
70Pampa, TX17.6-0.4 pts
71Corpus Christi, TX17.5+0.3 pts
72Palestine, TX17.5-0.6 pts
73Wichita Falls, TX17.4-0.3 pts
74Orange, TX17.3+0.8 pts
75Temple, TX17.3+0.2 pts
76Dallas, TX17.2-0.4 pts
76Killeen, TX17.2+1.1 pts
78San Antonio, TX17.1-0.6 pts
79Denison, TX17-1.1 pts
80Mount Pleasant, TX16.9+1.3 pts
81Rosenberg, TX16.9+1.2 pts
82Terrell, TX16.8-1 pts
83Dumas, TX16.6+2.5 pts
84Texas City, TX16.5+1 pts
85Belton, TX16.2-1.7 pts
86Denton, TX15.9+0.2 pts
87El Campo, TX15.9-1.6 pts
88Amarillo, TX15.8+0.2 pts
89Fairview, TX15.7+0.8 pts
90Rockport, TX15.6+1.6 pts
90Sulphur Springs, TX15.6-0.6 pts
92La Marque, TX15.5-2 pts
93Forest Hill, TX15.1+3.5 pts
94Kaufman, TX15-3.1 pts
95Burkburnett, TX15+5.8 pts
96Pleasanton, TX14.9+2.5 pts
97Abilene, TX14.8-1.1 pts
98Dickinson, TX14.8+2.1 pts
99Andrews, TX14.6+1.3 pts
99Freeport, TX14.6-3.5 pts
101Haltom City, TX14.5+0.7 pts
102Hereford, TX14.4-0.5 pts
103Odessa, TX14.4-0.3 pts
104Lancaster, TX14.4-0.4 pts
105Henderson, TX14.2+3.9 pts
106Levelland, TX13.8-3.7 pts
107Converse, TX13.8-1 pts
108Richmond, TX13.6-3.6 pts
109Angleton, TX13.4+1.4 pts
110Greenville, TX13.2-0.1 pts
111Arlington, TX13.1+0.1 pts
112Lockhart, TX13.1+0.3 pts
113Fort Worth, TX12.9-0.5 pts
114Tyler, TX12.8-0.6 pts
115Azle, TX12.7+1.5 pts
116Leon Valley, TX12.7+1.4 pts
117Athens, TX12.6-4.3 pts
118Mesquite, TX12.4+0.9 pts
119La Porte, TX12.3+0.3 pts
120Austin, TX12.3-0.2 pts
120Garland, TX12.3+0.5 pts
122Borger, TX12.1+1 pts
122Canyon, TX12.1-2.1 pts
124Grand Prairie, TX12+0.5 pts
125Bastrop, TX12+0.5 pts
126Cleburne, TX12-1.7 pts
127Seagoville, TX11.9-2.2 pts
128Sherman, TX11.9-0.9 pts
129San Angelo, TX11.9+0.1 pts
130Glenn Heights, TX11.8+1.6 pts
130Kerrville, TX11.8-3.4 pts
132Lake Jackson, TX11.7+1.7 pts
133Midland, TX11.7+1.2 pts
134Port Lavaca, TX11.4+1 pts
135Ennis, TX11.3-0.2 pts
136Conroe, TX11.3-0.5 pts
137Farmers Branch, TX11+2.2 pts
138Irving, TX11+0.4 pts
139Snyder, TX10.9-2.1 pts
140Weatherford, TX10.9+2.1 pts
141Granbury, TX10.5-0.6 pts
142Hurst, TX10.4-0.4 pts
143Harker Heights, TX10.4-1.5 pts
144Port Neches, TX10.4+1.8 pts
145Alvin, TX10.3-0.1 pts
146Anna, TX10.2+1.2 pts
146Cedar Hill, TX10.2+0.3 pts
148White Settlement, TX10.1-0.2 pts
149Richardson, TX10.1-0.7 pts
150Watauga, TX10.1+0.6 pts
151Fredericksburg, TX10-1.3 pts
152Gatesville, TX10-1.5 pts
153Duncanville, TX9.9-0.2 pts
154Tomball, TX9.9-1.2 pts
155Mont Belvieu, TX9.8-1.1 pts
156Universal City, TX9.7-2.1 pts
157Providence Village, TX9.5-3.9 pts
158Copperas Cove, TX9.4+0.2 pts
159Webster, TX9.4-1.5 pts
160Stafford, TX9.4-1.5 pts
161Groves, TX9.4-1.3 pts
162Clute, TX9.2-0.2 pts
163Taylor, TX9.1-3.1 pts
164Little Elm, TX9+0.5 pts
165Waxahachie, TX8.8-0.5 pts
166Nederland, TX8.8+0.9 pts
167Liberty Hill, TX8.6-0.8 pts
168Portland, TX8.6-1.1 pts
169Lago Vista, TX8.5+4.7 pts
170Ingleside, TX8.4+0.7 pts
171Deer Park, TX8.2+0.9 pts
172Northlake, TX8.2-4.2 pts
173Burleson, TX8.1+0.8 pts
174Selma, TX7.7-0.8 pts
175Round Rock, TX7.7-0 pts
176Lewisville, TX7.6-1.2 pts
177Live Oak, TX7.5-1.8 pts
178Georgetown, TX7.5+0.4 pts
179DeSoto, TX7.4-0.8 pts
180Forney, TX7.3+0.5 pts
181Royse City, TX7.2+2.1 pts
182Rowlett, TX7.2-0.2 pts
183Bedford, TX7.2+0.4 pts
184Kyle, TX7.1-0.1 pts
185Plano, TX7.1+0.2 pts
185Sanger, TX7.1+2 pts
187Euless, TX7-1.2 pts
188Balch Springs, TX7-4.5 pts
188Boerne, TX7-0.7 pts
190Benbrook, TX7-0 pts
191Santa Fe, TX6.9+0.9 pts
192Red Oak, TX6.9-1.1 pts
193Carrollton, TX6.9+0.1 pts
193The Colony, TX6.9-0 pts
195Addison, TX6.8-1.5 pts
196Manor, TX6.8+1.2 pts
197Seabrook, TX6.6+0.2 pts
198Hutto, TX6.6-1.2 pts
199Midlothian, TX6.5+0.5 pts
200Grapevine, TX6.5+0.8 pts
201Crowley, TX6.5+0.2 pts
202Elgin, TX6.4-3.8 pts
203Mansfield, TX6.4+1.1 pts
204New Braunfels, TX6.3+0.3 pts
205Missouri City, TX6.1+0.9 pts
206North Richland Hills, TX6.1-1 pts
207Celina, TX6.1+0.1 pts
207McKinney, TX6.1-0.1 pts
209Lumberton, TX5.80 pts
210Cedar Park, TX5.7+0.2 pts
211Pflugerville, TX5.7-0.1 pts
211Schertz, TX5.70 pts
213Iowa Colony, TX5.6+1.8 pts
214Wylie, TX5.6-0.2 pts
215Katy, TX5.4+1.9 pts
216Buda, TX5.3-2.5 pts
217Princeton, TX5.3-1.1 pts
218Sugar Land, TX5.1+0.6 pts
219Kennedale, TX5-1.4 pts
220Josephine, TX5-5.5 pts
221Allen, TX4.8-0.3 pts
222League City, TX4.5-0.3 pts
223Leander, TX4.4-0.2 pts
224University Park, TX4.2-0.6 pts
225Pearland, TX4.2-0.3 pts
226Hewitt, TX4.2-3.1 pts
227Coppell, TX4+1.4 pts
228Flower Mound, TX4-0.2 pts
229Saginaw, TX4+0.2 pts
230Manvel, TX3.9-1 pts
231Corinth, TX3.9-0.9 pts
232Rockwall, TX3.9+0.8 pts
233Fate, TX3.8+1 pts
234Fair Oaks Ranch, TX3.6+0.7 pts
235Frisco, TX3.5+0.5 pts
236Cibolo, TX3.5-0.2 pts
237Sachse, TX3.4+1.4 pts
238Keller, TX3.2+0.1 pts
239Robinson, TX3.1+1 pts
240Helotes, TX30 pts
241Prosper, TX3+0.3 pts
242Lakeway, TX2.9-0.1 pts
243Friendswood, TX2.8-0.1 pts
244Trophy Club, TX2.7+0.1 pts
245Colleyville, TX2.7-0.6 pts
246Bellaire, TX2.6+0.4 pts
247Melissa, TX2.6-0.1 pts
248Fulshear, TX2.4+1 pts
249Heath, TX2.4+0.1 pts
250Highland Village, TX2.2+0.4 pts

Showing the top 250 of 256. 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/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 Texas 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 Texas 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/texas-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 Texas 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/texas-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 Texas 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/texas-cities?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_texas_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 Texas 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/texas-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 Texas 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/texas-cities?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/texas-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 Texas by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"poverty_rate_acs","level":"municipality","within":"Texas","limit":10}
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Questions

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

Donna, TX, with 40.4% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Lavon, TX, with 1.2% 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 Texas: more rankings