Texas continues to be home to some of the poorest counties in the country with poverty most prevalent along the Texas-Mexico border, census figures show.
The latest county-level poverty estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, released in December, show that poverty is disproportionately distributed across the state. Among counties with at least 10,000 residents, border counties face the highest rates of residents living in poverty — nearly one in three people in South Texas. Meanwhile, suburbancounties near the state'slargest cities contain the smallest shares ofpoor people, with less than 10 percent of residents living in poverty in many suburbs.
Though the share of poor Texans has gradually dropped in recent years,17.2 percent of the state's population was still living in poverty as of 2014.
The census determines poverty based on income and family size. For example, a family of fouris considered to be living in poverty if their household income is less than $24,008 a year.
Here’s a look at the Texas counties with the highest and lowest poverty rates, among those with populations of 10,000 or more.
Counties with the highest poverty rates:
Willacy County
Population: 22,056
Willacy County, just north of Brownsville, has the highest poverty rate in the state with 38.8 percent of residents living in poverty. It has the second-highest child poverty rate with 45.9 percent.
Starr County
Population: 62,040
Starr County ranked as the second poorest county in the state with 35.4 percent of its population living in poverty. Part of the Rio Grande Valley, the county is mostly made up of several small towns, including Rio Grande City.
Cameron County
Population: 415,103
At the southern tip of the state, 34.5 percent of Cameron County’s residents are poor. Home to Brownsville and Harlingen, the county also has the highest child poverty rate in the state with 47 percent of children living in poverty.
Hidalgo County
Population: 806,447
At the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, 33.5 percent of Hidalgo County’s population lives in poverty. Home to McAllen and Edinburg, the county also has a high share of poor children with 45.5 percent of children living in poverty.
Zapata County
Population: 14,231
In Zapata County, 32.6 of residents are living in poverty. Just south of Laredo, the county comprises several small towns including the city of Zapata.
Counties with the lowest poverty rates:
Rockwall County
Population: 83,239
Rockwall County, located just west of Dallas County,has the lowest share of poor residents with only 6.8 percent of the population living in poverty. It also has the lowest child poverty rate with 8.9 percent of children living in poverty.
Collin County
Population: 836,947
Collin County ranked as the county with second-lowest share of poor residents with 7 percent of the population in poverty. Home to Plano and McKinney, it also has the second-lowest child poverty rate. Only 9 percent of children are poor.
Williamson County
Population: 457,218
Just north of Austin, only 7.8 percent of Williamson County’s residents are poor. The county’s population is spread across cities such as Georgetown and Round Rock and includes many commuters who travel to Austin for work.
Kendall County
Population: 36,058
Only 8.3 percent of the population in Kendall County lives in poverty. West of San Antonio, the county is mostly made up of small towns and is home to many commuters to San Antonio.
Denton County
Population: 708,627
North of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, 8.7 percent of Denton County’s population is poor. The county is home to the city of Denton and the University of North Texas.
FAQs
Latest Census Data Shows Poverty Rate Highest at Border, Lowest in Suburbs. Border counties are home to the largest share of residents living in poverty, while a few suburban counties contain the smallest shares of poor people, according to the latest poverty estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
What area has the highest poverty rate? ›
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the national poverty rate was 12.4% in 2022, up from 11.2% in 2021. These states have the highest percentages of poverty in the country: Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia, New Mexico, Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, and New York.
Which of the following geographic regions of the US has the highest poverty rate? ›
Those with the most severe poverty are found in poor areas of the Southeast, including the Mississippi Delta and Appalachia, as well as on Native American lands. Pockets of high poverty are increasingly found in other regions, such as nonmetro areas of the Southwest and northern sections of the Midwest.
Where do most people who are experiencing poverty in the United States live? ›
Much of California's poverty occurs in Northern counties which are home to farming, mining, and manufacturing communities. High costs across the state have also led to higher poverty rates as often seen in San Francisco and Los Angeles, with 4.5 million living in poverty.
Which racial group has the highest poverty rate in the US according to census data ___________________? ›
The American Indian and Alaska Native population (ratio of 2.2) was the most overrepresented in poverty. Non-Hispanic White and Asian individuals were underrepresented in poverty, both with a ratio of 0.8, not statistically different from one another.
What is the poorest neighborhood in the United States? ›
In the United States (in 2017), the place with the lowest median household income was Little River, California (population 117), while the place with the lowest median household income with a population of more than 1,000 was Comerío Zona Urbana in Comerío, Puerto Rico (population 4,312).
What city in America has the most poverty? ›
The persistence of the problem led to the creation of a phrase as common as the issue itself: Philadelphia is “America's poorest big city.” When data researchers use the term, it has a specific definition. Out of the top 10 most populous cities across the United States, Philadelphia has the highest poverty rate.
Is poverty higher in rural or urban areas? ›
Rates of poverty are higher in rural areas compared to urban areas. According to the United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, in 2019 15.4% of people living in rural areas had an income below the federal poverty line, while those living in urban areas had a poverty rate of only 11.9%.
Do rural areas have more poverty? ›
Data show U.S. poverty rates in 2019 higher in rural areas than in urban for racial/ethnic groups. Across all races and ethnicities, U.S. poverty rates in 2019 were higher at 15.4 percent in nonmetro (rural) areas than in metro (urban) areas at 11.9 percent.
Why is poverty higher in rural areas? ›
Rural poverty often stems from limited access to markets, education, quality infrastructure, employment opportunities, health, and financial products. Urban poverty is often marred by weak or hazardous living conditions related to sanitation, employment, and personal security.
Mississippi is the poorest state in the US, with a poverty rate of 18.7%.
What is the main cause of poverty in America? ›
The Cause of Poverty
Most Americans say poverty is the result of inequity in society rather than an individual's own fault. Two-thirds of the public consider poverty a pervasive problem in the United States and more than a quarter consider themselves poor.
Which race or ethnicity has the highest rates of poverty in the US? ›
Native Americans are the poorest,and not ONLY the poorest,but also the most forgotten,since many complaint only about poor Afro-Americans and maybe also Hispanics. The poorest counties are Indian reservations in Alaska,the Dakotas, Arizona and New Mexico.
What ethnic group is most likely to live in poverty? ›
The percentages of children living in poverty were highest for Black and American Indian/Alaska Native children (34 percent each), followed by Hispanic children (28 percent), Pacific Islander children (23 percent), and children of Two or more races (19 percent), and were lowest for White and Asian children (11 percent ...
What state is number 1 in poverty? ›
In terms of poverty, Mississippi is the poorest state in America with a poverty rate of 18.1% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau – followed by Louisiana at second, and New Mexico at third.
What was the highest poverty rate in America? ›
The highest poverty rate on record was 22% (1950s).
