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.

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.

Let’s take a look at some of the most heavily impacted cities.

• Change in population: 8 
• Change in median household income: -$1,447
• Change in poverty rate: 6.99%
• Change in per capita income: $5,612

Pictured: Elizabeth, New Jersey

• Change in population: 104 
• Change in median household income: -$325
• Change in poverty rate: -4.55%
• Change in per capita income: $4,882

• 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

• 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

• Change in population: -4
• Change in median household income: -$223
• Change in poverty rate: 2.99%
• Change in per capita income: $681

• 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

• 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

• Change in population: -568
• Change in median household income: -$753
• Change in poverty rate: 17.51%
• Change in per capita income: $3,910

Pictured: Truckee, California

• 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

• 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

• Change in population: 591 
• Change in median household income: -$827
• Change in poverty rate: 22.76%
• Change in per capita income: $1,342

Pictured: Harlingen, 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Change in population: 1,054 
• Change in median household income: -$553
• Change in poverty rate: 89.33%
• Change in per capita income: $8,888

Pictured: Spokane, Washington

• 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

• Change in population: 356 
• Change in median household income: -$698
• Change in poverty rate: 18.46%
• Change in per capita income: $3,229

Pictured: Bradenton, Florida

• 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.