Neediest Cities in America (2026)

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial WriterDec 15, 2025

Neediest Cities in America

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Hunger, poverty and homelessness affect every nation — even the richest and most powerful. In 2024, 10.6% of the U.S. population lived in poverty. As we continue to deal with the economic fallout of 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.

“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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Neediest Cities in America

Overall Rank*	City	Total Score	Economic Well-Being Rank	Health & Safety Rank
1	Detroit, MI	59.90	1	7
2	Brownsville, TX	56.40	7	3
3	Shreveport, LA	55.43	9	5
4	Cleveland, OH	54.39	4	16
5	Little Rock, AR	53.87	17	6
6	Gulfport, MS	53.52	13	15
7	Corpus Christi, TX	52.32	45	2
8	Birmingham, AL	52.13	23	11
9	Laredo, TX	52.05	24	13
10	New Orleans, LA	51.82	14	26
11	Baton Rouge, LA	51.65	8	41
12	Los Angeles, CA	51.03	28	17
13	Fort Smith, AR	50.84	82	1
14	Philadelphia, PA	50.75	5	81
15	Newark, NJ	50.43	16	53
16	Memphis, TN	50.26	43	8
17	Baltimore, MD	49.93	11	78
18	Houston, TX	49.63	60	4
19	Columbia, SC	49.51	2	122
20	Las Cruces, NM	49.39	33	30
21	Fresno, CA	49.25	25	45
22	St. Louis, MO	49.11	38	23
23	Wilmington, DE	49.08	15	84
24	Augusta, GA	49.05	26	52
25	New York, NY	48.89	10	99
26	Columbus, GA	48.85	29	43
27	Mobile, AL	48.74	34	35
28	San Francisco, CA	48.41	52	14
29	Montgomery, AL	48.31	18	91
30	Richmond, VA	48.25	12	104
31	Jackson, MS	48.25	21	82
32	Indianapolis, IN	48.18	20	88
33	Chicago, IL	48.09	6	125
34	Chattanooga, TN	47.87	62	19
35	Toledo, OH	47.81	30	72
36	New Haven, CT	47.74	3	139
37	Las Vegas, NV	47.64	37	51
38	San Antonio, TX	47.62	56	18
39	Tulsa, OK	47.45	72	9
40	North Las Vegas, NV	47.38	35	70
41	Lubbock, TX	47.20	46	42
42	Newport News, VA	46.99	61	27
43	Albuquerque, NM	46.85	53	32
44	San Bernardino, CA	46.66	49	40
45	Fayetteville, NC	46.63	40	73
46	Stockton, CA	46.58	31	93
47	Cincinnati, OH	46.36	47	57
48	Dallas, TX	46.28	71	20
49	Hialeah, FL	46.13	68	24
50	Long Beach, CA	46.11	39	85
51	Rochester, NY	46.03	36	97
52	Bakersfield, CA	46.02	48	60
53	Miami, FL	45.98	55	48
54	El Paso, TX	45.90	63	34
55	Denver, CO	45.86	64	33
56	Norfolk, VA	45.86	27	114
57	Akron, OH	45.84	50	68
58	Tucson, AZ	45.81	54	50
59	Atlanta, GA	45.72	32	106
60	Dover, DE	45.65	19	128
61	Rapid City, SD	45.21	99	21
62	Honolulu, HI	45.08	65	49
63	Amarillo, TX	44.77	80	25
64	Oklahoma City, OK	44.25	78	44
65	Milwaukee, WI	44.17	57	89
66	Huntington, WV	44.17	58	90
67	Glendale, AZ	44.08	81	39
68	Portland, OR	44.01	77	58
69	Buffalo, NY	43.92	51	101
70	Oakland, CA	43.72	67	74
71	Reno, NV	43.72	123	12
72	Lewiston, ME	43.66	98	38
73	Bridgeport, CT	43.65	42	127
74	Providence, RI	43.48	22	155
75	Phoenix, AZ	43.32	84	59
76	Oxnard, CA	43.31	70	79
77	Kansas City, MO	43.28	89	54
78	Aurora, CO	43.25	59	100
79	Tallahassee, FL	43.22	87	61
80	Springfield, MO	43.01	132	10
81	Salem, OR	42.77	96	76
82	Greensboro, NC	42.75	66	96
83	Washington, DC	42.64	41	145
84	Irving, TX	42.50	126	22
85	Wichita, KS	41.83	108	56
86	Winston-Salem, NC	41.82	68	109
87	Boston, MA	41.74	44	152
88	Grand Prairie, TX	41.71	106	66
89	Spokane, WA	41.50	131	29
90	Jacksonville, FL	41.49	95	92
91	Garland, TX	41.49	104	77
92	Arlington, TX	41.26	130	37
93	Nashville, TN	41.18	114	67
94	Anchorage, AK	41.13	120	55
95	Sacramento, CA	40.87	74	123
96	Fort Wayne, IN	40.80	75	129
97	Tacoma, WA	40.74	140	31
98	Fort Worth, TX	40.73	119	64
99	Louisville, KY	40.72	83	115
100	Fort Lauderdale, FL	40.70	76	130
101	Modesto, CA	40.69	73	131
102	St. Paul, MN	40.66	85	113
103	Anaheim, CA	40.65	137	36
104	Orlando, FL	40.61	94	105
105	Knoxville, TN	40.47	122	71
106	Santa Clarita, CA	40.42	90	112
107	Columbus, OH	39.99	86	126
108	Ontario, CA	39.82	101	110
109	Charleston, WV	39.81	134	63
110	Santa Ana, CA	39.77	136	62
111	Riverside, CA	39.28	111	108
112	West Valley City, UT	39.25	147	65
113	Henderson, NV	39.22	88	137
114	Minneapolis, MN	39.21	93	134
115	Grand Rapids, MI	39.17	109	111
116	Austin, TX	39.08	125	94
117	St. Petersburg, FL	39.07	133	87
118	Vancouver, WA	39.03	154	47
119	Nampa, ID	38.90	100	132
120	Glendale, CA	38.71	138	86
121	Tempe, AZ	38.70	121	102
122	Moreno Valley, CA	38.65	79	156
123	Salt Lake City, UT	38.62	166	28
124	Burlington, VT	38.57	113	117
125	Missoula, MT	38.49	167	46
126	Worcester, MA	38.33	91	151
127	Mesa, AZ	38.24	118	116
128	Charlotte, NC	38.23	105	133
129	Tampa, FL	38.23	112	124
130	Manchester, NH	38.12	97	147
131	Cheyenne, WY	38.08	151	83
132	Seattle, WA	37.98	149	80
133	Casper, WY	37.97	163	69
134	Des Moines, IA	37.97	103	140
135	Billings, MT	37.78	165	75
136	Lexington-Fayette, KY	37.74	102	143
137	Garden Grove, CA	37.62	145	95
138	Omaha, NE	37.51	129	118
139	Fontana, CA	37.41	116	138
140	Santa Rosa, CA	37.40	128	119
141	Jersey City, NJ	37.40	110	144
142	Colorado Springs, CO	37.32	141	103
143	Charleston, SC	37.25	92	163
144	Pittsburgh, PA	37.19	107	148
145	Yonkers, NY	36.97	124	135
146	Port St. Lucie, FL	36.80	135	121
147	Portland, ME	36.43	148	120
148	Cape Coral, FL	35.78	115	160
149	Huntsville, AL	35.53	117	162
150	Boise, ID	35.44	162	107
151	Juneau, AK	35.00	177	98
152	Pembroke Pines, FL	34.28	159	136
153	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	34.22	155	141
154	Peoria, AZ	33.96	153	149
155	Durham, NC	33.88	152	150
156	San Diego, CA	33.73	143	157
157	San Jose, CA	33.65	144	158
158	Chula Vista, CA	33.44	139	167
159	Chesapeake, VA	33.13	146	166
160	Lincoln, NE	33.04	157	154
161	Cedar Rapids, IA	32.99	127	179
162	Oceanside, CA	32.76	150	165
163	Aurora, IL	32.76	142	175
164	Sioux Falls, SD	32.38	169	153
165	Scottsdale, AZ	32.25	160	159
166	Plano, TX	32.21	175	146
167	Raleigh, NC	32.09	156	169
168	Chandler, AZ	32.03	161	161
169	Warwick, RI	31.63	158	174
170	Virginia Beach, VA	31.01	164	172
171	Gilbert, AZ	30.93	170	164
172	Nashua, NH	30.91	178	142
173	Fargo, ND	30.24	168	177
174	Madison, WI	30.13	171	170
175	Irvine, CA	29.58	172	173
176	South Burlington, VT	29.21	173	178
177	Pearl City, HI	29.18	179	168
178	Huntington Beach, CA	28.87	176	176
179	Fremont, CA	28.05	174	181
180	Bismarck, ND	27.51	180	180
181	Columbia, MD	24.79	181	182
182	Overland Park, KS	24.75	182	171

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. Rochester, NY
5. Birmingham, AL

Lowest

Lowest
178. Pembroke Pines, FL
179. Warwick, RI
180. Gilbert, AZ
181. Fremont, CA
182. Overland Park, KS

Adult Poverty Rate

Highest

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

Lowest

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

Homelessness Rate

Highest

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

Lowest

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

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

Food Insecurity Rate

Highest

Highest
1. Brownsville, TX
2. Laredo, TX
3. Fort Smith, AR
4. Corpus Christi, TX
5. El Paso, TX

Lowest

Lowest
178. Aurora, IL
179. San Jose, CA
180. Fargo, ND
181. Bridgeport, CT
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. Birmingham, AL
T-4. Hialeah, FL

Lowest

Lowest
T-165. Chandler, AZ
T-165. Charleston, SC
T-165. Fayetteville, NC
T-181. Huntington Beach, CA
T-181. South Burlington, VT

% of Homes with Inadequate Kitchens

Highest

Highest
T-1. San Francisco, CA
T-1. Glendale, CA
T-1. Garden Grove, CA
T-1. Anaheim, CA
T-1. Lewiston, ME

Lowest

Lowest
T-173. Chandler, AZ
T-173. Charleston, SC
T-173. Chula Vista, CA
181. Fayetteville, NC
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 9.1%. 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 third-highest violent crime rate in the nation and the 24th-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 10th-highest share lacking complete kitchen facilities. It has the fifth-highest share of households without a computer and the seventh-highest share without a broadband internet connection, too.

Brownsville, TX

The second-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. Over 29% of the population ages 25+ never graduated high school, the fourth-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 seventh for lacking a broadband internet connection.

Brownsville leads the nation when it comes to the share of residents without health insurance coverage, at nearly 29%. It has the highest food insecurity rate, too, at almost 23%. 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 15th-highest adult poverty rate and the 16th-highest child poverty rate, along with the 15th-highest unemployment rate. This has forced many people to live in cramped conditions to avoid homelessness, as the city has the 11th-highest share of housing units that are severely overcrowded.

Shreveport, LA

Shreveport, LA, is the third-neediest city, and one contributing factor is that it had a 27% increase in homelessness between 2023 and 2024, the 35th-highest. The city also has the 19th-highest poverty rate in the nation for adults and the 20th-highest for children, at around 21% and 32%, respectively.

Some people in Shreveport aren’t even able to buy essentials. The city has the 10th-highest food insecurity rate in the country, which is further reflected by the fact that nearly 62% of children enrolled in public schools qualify to receive free or reduced-price lunch.

To top things off, Shreveport has the fourth-highest share of households without a computer and the fifth-highest share without a broadband internet connection. Also, its residents have unaddressed mental health needs, as the city has the 16th-highest suicide rate among the more than 180 cities in our study.

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

Thomas P. Felke
MSW, Ph.D., Professor & BSW Program Director – Department of Social Work, Executive Director – Shady Rest Institute on Positive Aging - Florida Gulf Coast University
Read More

Brett S. Sharp
Ph.D., MPA Director, Professor, Political Science/Public Administration - University of Central Oklahoma
Read More

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 (2024 vs 2023): 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 November 17, 2025 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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