16 Poorest Metropolitan Cities in America: 2015 List

While the American economy is making steady progress, it’s still too slow for these 16 poorest metropolitan cities in America – according to this 2015 list. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that some cities, towns and neighborhoods across the US don’t exhibit a healthy growth. With lower salaries and higher unemployment rates, come greater percentage of people living close to or even below the poverty line. Crime rates and percentage of people moving out of such metro areas are also soaring upward as a result. You can’t blame the people for looking for greener pastures. They have to secure their livelihood, and the best way to do so is often moving away.

If you think that it’s only grim in the US, you’re wrong. If you’re living in one of the cities that will make their way to this list further down, know that it can always be worse. Of course, it can be better, but at least, it’s not like in these 7 poorest countries in the world by 2015 GDP, where people survive on less than $1 per hour. Salaries across the US are still much higher than that but overall, they don’t necessarily have to be above the minimal margin. After all, how can they be if some individuals are earning less than $11,770 a year, or if 4-person family is earning less than $24,250 as shown in this report? Remember, however, that these are only poverty thresholds, and that quality of life won’t drastically improve if one’s slightly above it. It’s just a number used for statistical purposes, but the truth is much more complex than that.

In order to compile this list, we have resorted to a combination of criteria. You’ll agree that metro area’s well-being depends on high average salaries, low unemployment rates and, of course, low percentage of inhabitants living in poverty. Needless to say, poorest metropolitan statistical areas exhibit exactly the opposite – low salaries, and high unemployment and poverty rates. This is why we have decided to use average GDP per capita, unemployment and poverty rates for American metropolitan areas as our criteria. Per capita real GDP by metropolitan area can be obtained from Bureau of Economic Analysis, and we have decided to use data for the last couple of available years in order to get continuity as well. Unemployment rates have been pulled from the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report, while poverty rates across the country can be found in this Congressional Research Service report (starting on page 52). Metro areas across the country will be assigned points from 1 to 10 for all three criteria. Metros with the highest score in the end will make this 16 poorest metropolitan cities in America: 2015 list. Finally, only metro areas with more than 500,000 inhabitants have been taken into account since we’re talking cities here.

16. Cape Coral – Fort Myers, FL

Cape Coral and Fort Myers are on opposite side of the Everglades, looking from Miami. These are important touristic hubs within Florida – especially Cape Coral. However, tourism industry doesn’t offer that high salaries, as average GDP per capita sticks to $31,455 mark – way below the US average. At least, most metro area’s inhabitants are employed which can be seen from a rather low unemployment rate of 4.3%. This still doesn’t manage to abolish poverty as 16.5% of more than 650,000 citizens are earning less than the minimum required to stay above the poverty threshold.

15. Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, FL

A trio of cities are just the largest ones making this 550,000-inhabitant agglomeration, but they aren’t the only ones. In other words, this metro statistical area is comprised of pretty much the entire Brevard County. Despite its sharp name, Space Coast is the worst place in America to find a job. GDP average of $31,286, together with an unemployment rate of 5.1% and a poverty rate of 15% are, however, still better than in many other large American cities.

14. Jackson, MS

Jackson is both Mississippi’s capital and largest city. Close to 600,000 citizens are earning $44,987 on average which is closest to the national average of around $52,000 (only metro areas), this 16 poorest metropolitan cities in America: 2015 list is going to get. However, unemployment of 6% and a high poverty rate of 22% are hindering Jackson in making the progress. At least, prices aren’t that high in Mississippi, so Jackson’s citizens manage to compensate.

13. Spokane – Spokane Valley, WA

Moving north. Spokane – Spokane Valley Metro is almost at Washington-Idaho border which means it’s far away from state’s main economic hub Seattle. This is one of the reasons for low GDP per capita with the average of $37,424, 6.7% unemployment rate and 16.8% poverty rate.

12. Youngstown – Warren – Boardman, OH-PA

A trio of Ohio towns doesn’t have more than 150,000 inhabitants amongst them, but the entire metro area has around 550,000 citizens across eastern Ohio and a tiny part of western Pennsylvania. The area around Youngstown has never fully recovered from steel industry’s crash back in the seventies. The city is certainly taking its sweet time, and meanwhile, 17.4% of citizens of this metro live below the poverty line. At the same time, 6.9% of them are unemployed, and GDP per capita average amounts to $34,330.

11. Tucson, AZ

Around 1 million inhabitants call this Sonoran desert’s metro home. While showcasing slow but steady economy growth, Tucson still struggles in all three of our criteria compared to other American cities. The poverty rate is as high as 19.5%, while 5% of people are unemployed. Finally, average GDP doesn’t manage to pass $32,758 mark which is way below the national average. Optics Valley, however, should have brighter future, and tourism industry is there to kick in as well.

10. Augusta – Richmond County, GA-SC

The economic recession of 2009 has hit Augusta and its surrounding areas hard which is evident from a high unemployment rate of 5.7%. 19.8% of people are living below the poverty line which too is a worrying data. Finally, real per capita GDP amounts to $33,465 – not nearly as much as half a million of inhabitants or so of this metro area would have liked.

9. El Paso, TX

City on the edge of both Texas and US now boasts with more than 800,000 inhabitants. They, however, don’t earn more than $31,105 when it comes to GDP per capita income. 4.8% of unemployed citizens could have been worse, but 22.6% of people living below the poverty line leaves a lot to be desired for The Sun City.

8. Riverside – San Bernardino – Ontario, CA

Largest metro on this 16 poorest metropolitan cities in America: 2015 list can’t really pride itself with high GDP income per capita which is lower than national average almost by double – coming at $27,424. The unemployment rate of 5.9% doesn’t help as well, and neither does poverty rate of 18.2%. Eastside LA was never that developed, and Riverside – San Bernardino – Ontario Metro is just its 4 million inhabitant or so extension.

7. Lakeland – Winter Haven, FL

Lakeland certainly earns its name, and Winter Haven certainly doesn’t fall short by a number of lakes in and around the city. This metro area is located between Tampa and Orlando, and represents an important transportation hub. Tourism is becoming more and more important as well, but this still doesn’t earn metro’s inhabitants GDP of more than $26,919 per capita. Add to that 5.3% of unemployed people and a poverty rate of 19.4%, and you’ll see why Lakeland – Winter Haven makes this list.

6. Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, FL

Incidentally or not, this is fourth Florida’s metro on this list, but it’ll also be the last as well. This is a large touristic hub widely known for its beaches and speedway which is a venue to a number of motorsports events throughout the year, including the season-opening Daytona 500 NASCAR race. With all the infrastructure, metro still fails to exhibit real per capita GDP higher than $21,766. At the same time, poverty rate amounts to 16.2%, while 5% of people are unemployed.

5. Stockton – Lodi, CA

This metro area of some 700,000 inhabitants is close to both the Bay Area and Silicon Valley, but this doesn’t help it avoiding a place on this 16 poorest metropolitan cities in America: 2015 list. After the real estate crash and economic recession that followed, Stockton has become the largest city in US history to file for bankruptcy. Of course, Detroit managed to break this infamous record shortly after. Stockton – Lodi metro is still recovering while unemployment is as high as 8.8%. At the same time, 19.9% of metro’s inhabitants are living below the poverty line, and real per capita GDP is as low as $29,768.

4. Bakersfield, CA

Bakersfield might not look like a prime candidate for making this or any similar lists, but it does so mostly thanks to a very high unemployment rate of 10.2%. This, in turn, creates a poverty rate of no less than 22.8%, and average GDP per capita of $38411 can’t really repair the damage.

3. Modesto, CA

Modesto – a metro of slightly more than half a million inhabitants too has rather high unemployment and poverty rates of 9.1% and 22.1% respectively. These two go hand in hand, and they lower GDP per capita in the process as well. As if less than national average wasn’t low enough, Modesto has its GDP at $30,208 – much lower than the average of around $52,000 for 2013 and 2014.

2. Fresno, CA

You’re probably noticing a certain trend here with yet another city from California on this list. It’s a paradox really to see so many poor and rich cities in the same state. As for Fresno – the entire metro area has average GDP per capita of $34,130 which isn’t that low compared to some other agglomerations on the list. The unemployment rate of 10.3%, and a poverty rate of staggering 28.8%, however, are a big deal, and main reasons for Fresno ranking as low as it does among larger US cities.

1. McAllen – Edinburg – Mission, TX

We are concluding our 16 poorest metropolitan cities in America: 2015 list with another Sun Belt metro. McAllen – Edinburg – Mission has the highest poverty rate among all US cities which amounts to no less than 34.3%. In other words, more than one-third of the entire population of this 800,000-inhabitant metro lives below the poverty line. Unemployment of 7.8% doesn’t help as well, and what’s there to say about real GDP per capita of only $19,784?