In 2021, New York city had the highest number of families living below the poverty line, at an estimated 272,461 families. New York city is also the most heavily populated city in the United States.
Number of families who live below the poverty level in the top 25 most populated cities in the United States in 2021
Characteristic
Number of families with income below the poverty line
New York city, New York
272,461
Los Angeles city, California
106,632
Houston city, Texas
87,085
Chicago city, Illinois
75,085
Philadelphia city, Pennsylvania
63,671
San Antonio city, Texas
47,296
Phoenix city, Arizona
41,381
Dallas city, Texas
39,044
Columbus city, Ohio
28,177
El Paso city, Texas
27,836
Jacksonville city, Florida
26,192
San Diego city, California
24,255
Fort Worth city, Texas
23,371
Indianapolis city (balance), Indiana
22,718
Oklahoma City city, Oklahoma
20,086
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). Number of families who live below the poverty level in the top 25 most populated cities in the United States in 2021 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved January 24, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/205632/number-of-poor-families-in-the-top-20-most-populated-cities-in-the-us/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
US Census Bureau. "Number of families 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 January 24, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/205632/number-of-poor-families-in-the-top-20-most-populated-cities-in-the-us/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
US Census Bureau. (2021). Number of families who live below the poverty level in the top 25 most populated cities in the United States in 2021. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: January 24, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/205632/number-of-poor-families-in-the-top-20-most-populated-cities-in-the-us/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
US Census Bureau. "Number of Families 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/205632/number-of-poor-families-in-the-top-20-most-populated-cities-in-the-us/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
US Census Bureau, Number of families 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/205632/number-of-poor-families-in-the-top-20-most-populated-cities-in-the-us/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed (last visited January 24, 2025)
Number of families 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/205632/number-of-poor-families-in-the-top-20-most-populated-cities-in-the-us/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
