2022’s Neediest Cities

Adam McCann, Financial WriterDec 19, 2022

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
Dec 19, 2022

Hunger, poverty and homelessness affect every nation — even the richest and most powerful. According to Feeding America, food insecurity plagues every U.S. county, with 37 million individuals lacking access to adequate food.

In 2021, 11.6% of the U.S. population lived in poverty. In the absence of more affordable housing or accommodations provided by relatives or friends, many people must take to the streets or shelters. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, more than 580,000 people — many of them children — had been homeless at one point in January 2020, the most recent time data was collected. As we continue to deal with the economic fallout of inflation and the continued shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important both help our existing impoverished population and make sure 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.

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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Neediest Cities in America

Overall Rank*	City	Total Score	Economic Well-Being	Health & Safety
1	Detroit, MI	63.63	1	2
2	Brownsville, TX	58.83	6	4
3	Cleveland, OH	57.27	4	10
4	Gulfport, MS	57.18	18	5
5	Fresno, CA	55.99	2	47
6	Laredo, TX	55.28	25	8
7	Philadelphia, PA	55.15	3	56
8	New Orleans, LA	54.90	15	15
9	Los Angeles, CA	54.86	9	20
10	Shreveport, LA	53.65	14	32
11	Augusta, GA	53.56	16	34
12	Birmingham, AL	53.30	40	6
13	Newark, NJ	53.17	10	50
14	St. Louis, MO	52.79	26	13
15	Fort Smith, AR	52.65	78	1
16	Indianapolis, IN	52.30	8	70
17	Baltimore, MD	52.27	5	82
18	Toledo, OH	51.37	27	33
19	Jackson, MS	51.22	12	94
20	Corpus Christi, TX	51.17	74	7
21	Baton Rouge, LA	51.17	21	55
22	Memphis, TN	51.16	35	14
23	Huntington, WV	50.90	38	16
24	Chattanooga, TN	50.74	45	12
25	Richmond, VA	50.34	13	103
26	Atlanta, GA	50.30	7	122
27	San Bernardino, CA	50.17	36	26
28	Columbia, SC	49.72	17	110
29	Miami, FL	49.72	32	39
30	Little Rock, AR	49.65	47	18
31	Fayetteville, NC	49.62	31	42
32	New York, NY	49.26	20	100
33	Mobile, AL	49.16	48	22
34	Wilmington, DE	49.14	23	93
35	Dover, DE	48.98	11	131
36	Houston, TX	48.79	73	9
37	Rochester, NY	48.71	22	106
38	Hialeah, FL	48.65	50	29
39	Columbus, GA	48.60	41	37
40	Stockton, CA	48.43	34	62
41	El Paso, TX	48.06	56	24
42	Newport News, VA	47.95	64	28
43	Providence, RI	47.77	24	120
44	San Antonio, TX	47.76	61	23
45	Long Beach, CA	47.67	29	105
46	New Haven, CT	47.64	19	132
47	Akron, OH	47.51	33	87
48	Milwaukee, WI	47.45	49	49
49	Las Cruces, NM	47.16	53	54
50	Albuquerque, NM	47.12	55	40
51	Tulsa, OK	47.10	85	11
52	Las Vegas, NV	47.08	57	35
53	Oklahoma City, OK	47.06	66	31
54	Dallas, TX	47.01	69	30
55	Springfield, MO	46.86	127	3
56	Lubbock, TX	46.66	87	17
57	Montgomery, AL	46.59	44	72
58	Greensboro, NC	46.44	70	38
59	Tucson, AZ	46.40	65	44
60	Bridgeport, CT	46.32	39	99
61	Norfolk, VA	46.13	37	109
62	Bakersfield, CA	46.09	54	67
63	Oakland, CA	45.88	51	77
64	Buffalo, NY	45.82	46	95
65	North Las Vegas, NV	45.47	63	64
66	San Francisco, CA	45.37	90	21
67	Cincinnati, OH	45.31	42	114
68	Glendale, AZ	45.16	71	63
69	Phoenix, AZ	45.09	72	65
70	Honolulu, HI	45.08	81	36
71	Chicago, IL	45.05	43	112
72	Washington, DC	44.79	28	153
73	Amarillo, TX	44.67	96	25
74	Winston-Salem, NC	44.60	62	91
75	Kansas City, MO	44.45	84	51
76	Wichita, KS	44.43	115	19
77	Boston, MA	44.31	30	152
78	Knoxville, TN	44.29	92	45
79	Tallahassee, FL	43.91	75	85
80	Portland, OR	43.81	80	71
81	St. Paul, MN	43.52	58	123
82	Spokane, WA	43.49	117	27
83	Jacksonville, FL	43.46	79	86
84	Lewiston, ME	43.37	116	43
85	Fort Lauderdale, FL	43.27	77	97
86	Santa Clarita, CA	43.03	52	140
87	Sacramento, CA	43.00	60	128
88	Grand Prairie, TX	42.97	103	57
89	Columbus, OH	42.88	59	130
89	Manchester, NH	42.88	68	126
91	Nashville, TN	42.84	97	69
92	Oxnard, CA	42.64	76	108
93	Grand Rapids, MI	42.51	82	101
94	Modesto, CA	42.38	67	136
95	Louisville, KY	42.31	93	88
96	Salem, OR	42.15	114	75
97	Fort Worth, TX	41.95	104	78
98	Charleston, WV	41.93	118	58
99	Rapid City, SD	41.93	112	83
100	Orlando, FL	41.89	102	81
101	Reno, NV	41.79	126	53
102	Salt Lake City, UT	41.69	136	41
103	Nampa, ID	41.68	132	60
104	Garland, TX	41.63	111	79
105	Jersey City, NJ	41.55	100	96
106	Anaheim, CA	41.36	129	61
107	Denver, CO	41.36	106	92
108	Irving, TX	41.27	120	74
109	Arlington, TX	41.13	121	76
110	Anchorage, AK	41.10	139	52
111	Mesa, AZ	40.96	88	125
112	Santa Rosa, CA	40.89	86	127
113	Seattle, WA	40.81	123	80
114	Tampa, FL	40.57	99	119
115	Ontario, CA	40.52	101	121
116	Santa Ana, CA	40.46	110	107
116	Burlington, VT	40.46	125	90
118	Tacoma, WA	40.44	144	59
119	Huntsville, AL	40.39	107	116
120	Minneapolis, MN	40.35	83	144
121	Tempe, AZ	40.34	108	111
122	Fort Wayne, IN	40.21	95	134
123	West Valley City, UT	40.18	133	89
124	Missoula, MT	39.60	162	46
125	Des Moines, IA	39.49	94	147
126	Charlotte, NC	39.46	105	135
127	St. Petersburg, FL	39.45	142	84
128	Garden Grove, CA	39.24	137	98
129	Omaha, NE	39.21	113	129
130	Moreno Valley, CA	39.21	91	148
131	Colorado Springs, CO	38.99	130	115
132	Fontana, CA	38.89	109	142
133	Riverside, CA	38.70	134	118
134	Billings, MT	38.54	170	48
135	Worcester, MA	38.52	98	151
136	Austin, TX	38.50	141	104
137	Charleston, SC	38.40	89	159
138	Lexington-Fayette, KY	38.40	119	137
139	Glendale, CA	38.15	150	102
140	Pittsburgh, PA	37.87	122	146
141	Portland, ME	37.83	147	124
142	Aurora, CO	37.77	135	133
143	Vancouver, WA	37.74	163	68
144	Henderson, NV	37.66	128	141
145	Port St. Lucie, FL	37.47	151	117
146	Casper, WY	36.58	175	66
147	Durham, NC	36.29	146	145
148	Lincoln, NE	36.07	152	139
149	San Diego, CA	36.04	138	149
150	Cheyenne, WY	35.56	167	113
151	Yonkers, NY	35.54	140	157
152	San Jose, CA	35.22	131	166
153	Juneau, AK	35.19	179	73
154	Pembroke Pines, FL	35.14	157	143
155	Peoria, AZ	34.92	149	154
156	Oceanside, CA	34.88	148	158
157	Aurora, IL	34.86	124	176
158	Chula Vista, CA	34.39	145	165
159	Boise, ID	34.27	165	138
160	Raleigh, NC	34.18	143	168
161	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	33.78	159	150
162	Cape Coral, FL	33.68	154	160
163	Cedar Rapids, IA	33.32	153	167
164	Scottsdale, AZ	33.21	156	163
165	Chandler, AZ	32.92	158	164
166	Virginia Beach, VA	31.99	160	171
167	Sioux Falls, SD	31.74	172	161
168	Fargo, ND	31.61	173	162
169	Chesapeake, VA	31.44	155	179
170	Madison, WI	31.28	164	173
171	Nashua, NH	31.22	174	155
172	Warwick, RI	30.84	171	172
173	Gilbert, AZ	30.58	169	174
174	Huntington Beach, CA	30.50	168	175
175	Fremont, CA	30.28	161	181
176	Plano, TX	30.05	177	156
177	Irvine, CA	29.77	166	180
178	South Burlington, VT	27.38	176	178
179	Pearl City, HI	26.87	180	169
180	Overland Park, KS	26.30	181	170
181	Bismarck, ND	26.16	182	177
182	Columbia, MD	25.26	178	182

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

Child Poverty Rate

Highest

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

Lowest

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

Adult Poverty Rate

Highest

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

Lowest

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

Homelessness Rate

Highest

Highest
T-1. Fresno, CA
T-1. Honolulu, HI
T-1. New York, NY
T-1. San Francisco, CA
T-1. Washington, DC

Lowest

Lowest
138. Nashua, NH
139. Virginia Beach, VA
140. Cape Coral, FL
141. Columbia, MD
142. Overland Park, KS

Uninsured Rate

Highest

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

Lowest

Lowest
178. Warwick, RI
179. Worcester, MA
180. Fremont, CA
181. Pearl City, HI
182. South Burlington, VT

Food Insecurity Rate

Highest

Highest
1. Gulfport, MS
2. Brownsville, TX
3. Detroit, MI
4. New Orleans, LA
5. Fort Smith, AR

Lowest

Lowest
178. Chesapeake, VA
179. Sioux Falls, SD
180. Aurora, IL
181. Fargo, ND
182. Bismarck, ND

% of Homes with Inadequate Plumbing

Highest

Highest
T-1. San Francisco, CA
T-1. Newport News, VA
T-3. Detroit, MI
T-3. Birmingham, AL
5. Missoula, MT

Lowest

Lowest
T-171. Chula Vista, CA
T-171. Chandler, AZ
T-171. Irvine, CA
T-180. Dover, DE
T-180. South Burlington, VT
T-180. Pearl City, HI

% of Homes with Inadequate Kitchens

Highest

Highest
T-1. Lewiston, ME
T-1. San Francisco, CA
T-1. Glendale, CA
T-1. Honolulu, HI
T-1. Anaheim, CA
T-1. Spokane, WA

Lowest

Lowest
T-170. Henderson, NV
T-170. Norfolk, VA
T-179. Gilbert, AZ
T-179. Cape Coral, FL
T-181. Chula Vista, CA
T-181. West Valley City, UT

Ask the Experts

We asked a panel of experts to share their insight and advice regarding the changes and challenges experienced by needy groups 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 contextduring the pandemic?

Ask the Experts

Joel Blau
D.S.W. – Professor of Social Policy, Director of the Ph.D. Program – Stony Brook School of Social Welfare
Read More

Phil Coltoff
Senior Fellow – New York University Silver School of Social Work and formerly, the CEO of the Children’s Aid Society of New York
Read More

Lauren A. Hall
Assistant Research Director, Family Welfare Research and Training Group, School of Social Work – University of Maryland
Read More

John Wood
Ph.D. – Professor in Public Administration, MPA Co-coordinator – University of Central Oklahoma
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 is a binary metric that considers the presence or absence of such legislation.
Change in Family Homelessness (2020 vs 2019): 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 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 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 Data Solutions, Sharecare-Boston University School of Public Health and TransUnion.

Supporting Video Files:

Questions & Answers(1 question)

Ft Smith AR ranks worst #1 in Health & Safety but in the best/worst listing of the first 4 criteria does not show up.

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