According to a U.S. Census Bureau report, 46.5 million Americans are still living in poverty. Although the median household income in the U.S. is around $51,000, about 15 percent of the U.S. population still live way below this. Depending on what county you live in, the difference can be as much as $35,000 below the state's median household income.
Where are the poorest counties located?
Most of the poorest counties in U.S. states are located in rural areas, and many are in the South. But that is not always the case. For example, the poorest counties in New York and Pennsylvania are all urban.
A 5-year study by 24/7 Wall St., a recognized company that publishes financial news and opinions over the Internet, revealed other information related to poor counties across the U.S. The study of median incomes took place between 2009 - 2013 using information gathered from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS).
What the study revealed
The results of the study included counties where the median income was more than $7,000 below the state's median income. All 50 states were included in the study. Some of the startling results included Apache County, Arizona, where the poverty rate is a whopping 36 percent, double the national rate, and Sumter, Alabama, where 38 percent of the residents live in poverty.
Even states like Maine, Connecticut and Massachusetts were on the list for having the poorest counties.
Here's the poorest county in every state:
(Source: 247WallStreet.com)
1. Sumter County, Alabama
County median household income: $22,186
State median household income: $43,253
Poverty rate: 38.0% (of the population)
Unemployment: 9.9% (of the population)
2. Bethel Census Area, Alaska
County median household income: $51,689
State median household income: $70,760
Poverty rate: 22.8%
Unemployment: 15.4%
3. Apache County, Arizona
County median household income: $31,476
State median household income: $49,774
Poverty rate: 36.2%
Unemployment: 19.8%
4. Lee County, Arkansas
County median household income: $25,034
State median household income: $40,768
Poverty rate: 31.5%
Unemployment: 11.2%
5. Lake County, California
County median household income: $36,548
State median household income: $61,094
Poverty rate: 25.0%
Unemployment: 11.9%
6. Otero County, Colorado
County median household income: $33,848
State median household income: $58,433
Poverty rate: 25.2%
Unemployment: 8.8%
7. Windham County, Connecticut
County median household income: $59,333
State median household income: $69,461
Poverty rate: 11.4%
Unemployment: 8.7%
8. Sussex County, Delaware
County median household income: $52,710
State median household income: $59,878
Poverty rate: 13.4%
Unemployment: 6.7%
9. Putnam County, Florida
County median household income: $32,497
State median household income: $46,956
Poverty rate: 26.4%
Unemployment: 9.4%
10. Telfair County, Georgia
County median household income: $26,634
State median household income: $49,179
Poverty rate: 30.5%
Unemployment: 15.6%
11. Hawaii County, Hawaii
County median household income: $51,250
State median household income: $67,402
Poverty rate: 18.3%
Unemployment: 6.8%
12. Madison County, Idaho
County median household income: $32,059
State median household income: $46,767
Poverty rate: 35.8%
Unemployment: 4.6%
13. Jackson County, Illinois
County median household income: $33,479
State median household income: $56,797
Poverty rate: 30.4%
Unemployment: 7.9%
14. Fayette County, Indiana
County median household income: $37,391
State median household income: $48,248
Poverty rate: 23.0%
Unemployment: 10.3%
15. Appanoose County, Iowa
County median household income: $39,208
State median household income: $51,843
Poverty rate: 15.2%
Unemployment: 6.4%
16. Crawford County, Kansas
County median household income: $37,378
State median household income: $51,332
Poverty rate: 20.6%
Unemployment: 5.6%
17. McCreary County, Kentucky
County median household income: $20,972
State median household income: $43,036
Poverty rate: 30.3%
Unemployment: 13.5%
18. Madison Parish, Louisiana
County median household income: $25,498
State median household income: $44,874
Poverty rate: 40.3%
Unemployment: 9.7
19. Piscataquis County, Maine
County median household income: $36,646
State median household income: $48,453
Poverty rate: 18.5%
Unemployment: 9.6%
20. Somerset County, Maryland
County median household income: $38,447
State median household income: $73,538
Poverty rate: 23.4%
Unemployment: 9.9%
21. Berkshire County, Massachusetts
County median household income: $48,450
State median household income: $66,866
Poverty rate: 12.8%
Unemployment: 7.1%
22. Lake County, Michigan
County median household income: $29,379
State median household income: $48,411
Poverty rate: 27.9%
Unemployment: 13.1%
23. Wadena County, Minnesota
County median household income: $36,928
State median household income: $59,836
Poverty rate: 16.9%
Unemployment: 7.1%
24. Holmes County, Mississippi
County median household income: $22,325
State median household income: $39,031
Poverty rate: 43.5%
Unemployment: 16.5%
25. Oregon County, Missouri
County median household income: $27,743
State median household income: $47,380
Poverty rate: 27.7%
Unemployment: 6.6%
26. Sanders County, Montana
County median household income: $32,881
State median household income: $46,230
Poverty rate: 22.0%
Unemployment: 12.6%
27. Red Willow County, Nebraska
County median household income: $42,345
State median household income:$51,672
Poverty rate: 12.7%
Unemployment: 3.1%
28. Nye County, Nevada
County median household income: $39,876
State median household income: $52,800
Poverty rate: 18
Unemployment: 11.9%
29. Coos County, New Hampshire
County median household income: $41,985
State median household income: $64,916
Poverty rate: 13.4%
Unemployment: 6.4%
30. Cumberland County, New Jersey
County median household income: $50,750
State median household income: $71,629
Poverty rate: 17.5%
Unemployment: 12.2%
31. Sierra County, New Mexico
County median household income: $27,430
State median household income: $44,927
Poverty rate: 22.6%
Unemployment: 6.2%
32. Bronx County, New York
County median household income: $34,388
State median household income: $58,003
Poverty rate: 29.8%
Unemployment: 11.8%
33. Scotland County, North Carolina
County median household income: $29,592
State median household income: $46,334
Poverty rate: 32.3%
Unemployment: 14.6%
34. Rolette County, North Dakota
County median household income: $31,336
State median household income: $53,741
Poverty rate: 36.0%
Unemployment: 12.9%
35. Athens County, Ohio
County median household income: $33,823
State median household income: $48,308
Poverty rate: 31.7%
Unemployment: 8.4%
36. Pushmataha County, Oklahoma
County median household income: $29,897
State median household income: $45,339
Poverty rate: 26.5%
Unemployment: 7.6%
37. Malheur County, Oregon
County median household income: $35,578
State median household income: $50,229
Poverty rate: 27.4%
Unemployment: 8.7%
38. Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
County median household income: $37,192
State median household income: $52,548
Poverty rate: 26.5%
Unemployment: 10.0%
39. Providence County, Rhode Island
County median household income: $49,297
State median household income: $56,361
Poverty rate: 17.1%
Unemployment: 10.2%
40. Allendale County, South Carolina
County median household income: $25,252
State median household income: $44,779
Poverty rate: 36.0%
Unemployment: 14.0%
41. Shannon County, South Dakota
County median household income: $25,648
State median household income: $49,495
Poverty rate: 53.2%
Unemployment: 12.9%
42. Grundy County, Tennessee
County median household income: $26,814
State median household income: $44,298
Poverty rate: 29.7%
Unemployment: 9.5%
43. Starr County, Texas
County median household income: $24,927
State median household income: $51,900
Poverty rate: 39.2%
Unemployment: 15.4%
44. San Juan County, Utah
County median household income: $40,492
State median household income: $58,821
Poverty rate: 27.1%
Unemployment: 9.3%
45. Orleans County, Vermont
County median household income: $41,953
State median household income: $54,267
Poverty rate: 15.4%
Unemployment: 6.2%
46. Martinsville, Virginia
County median household income: $28,116
State median household income: $63,907
Poverty rate: 27.2%
Unemployment: 12.1%
47. Whitman County, Washington
County median household income: $36,257
State median household income: $59,478
Poverty rate: 32.6%
Unemployment: 6.2%
48. McDowell County, West Virginia
County median household income: $22,252
State median household income: $41,043
Poverty rate: 36.3%
Unemployment: 10.0%
49. Ashland County, Wisconsin
County median household income: $38,550
State median household income: $52,413
Poverty rate: 18.8%
Unemployment: 9.0%
50. Albany County, Wyoming
County median household income: $42,774
State median household income: $57,406
Poverty rate: 26.0%
Unemployment: 4.0%
For more details, visit:
www.247wallst.com/special-report/2015/01/07/the-poorest-county-in-each-state/
