Neediest Cities in America (2025)

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial WriterDec 16, 2024

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial Writer
Dec 16, 2024

Hunger, poverty and homelessness affect every nation — even the richest and most powerful. Around 11.1% of the U.S. population lives in poverty, according to the most recent Census numbers. As we continue to deal with the economic fallout from inflation, it’s important to help our existing impoverished population and ensure we minimize the number of new people who fall into poverty.

On the heels of our report on the most charitable states, WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities based on 28 key indicators of economic disadvantage, such as child poverty, food insecurity and uninsured rates, to find out where Americans need the most support.

“In the neediest cities, a large number of people lack access to adequate food, health care and shelter, but there are plenty of other less obvious issues that also need to be resolved. The neediest cities need to address problems like high school dropout rates, lack of access to quality internet, overcrowded housing, poor mental health and more. Fixing these issues can lift people out of poverty, lower crime rates, and elevate people’s mental and physical health.”

Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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<iframe src="https://cdn.wallethub.com/wallethub/embed/8795/geochart-inneed-2024.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="https://wallethub.com/edu/cities-with-the-highest-and-lowest-population-in-need/8795">WalletHub</a></div>

Neediest Cities in America

Overall Rank*	City	Total Score	Economic Well-Being Rank	Health & Safety Rank
1	Detroit, MI	58.13	1	7
2	Gulfport, MS	57.76	2	8
3	Brownsville, TX	57.22	9	2
4	Cleveland, OH	53.79	3	22
5	Shreveport, LA	52.63	8	17
6	Laredo, TX	51.65	30	6
7	Augusta, GA	50.82	5	76
8	New Orleans, LA	50.81	10	46
9	Corpus Christi, TX	50.54	49	4
10	Birmingham, AL	50.48	35	9
11	St. Louis, MO	50.44	29	10
12	Fort Smith, AR	50.25	77	1
13	Memphis, TN	50.14	22	23
14	Philadelphia, PA	49.94	7	66
15	Los Angeles, CA	49.48	24	21
16	Fresno, CA	49.32	23	29
17	Baton Rouge, LA	49.25	18	43
18	Las Cruces, NM	49.01	32	24
19	New York, NY	48.84	6	100
20	Newark, NJ	48.79	14	67
21	Jackson, MS	48.46	16	74
22	Houston, TX	48.37	59	5
23	Little Rock, AR	47.90	28	47
24	Baltimore, MD	47.80	15	91
25	Columbia, SC	47.77	4	131
26	Indianapolis, IN	47.74	19	75
27	San Bernardino, CA	47.66	31	44
28	Wilmington, DE	47.53	17	90
29	Dover, DE	47.51	11	112
30	Miami, FL	47.38	43	26
31	El Paso, TX	47.37	48	19
32	San Antonio, TX	47.36	53	13
33	Hialeah, FL	47.33	57	12
34	Montgomery, AL	47.28	20	89
35	Las Vegas, NV	47.18	37	32
36	Richmond, VA	46.69	13	119
37	Mobile, AL	46.29	47	36
38	Toledo, OH	46.06	34	68
39	Lubbock, TX	45.99	69	18
40	Dallas, TX	45.97	60	20
41	Columbus, GA	45.77	27	92
42	North Las Vegas, NV	45.58	44	53
43	Atlanta, GA	45.58	21	122
44	Rochester, NY	45.52	26	99
45	Tulsa, OK	45.44	79	11
46	Albuquerque, NM	45.20	56	42
47	Springfield, MO	45.17	129	3
48	Cincinnati, OH	45.15	42	69
49	Lewiston, ME	45.09	61	40
50	Newport News, VA	44.85	58	52
51	New Haven, CT	44.54	12	154
52	Chattanooga, TN	44.50	75	33
53	Milwaukee, WI	44.49	51	65
54	Akron, OH	44.44	40	96
55	San Francisco, CA	44.41	86	14
56	Norfolk, VA	44.39	39	97
57	Buffalo, NY	44.35	36	101
58	Tucson, AZ	44.19	66	34
59	Fayetteville, NC	44.18	55	63
60	Amarillo, TX	44.07	91	15
61	Long Beach, CA	44.05	38	104
61	Bridgeport, CT	44.05	33	121
63	Oklahoma City, OK	43.92	80	30
64	Honolulu, HI	43.90	64	50
65	Huntington, WV	43.64	65	58
66	Bakersfield, CA	43.63	62	60
67	Glendale, AZ	43.54	82	35
68	Stockton, CA	43.14	50	98
69	Providence, RI	42.76	25	143
70	Chicago, IL	42.68	41	132
71	Denver, CO	42.57	83	56
72	Reno, NV	42.55	119	16
73	Portland, OR	42.44	78	61
74	Rapid City, SD	42.35	112	38
75	Kansas City, MO	42.33	92	49
76	Burlington, VT	42.31	70	79
77	Modesto, CA	42.11	52	118
78	Louisville, KY	42.09	72	82
79	Oakland, CA	42.09	67	85
80	Phoenix, AZ	42.09	89	57
81	Salem, OR	41.94	107	55
82	Grand Prairie, TX	41.38	105	54
83	Knoxville, TN	41.35	116	39
84	Greensboro, NC	41.34	90	71
85	Spokane, WA	41.32	122	28
86	Tallahassee, FL	41.02	68	111
87	Wichita, KS	40.94	115	48
88	Columbus, OH	40.91	63	125
89	St. Paul, MN	40.86	71	109
90	Sacramento, CA	40.84	54	137
91	Jacksonville, FL	40.83	84	94
92	Arlington, TX	40.73	114	59
93	Garland, TX	40.71	97	83
94	Irving, TX	40.71	118	51
95	Fort Worth, TX	40.70	94	84
96	Fort Lauderdale, FL	40.64	74	116
97	Nashville, TN	40.58	100	78
98	Salt Lake City, UT	40.44	137	25
99	Winston-Salem, NC	40.43	99	80
100	Anaheim, CA	40.41	139	27
101	Tampa, FL	40.40	76	115
102	Washington, DC	40.35	45	155
103	Oxnard, CA	40.10	101	88
104	Boston, MA	39.98	46	161
105	Grand Rapids, MI	39.97	93	102
106	Fort Wayne, IN	39.82	81	126
107	Anchorage, AK	39.37	123	70
108	Missoula, MT	39.27	154	37
109	Tacoma, WA	39.03	149	31
110	Ontario, CA	39.02	87	130
111	Aurora, CO	39.02	102	113
112	Orlando, FL	38.89	108	106
113	Billings, MT	38.84	153	45
114	Minneapolis, MN	38.63	88	136
115	Vancouver, WA	38.56	150	41
116	Santa Ana, CA	38.38	131	81
117	West Valley City, UT	38.35	145	62
118	Charleston, WV	38.25	133	77
119	Santa Clarita, CA	38.24	104	128
120	Des Moines, IA	38.24	106	124
121	Garden Grove, CA	37.91	143	72
122	Moreno Valley, CA	37.88	73	156
123	Nampa, ID	37.74	113	129
124	Santa Rosa, CA	37.60	117	117
125	Fontana, CA	37.57	96	141
126	Tempe, AZ	37.30	126	105
127	Henderson, NV	37.29	110	135
128	Manchester, NH	37.27	98	145
129	Omaha, NE	37.19	127	108
130	Worcester, MA	37.16	95	149
131	Riverside, CA	37.15	120	127
132	Charlotte, NC	37.11	109	138
133	Seattle, WA	37.05	148	73
134	Colorado Springs, CO	36.99	140	93
135	Mesa, AZ	36.98	124	120
136	Austin, TX	36.97	146	87
137	Jersey City, NJ	36.81	103	147
138	Glendale, CA	36.80	144	95
139	Charleston, SC	36.79	85	160
140	St. Petersburg, FL	36.77	136	103
141	Huntsville, AL	36.59	111	144
142	Casper, WY	36.55	157	86
143	Cheyenne, WY	36.13	168	64
144	Portland, ME	35.74	147	123
145	Lexington-Fayette, KY	35.58	125	140
146	Pittsburgh, PA	35.20	121	151
147	Port St. Lucie, FL	35.07	152	114
148	Cape Coral, FL	34.56	130	152
149	Pembroke Pines, FL	34.08	155	133
150	Yonkers, NY	33.96	142	148
151	Lincoln, NE	33.82	151	134
152	San Diego, CA	33.54	134	158
153	Boise, ID	33.44	172	107
154	Aurora, IL	33.37	128	172
155	Juneau, AK	33.22	177	110
156	Chula Vista, CA	33.22	132	170
157	San Jose, CA	33.15	138	165
158	Oceanside, CA	32.96	135	168
159	Peoria, AZ	32.17	159	150
160	Fargo, ND	32.11	169	146
161	Durham, NC	31.90	160	153
162	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	31.75	156	164
162	Cedar Rapids, IA	31.75	141	177
164	Nashua, NH	31.28	174	139
165	Sioux Falls, SD	31.27	167	159
166	Plano, TX	30.94	178	142
167	Chandler, AZ	30.94	163	162
168	Raleigh, NC	30.72	162	167
168	Scottsdale, AZ	30.72	166	166
170	South Burlington, VT	30.71	164	169
171	Madison, WI	30.71	170	157
172	Warwick, RI	30.44	161	175
173	Virginia Beach, VA	29.92	165	174
174	Chesapeake, VA	29.87	158	180
175	Gilbert, AZ	29.16	175	171
176	Irvine, CA	28.47	173	179
177	Huntington Beach, CA	27.92	176	176
178	Fremont, CA	27.72	171	181
179	Pearl City, HI	26.98	180	173
180	Bismarck, ND	26.51	179	178
181	Overland Park, KS	26.04	182	163
182	Columbia, MD	24.16	181	182

Notes: *No. 1 = Neediest
With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of each city, where a rank of 1 represents the worst conditions for that category.

Child Poverty Rate

Highest

Highest
1. Cleveland, OH
2. Detroit, MI
3. Wilmington, DE
4. Birmingham, AL
5. Rochester, NY

Lowest

Lowest
178. Warwick, RI
179. Gilbert, AZ
180. Fremont, CA
181. Overland Park, KS
182. Pearl City, HI

Adult Poverty Rate

Highest

Highest
1. Detroit, MI
2. Cleveland, OH
3. Huntington, WV
4. Tallahassee, FL
5. Burlington, VT

Lowest

Lowest
178. Plano, TX
179. Fremont, CA
180. Gilbert, AZ
181. Overland Park, KS
182. Pearl City, HI

Homelessness Rate

Highest

Highest
T-1. Honolulu, HI
T-1. New York, NY
3. San Francisco, CA
4. Boston, MA
5. Portland, OR

Lowest

Lowest
138. Houston, TX
139. Virginia Beach, VA
140. Bridgeport, CT
141. Columbia, MD
142. Overland Park, KS

Uninsured Rate

Highest

Highest
T-1. Brownsville, TX
T-1. Laredo, TX
T-1. Garland, TX
4. Houston, TX
5. Dallas, TX

Lowest

Lowest
T-177. Washington, DC
T-177. Worcester, MA
179. Boston, MA
180. Fremont, CA
181. South Burlington, VT
182. Pearl City, HI

Food Insecurity Rate

Highest

Highest
1. Brownsville, TX
2. Laredo, TX
3. Fort Smith, AR
T-4. El Paso, TX
T-4. Gulfport, MS

Lowest

Lowest
178. San Jose, CA
179. Minneapolis, MN
180. Chesapeake, VA
181. Fargo, ND
182. Bismarck, ND

% of Homes with Inadequate Plumbing

Highest

Highest
T-1. San Francisco, CA
T-1. Newport News, VA
3. Detroit, MI
T-4. Hialeah, FL
T-4. Birmingham, AL

Lowest

Lowest
T-165. Chandler, AZ
T-165. Durham, NC
T-165. Winston-Salem, NC
T-165. Garland, TX
182. South Burlington, VT

% of Homes with Inadequate Kitchens

Highest

Highest
T-1. San Francisco, CA
T-1. Glendale, CA
T-1. Anaheim, CA
T-1. Garden Grove, CA
T-1. Honolulu, HI

Lowest

Lowest
T-177. Fayetteville, NC
T-177. Augusta, GA
T-177. Cape Coral, FL
181. West Valley City, UT
182. South Burlington, VT

In-Depth Look at the Neediest Cities

Detroit, MI

Detroit is the neediest city in America, in large part because it has the highest unemployment rate in the nation, at 7.4%. Motown also has the highest adult poverty rate and the second-highest child poverty rate in the country, with more than a quarter of the city’s adults and close to half of its children living below the poverty line. That’s more than double the national average for both child and adult poverty rates.

Detroit’s needs aren’t all financial, though. Safety is a big concern, too, as the city has the 2nd-highest violent crime rate in the nation and the 29th-highest property crime rate. It’s worth noting that a high crime rate can be a symptom of a high poverty rate, so helping lift people out of poverty may improve the crime rate as well.

On top of those issues, Detroit’s housing situation is far from ideal for many people. The city has the third-highest share of households lacking complete plumbing facilities and the 11th-highest share lacking complete kitchen facilities. It has the fifth-highest share of households without a computer and the eighth-highest share without a broadband internet connection, too.

Gulfport, MS

Gulfport, MS, is the second-neediest city, and one major contributing factor is that it had the 2nd-highest increase in homelessness between 2022 and 2023, at nearly 288%. The city also has the eighth-highest poverty rates in the nation for both adults and children, at around 23% and 39%, respectively.

Some people in Gulfport aren’t even able to buy essentials. The city has the fourth-highest food insecurity rate in the country, which is further reflected by the fact that 99.5% of children enrolled in public schools qualify to receive free or reduced-price lunch.

Many adults in Gulfport also unfortunately have been forced to neglect their physical health. Nearly 17% report not seeing a doctor in the past year due to the cost, the third-highest percentage in the nation. Gulfport residents also have unaddressed mental health needs, as the city has the 30th-highest suicide rate among the more than 180 cities in our study.

Brownsville, TX

The third-neediest city in America is Brownsville, TX, and one of the biggest contributing factors is that it lags behind other cities when it comes to education. Around 31% of the population ages 25+ never graduated high school, the 2nd-highest percentage in the country. Residents also lack the means to get easy access to continued education online, as the city ranks first when it comes to households lacking a computer and second for lacking a broadband internet connection.

Brownsville leads the nation when it comes to the share of residents without health insurance coverage, at nearly 30%. It has the highest food insecurity rate, too, at almost 22%. That’s a deadly combination, as going without food can create medical issues that leave people with the choice to either skip the doctor or pay heavily without insurance.

In addition, Brownsville has the 10th-highest adult poverty rate and the 14th-highest child poverty rate, along with the 14th-highest unemployment rate. This has forced many people to live in cramped conditions to avoid homelessness, as the city has the 10th-highest share of housing units that are severely overcrowded.

Ask the Experts

We asked a panel of experts to share their insight and advice to help us better understand the changes and challenges experienced by groups in need and those who desire to help. Click on the experts’ profiles to read their bios and responses to the following key questions:

How has the composition of people in need (age, race, gender, etc.) changed in recent decades?
What are the main challenges facing low-income families today?
Which policy interventions have proven successful in helping families achieve economic independence? Which ones have failed?
How can charities and nonprofits most effectively serve the poor?
What should be the main focus of local authorities when outlining a strategy to help people in need in the high inflation context?

Ask the Experts

Salvatore Alaimo
Ph.D. – Professor / Fulbright Scholar, Nonprofit Management, School of Community Leadership and Development – Grand Valley State University
Read More

Jeffrey M. Bowen
MNO, CFRE – College Lecturer in Organizational Leadership, Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs – Cleveland State University
Read More

Derek Wu
Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Economics at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy – University of Virginia
Read More

Methodology

In order to determine the cities with the neediest populations, WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across two key dimensions, “Economic Well-Being” and “Health & Safety.”

We evaluated those dimensions using 28 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of economic disadvantage. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available at the state level only.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. In determining our sample, we considered only the city proper in each case and excluded cities in the surrounding metro area.

Economic Well-Being - Total Points: 60

Child Poverty Rate: Triple Weight (~7.83 Points)
Adult Poverty Rate: Triple Weight (~7.83 Points)
Unemployment Rate: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
Underemployment Rate: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
Homelessness Rate: Triple Weight (~7.83 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of homeless persons per 1,000 residents.
Presence of Homeless Criminalization Laws: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
Note: This binary metric considers the presence or absence of such legislation.
Change in Family Homelessness (2023 vs 2022): Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
Well-Being Index: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
Note: This metric refers to the Sharecare Community Well-Being Index Score.
Consumer Bankruptcy Rate: Half Weight (~1.30 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of nonbusiness bankruptcy filings per capita.
Foreclosure Rate: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
Share of Owner-Occupied Housing Units Spending at Least 35% of Their Household Income on Housing: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
Share of Delinquent Debtors: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
Median Credit Score: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
High School Dropout Rate: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
Undereducated Rate: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of population aged 25 and over who did not graduate from high school.
Share of Children Eligible for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
“Economic Security” Ranking: Half* Weight (~1.30 Points)
Note: This metric measures the state’s policy potential to improve the economic security of workers, families and retirees and is based on the Economic Security Scorecard produced by the WOW (Wider Opportunities for Women) nonprofit organization.
Economic Mobility: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)

Health & Safety - Total Points: 40

Uninsured Rate: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of residents without health insurance coverage.
Food Insecurity Rate: Double Weight (~7.27 Points)
Share of Homes with Inadequate Plumbing: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of occupied housing units without complete plumbing facilities.
Share of Homes with Inadequate Kitchens: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of occupied housing units without complete kitchen facilities.
Share of Severely Overcrowded Homes: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of occupied housing units that are considered “severely overcrowded,” meaning more than 1.5 persons occupy each room.
Share of Offline Homes: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of households lacking a computer and broadband Internet service.
Share of Adults Who Needed to See a Doctor but Couldn’t: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
Note: This metric refers to the share of adults who needed to see a doctor in the past year, but couldn’t because of costs.
Share of Depressed Adults: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of adults who were diagnosed with depression.
Suicide Rate: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
Crime Rate: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of July 29, 2024 from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, Chmura Economics & Analytics, County Health Rankings, National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, National Alliance to End Homelessness, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Equality of Opportunity Project, Feeding America, Wider Opportunities for Women, ATTOM, a property data provider - U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, Sharecare Community Well-Being Index and TransUnion.

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