In 2021, New York city had the highest number of people living below the poverty line, with 1.4 million people living in poverty. This is significantly higher than any of the other most populated cities.
Estimated number of people who live below the poverty level in the top 25 most populated cities in the United States in 2021
Characteristic
Number of people with income below the poverty line
New York city, New York
1,499,249
Los Angeles city, California
646,672
Chicago city, Illinois
451,479
Houston city, Texas
435,140
Philadelphia city, Pennsylvania
350,602
San Antonio city, Texas
242,923
Phoenix city, Arizona
239,428
Dallas city, Texas
209,645
Columbus city, Ohio
156,839
San Diego city, California
156,582
Jacksonville city, Florida
142,940
Indianapolis city (balance), Indiana
133,801
Fort Worth city, Texas
132,407
El Paso city, Texas
128,239
Austin city, Texas
119,757
Boston city, Massachusetts
114,198
Oklahoma City city, Oklahoma
106,605
Washington city, District of Columbia
105,007
Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance), Tennessee
The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living in a given country. In practice, like the definition of poverty, the official or common understanding of the poverty line is significantly higher in developed countries than in developing countries.
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US Census Bureau. (September 30, 2021). Estimated number of people who live below the poverty level in the top 25 most populated cities in the United States in 2021 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 19, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/205627/number-of-poor-people-in-the-top-20-most-populated-cities-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau. "Estimated number of people who live below the poverty level in the top 25 most populated cities in the United States in 2021." Chart. September 30, 2021. Statista. Accessed December 19, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/205627/number-of-poor-people-in-the-top-20-most-populated-cities-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau. (2021). Estimated number of people who live below the poverty level in the top 25 most populated cities in the United States in 2021. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 19, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/205627/number-of-poor-people-in-the-top-20-most-populated-cities-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau. "Estimated Number of People Who Live below The Poverty Level in The Top 25 Most Populated Cities in The United States in 2021." Statista, Statista Inc., 30 Sep 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/205627/number-of-poor-people-in-the-top-20-most-populated-cities-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau, Estimated number of people who live below the poverty level in the top 25 most populated cities in the United States in 2021 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/205627/number-of-poor-people-in-the-top-20-most-populated-cities-in-the-us/ (last visited December 19, 2024)
Estimated number of people who live below the poverty level in the top 25 most populated cities in the United States in 2021 [Graph], US Census Bureau, September 30, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/205627/number-of-poor-people-in-the-top-20-most-populated-cities-in-the-us/
