20 Places in America That Are Getting Poorer
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20 Places in America That Are Getting Poorer
Economic changes over the past couple of years, particularly high inflation, have made many people feel poorer, but some cities in America really have faced dramatic financial shifts. While many cities have held strong, some are making alarming shifts toward poverty.
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Read More: 6 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money (That Actually Work)In taking a closer look at which American cities are losing economic ground over time, GOBankingRates analyzed populous cities using data from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2021 and 2022 American Community Surveys.
This study highlights how per capita income, median household income, poverty rates and population have changed from 2021 to 2022, scoring each category to determine which city has seen the biggest declines (and increases, in the case of poverty rates) overall.
Image Credits: James Meyer / Shutterstock.com
James Meyer / Shutterstock.com - 2/21
20. Dover, New Jersey
- Change in population: 8
- Change in median household income: -$1,447
- Change in poverty rate: 6.99%
- Change in per capita income: $5,612
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Explore More: Owe Money to the IRS? Most People Don't Realize They Should Do This One ThingPictured: Elizabeth, New Jersey
Image Credits: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto
DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto - 3/21
19. Cedarburg, Wisconsin
- Change in population: 104
- Change in median household income: -$325
- Change in poverty rate: -4.55%
- Change in per capita income: $4,882
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Image Credits: awalby / Getty Images/iStockphoto
awalby / Getty Images/iStockphoto - 4/21
18. Vermillion, South Dakota
- Change in population: 944
- Change in median household income: -$104
- Change in poverty rate: 30.20%
- Change in per capita income: $1,172
Pictured: Brandon, South Dakota
Image Credits: Jacob Boomsma / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Jacob Boomsma / Getty Images/iStockphoto - 5/21
17. East Riverdale, Maryland
- Change in population: 944
- Change in median household income: -$104
- Change in poverty rate: 30.20%
- Change in per capita income: $1,172
Pictured: Prince George's County
Image Credits: D Snyder / Shutterstock.com
D Snyder / Shutterstock.com - 6/21
16. Canton, Mississippi
- Change in population: -4
- Change in median household income: -$223
- Change in poverty rate: 2.99%
- Change in per capita income: $681
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Image Credits: James D Case / Wikimedia Commons
James D Case / Wikimedia Commons - 7/21
15. Fairborn, Ohio
- Change in population: 96
- Change in median household income: -$293
- Change in poverty rate: 4.21%
- Change in per capita income: $2,691
Pictured: Wooster, Ohio
Image Credits: iStock.com
©iStock.com - 8/21
14. Dent, Ohio
- Change in population: 597
- Change in median household income: -$264
- Change in poverty rate: 12.32%
- Change in per capita income: $1,482
Pictured: Hunting Valley, Ohio
Image Credits: Nyttend / Wikimedia Commons
Nyttend / Wikimedia Commons - 9/21
13. Susanville, California
- Change in population: -568
- Change in median household income: -$753
- Change in poverty rate: 17.51%
- Change in per capita income: $3,910
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Pictured: Truckee, California
Image Credits: MattGush / Getty Images/iStockphoto
MattGush / Getty Images/iStockphoto - 10/21
12. Woodlyn, Pennsylvania
- Change in population: 15
- Change in median household income: -$535
- Change in poverty rate: -23.99%
- Change in per capita income: $3,579
Pictured: Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
Image Credits: Scharvik / Getty Images
Scharvik / Getty Images - 11/21
11. Harrison, Arkansas
- Change in population: 73
- Change in median household income: -$670
- Change in poverty rate: 0.49%
- Change in per capita income: $2,551
Pictured: Fayetteville, Arkansas
Image Credits: Michael Warren / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Michael Warren / Getty Images/iStockphoto - 12/21
10. Palmview, Texas
- Change in population: 591
- Change in median household income: -$827
- Change in poverty rate: 22.76%
- Change in per capita income: $1,342
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Pictured: Harlingen, Texas
Image Credits: Roberto Galan / Getty Images
Roberto Galan / Getty Images - 13/21
9. Richmond, Texas
- Change in population: 163
- Change in median household income: -$757
- Change in poverty rate: -12.21%
- Change in per capita income: $2,479
Pictured: McAllen, Texas
Image Credits: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto
DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto - 14/21
8. Lewisburg, Tennessee
- Change in population: 245
- Change in median household income: -$485
- Change in poverty rate: 22.94%
- Change in per capita income: $2,975
Pictured: Winchester, Tennessee
Image Credits: Crystal Bolin Photography / Getty Images
Crystal Bolin Photography / Getty Images - 15/21
7. Gatesville, Texas
- Change in population: -149
- Change in median household income: -$944
- Change in poverty rate: -16.93%
- Change in per capita income: $2,752
Pictured: Georgetown, Texas
Image Credits: Another Believer / Wikimedia Commons
Another Believer / Wikimedia Commons - 16/21
6. Garden City, Georgia
- Change in population: 89
- Change in median household income: -$187
- Change in poverty rate: -4.78%
- Change in per capita income: $1,935
Pictured: Douglas, Georgia
Image Credits: Roberto Galan / Getty Images
Roberto Galan / Getty Images - 17/21
5. Harvey, Louisiana
- Change in population: 543
- Change in median household income: -$139
- Change in poverty rate: 8.26%
- Change in per capita income: $1,235
Pictured: Shreveport, Louisiana
Image Credits: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com
Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com - 18/21
4. Ridgefield, Washington
- Change in population: 1,054
- Change in median household income: -$553
- Change in poverty rate: 89.33%
- Change in per capita income: $8,888
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Pictured: Spokane, Washington
Image Credits: benedek / Getty Images/iStockphoto
benedek / Getty Images/iStockphoto - 19/21
3. Winder, Georgia
- Change in population: 646
- Change in median household income: -$343
- Change in poverty rate: 4.96%
- Change in per capita income: $2,686
Pictured: Macon, Georgia
Image Credits: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com
Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com - 20/21
2. Naranja, Florida
- Change in population: 356
- Change in median household income: -$698
- Change in poverty rate: 18.46%
- Change in per capita income: $3,229
Pictured: Braedenton, Florida
Image Credits: csfotoimages / Getty Images
csfotoimages / Getty Images - 21/21
1. White City, Oregon
- Change in population: 972
- Change in median household income: -$484
- Change in poverty rate: 20.60%
- Change in per capita income: $3,150
Pictured: Eugene, Oregon
Laura Beck and Jordan Rosenfeld contributed to the reporting for this article.
Methodology: To find the places in America that are getting poorer, GOBankingRates analyzed places across the United States where the median household income is lower than one year ago, the total population, the population below the poverty level for each city, and the per capita income all sourced from the US Census American Community Survey for 2021 and 2022. The one-year changes in quantity, dollar, and percentages were found for median household income, population changes, poverty rate population changes, and per capita income changes. The median household income, yearly change in median household income, yearly change in population, yearly change in poverty status, and yearly change in per capita income were all scored, summed, and sorted to show the places that are getting poorer across America. All data was collected and is up to date as of Dec. 12, 2023.
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Samson1976 / Getty Images