Neediest Cities

Adam McCann, Financial WriterDec 21, 2020

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
Dec 21, 2020

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 35 million individuals lacking access to adequate food even before the COVID-19 pandemic. That number could grow to more than 50 million due to the pandemic, though.

In 2019, 10.5% 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, nearly 568,000 people — many of them children — had been homeless at one point in January 2019. As we deal with the economic damage caused by 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 Ask the Experts Methodology

Main Findings

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Neediest Cities in America

Overall Rank (1 = Neediest)	City	Total Score	‘Economic Well-Being’	‘Health & Safety’
1	Detroit, MI	66.37	1	1
2	Brownsville, TX	62.53	2	2
3	Cleveland, OH	60.13	7	3
4	Memphis, TN	58.08	12	12
5	Laredo, TX	57.84	9	16
6	Birmingham, AL	57.41	21	5
7	Fresno, CA	57.08	5	50
8	Los Angeles, CA	56.84	13	22
9	New Orleans, LA	56.71	17	15
10	Philadelphia, PA	56.69	4	52
11	Augusta, GA	56.19	14	25
12	St. Louis, MO	56.07	34	4
13	Miami, FL	55.65	22	14
14	Baltimore, MD	55.29	3	101
15	Newark, NJ	55.11	11	55
16	Indianapolis, IN	54.96	16	44
17	Las Cruces, NM	54.09	25	28
18	Jackson, MS	54.00	23	35
19	Gulfport, MS	53.86	41	8
20	Hialeah, FL	53.26	32	27
21	Atlanta, GA	53.25	10	107
22	Richmond, VA	53.13	8	103
23	Little Rock, AR	53.12	52	7
24	San Bernardino, CA	53.02	27	39
25	Shreveport, LA	52.65	19	68
26	Columbus, GA	52.64	38	24
27	Providence, RI	52.48	6	114
28	Oakland, CA	52.30	36	32
29	Baton Rouge, LA	52.13	29	47
30	Corpus Christi, TX	52.02	58	11
31	Montgomery, AL	51.84	30	54
32	Mobile, AL	51.77	44	30
33	New York, NY	51.61	15	118
34	Dallas, TX	51.49	49	18
35	Albuquerque, NM	51.24	48	31
36	Amarillo, TX	50.74	50	21
37	Stockton, CA	50.51	37	76
38	Wilmington, DE	50.37	24	112
39	Houston, TX	50.02	71	13
40	Charleston, WV	49.89	85	10
41	Milwaukee, WI	49.89	40	72
42	Buffalo, NY	49.86	43	65
43	San Francisco, CA	49.80	57	20
44	Fort Smith, AR	49.80	96	9
45	Columbia, SC	49.79	35	89
46	Cincinnati, OH	49.75	46	60
47	Tulsa, OK	49.73	69	17
48	Chattanooga, TN	49.69	64	29
49	Toledo, OH	49.65	51	40
50	Rochester, NY	49.55	31	109
51	Long Beach, CA	49.54	33	106
52	Dover, DE	49.12	20	133
53	Norfolk, VA	48.96	28	119
54	New Haven, CT	48.61	26	134
55	Lubbock, TX	48.46	86	23
56	Knoxville, TN	48.02	73	42
57	Boston, MA	47.99	18	159
58	Tucson, AZ	47.89	56	57
59	San Antonio, TX	47.79	79	33
60	Fort Lauderdale, FL	47.44	53	84
61	Fayetteville, NC	47.41	59	63
62	El Paso, TX	47.28	80	41
63	Phoenix, AZ	47.24	63	67
64	Kansas City, MO	47.22	77	46
65	Huntington, WV	47.19	78	53
66	Sacramento, CA	47.16	42	128
67	Chicago, IL	47.08	47	122
68	Akron, OH	46.94	66	71
69	Honolulu, HI	46.92	60	75
70	Newport News, VA	46.55	61	88
71	Las Vegas, NV	46.47	67	74
72	Lewiston, ME	46.42	89	56
73	Wichita, KS	46.32	112	26
74	Springfield, MO	46.24	142	6
75	Oklahoma City, OK	46.23	103	36
76	Nashville, TN	46.02	91	58
77	Modesto, CA	46.00	45	146
78	Portland, OR	45.92	102	45
79	Salem, OR	45.75	133	34
80	Bakersfield, CA	45.68	65	96
81	Santa Ana, CA	45.68	70	95
82	Washington, DC	45.59	39	152
83	Spokane, WA	45.37	139	19
84	Greensboro, NC	45.26	95	66
85	Anaheim, CA	45.23	84	86
86	St. Petersburg, FL	45.15	111	48
87	Bridgeport, CT	45.13	54	130
88	Glendale, AZ	45.10	93	81
89	Jersey City, NJ	44.96	104	61
90	Garland, TX	44.86	110	62
91	Orlando, FL	44.78	90	90
92	St. Paul, MN	44.76	55	132
93	Tacoma, WA	44.75	117	51
94	Grand Prairie, TX	44.73	120	49
95	North Las Vegas, NV	44.61	76	108
96	Louisville, KY	44.49	105	78
97	Jacksonville, FL	44.42	100	87
98	Huntsville, AL	44.31	88	105
99	Grand Rapids, MI	44.26	106	82
100	Denver, CO	44.18	97	97
101	Reno, NV	44.16	118	59
102	Winston-Salem, NC	44.10	94	94
103	Oxnard, CA	44.05	82	110
104	Garden Grove, CA	44.00	83	113
105	Anchorage, AK	43.85	138	43
106	Tampa, FL	43.82	98	102
107	Columbus, OH	43.76	81	116
108	Irving, TX	43.69	122	70
109	Salt Lake City, UT	43.39	147	37
110	Ontario, CA	43.33	108	99
111	Minneapolis, MN	43.19	67	140
112	Worcester, MA	43.14	74	136
113	Tempe, AZ	42.89	119	93
114	Nampa, ID	42.88	99	120
115	Arlington, TX	42.76	134	77
116	Fort Worth, TX	42.75	132	79
117	Manchester, NH	42.75	92	127
118	Tallahassee, FL	42.57	75	144
119	Burlington, VT	42.41	114	111
120	Omaha, NE	42.25	123	98
121	Moreno Valley, CA	42.22	87	139
122	Seattle, WA	42.14	135	85
123	Santa Rosa, CA	42.10	72	154
124	Austin, TX	42.00	140	83
125	Rapid City, SD	41.84	146	91
126	West Valley City, UT	41.80	148	69
127	Fort Wayne, IN	41.76	113	124
128	Mesa, AZ	41.68	115	121
129	Colorado Springs, CO	41.45	143	92
130	Missoula, MT	41.42	150	64
131	Glendale, CA	41.38	121	117
132	Charlotte, NC	41.30	116	125
133	Riverside, CA	41.19	129	115
134	Pittsburgh, PA	40.74	125	126
135	Santa Clarita, CA	40.59	62	174
136	Fontana, CA	40.52	109	147
137	Portland, ME	40.40	137	123
138	Vancouver, WA	40.17	149	104
139	Boise, ID	39.64	161	73
140	Des Moines, IA	39.63	126	142
141	Yonkers, NY	39.61	101	162
142	Billings, MT	39.30	169	80
143	Port St. Lucie, FL	39.25	141	135
144	Durham, NC	38.79	136	143
145	Aurora, CO	38.75	144	138
146	Charleston, SC	38.70	128	151
147	San Jose, CA	38.38	107	172
148	Juneau, AK	38.24	176	38
149	Lexington-Fayette, KY	37.79	127	165
150	San Diego, CA	37.78	131	163
151	Pembroke Pines, FL	37.31	151	141
152	Oceanside, CA	37.20	130	171
153	Casper, WY	37.14	172	100
154	Chula Vista, CA	36.89	124	176
155	Cheyenne, WY	36.70	164	129
156	Lincoln, NE	36.69	158	131
157	Henderson, NV	36.40	145	166
158	Sioux Falls, SD	35.66	163	148
159	Raleigh, NC	35.36	152	164
160	Cedar Rapids, IA	34.46	167	153
161	Cape Coral, FL	34.44	157	158
162	Scottsdale, AZ	34.39	165	156
163	Aurora, IL	34.24	154	170
164	Peoria, AZ	34.10	168	150
165	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	34.09	162	161
166	Chandler, AZ	33.51	171	155
167	Virginia Beach, VA	33.34	159	173
168	Madison, WI	33.19	166	169
169	Chesapeake, VA	33.02	155	177
170	Irvine, CA	33.00	153	181
171	Warwick, RI	32.95	173	160
172	Fargo, ND	32.95	175	145
173	Huntington Beach, CA	32.60	156	178
174	Fremont, CA	32.24	160	180
175	Gilbert, AZ	31.19	174	168
176	Bismarck, ND	30.56	181	149
177	Plano, TX	30.46	179	157
178	Nashua, NH	30.41	170	182
179	South Burlington, VT	29.95	178	167
180	Overland Park, KS	28.98	182	137
181	Columbia, MD	28.39	177	179
182	Pearl City, HI	27.36	180	175

Note: 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.
artwork 2020 cities with the highest and lowest population in need

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 social makeup of people in need — in terms of 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?
How do the economic-mobility prospects of low-income Americans compare with their counterparts in other rich democracies?
What should be the main focus of local authorities when outlining a strategy to help people in need during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Ask the Experts

: Pepper Schwartz
Ph.D. – Professor of Sociology – University of Washington
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: Vicky L. Elias
Associate Professor of Sociology, Texas A&M - San Antonio
Read More

: Rev. Donald Paul Sullins
M Div., Ph.D. – Research Associate Professor of Sociology – The Catholic University of America; Senior Research Associate, The Ruth Institute; Director, Leo Institute for Catholic Social Research
Read More

: Elaine Leeder
MSW, MPH, Ph.D. – Dean Emerita/Professor Emerita – Sonoma State University
Read More

: Amanda Miller and Elizabeth Ziff
Amanda Miller – Associate Professor of Sociology and Elizabeth Ziff – Assistant Professor of Sociology – University of Indianapolis
Read More

: Angela Graves
Associate Professor of Political Science, BASS Division – Keuka College
Read More

More Experts

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 (2019 vs 2018): Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
Well-Being Index: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
Note: This metric refers to the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index.
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 (RealtyTrac), Gallup-Healthways and TransUnion.

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