In this article, we will look at the 20 US Cities with the Highest Homeless Population Per Capita.
Is Homelessness on the Rise in the US?
BBC reported at the end of 2024 that the homeless population in the United States increased by more than 18% in a year. According to government officials, this rise was primarily driven by natural disasters, housing costs, and a surge in migration to large cities. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HuD) reported that according to a survey conducted in January 2024, over 770,000 people in the country were living in temporary housing or shelters or had no shelter. This number came after a 12% surge that occurred last year, and marks the highest number since the federal government initiated annual record keeping of the homeless population in the country in 2007. Experts believe that these numbers are likely an underestimation, as they do not take into account the individuals temporarily staying with family members and friends.
The American Community Survey also showed that around 327,000 people experiencing homelessness in the US lived in shelters from 2018 to 2022, which translates to around 0.1% of the country’s population. However, while this number may appear minute, it is higher than the survey’s estimates in 2013-2017, which showed that around 267,000 people lived in shelters during that time. This makes up 0.08% of the country’s population. Among the sheltered population aged 16 and older, approximately 15% were unemployed, while another 61% were not in the labor force.
Breaking Down Homelessness in the US
BBC also reported that family homelessness in 2024 increased by 39% compared to the year before. In fact, it more than doubled in 39 places affected by migration. These statistics stand in contrast with the over 370 other local areas that increased less than 8% on average and did not report the effects of migration. The biggest increase was experienced by children under 18, as nearly 150,000 were experiencing homelessness on the night the survey was conducted. In addition, there was a 6% rise among people aged 65 or older experiencing homelessness in the US.
The report also noticed some positive trends, including an 8% decrease in homelessness among veterans. This trend continued a years-long drop, and some cities even managed to get homeless residents off the streets.
HuD officials reported that Los Angeles, which has one of the highest housing costs in the US, underwent a 5% drop in its homeless population, marking its first decrease in seven years. Similarly, Dallas experienced a 16% drop in homeless people over two years, while Chester County, near Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, reported a notable 60% decrease over five years. This improvement was attributed to homelessness prevention initiatives targeted at migrant workers, legal and education programs, and increased affordable housing.
Some local authorities reported that a rise in asylum seekers has led to increased homelessness figures. A record number of people have attempted to enter the United States in recent years. In late 2022, Republican governors in Florida and Texas sent tens of thousands of migrants to Democrat-controlled cities such as Denver, Chicago, and New York. A number of these people were placed in temporary shelters in these cities.
With these trends in mind, let’s examine the 20 US cities with the highest homeless population per capita.
miropink / Shutterstock.com
Our Methodology
To calculate the homeless rate by state per capita, we first consulted The 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) by The US Department of Housing and Urban Development. We used the latest data available in their dataset, which provided us with estimates of people experiencing homelessness at the state level as of December 2023.
We then consulted the United States Census Bureau. This database provided us with estimated populations of US states as of July 2023. We used the data available to calculate the homeless population per capita in each state. Finally, we narrowed down our selection to rank the 20 states with the largest homeless populations per capita and used them as proxies for their largest cities. The list is arranged in ascending order of cities with the highest homeless population per capita. Please note that we have truncated per capita values after 6 decimal places for better representation.
20 US Cities with the Highest Homeless Population Per Capita
20. Nashville, Tennessee
Estimated Homeless Population: 9,215
Estimated Total Population: 7,126,489
Homeless Population Per 10,000 People: 12.93
Homeless Population Per Capita: 0.001293
Nashville is the capital and largest city of Tennessee, a southeastern US state. According to the latest data, the state’s homelessness rate is around 12.93 individuals per 10,000 residents.
19. Jacksonville, Florida
Estimated Homeless Population: 30,756
Estimated Total Population: 22,610,726
Homeless Population Per 10,000 People: 13.6
Homeless Population Per Capita: 0.001360
The seaport city of Jacksonville is located in Duval County and ranks among our list of the cities with the highest homeless population per capita. Florida is in the southeastern region of the United States and has around 13.6 homeless individuals for every 10,000 people.
18. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Estimated Homeless Population: 1,282
Estimated Total Population: 919,318
Homeless Population Per 10,000 People: 13.94
Homeless Population Per Capita: 0.001394
Sioux Falls is located in southeastern South Dakota, a landlocked state in the North Central region of the United States. Recent estimates show 13.94 homeless individuals per 10,000 people in South Dakota, with an estimated population of around 919,318.
17. Minneapolis, Minnesota
Estimated Homeless Population: 8,393
Estimated Total Population: 5,737,915
Homeless Population Per 10,000 People: 14.62
Homeless Population Per Capita: 0.001462
Minneapolis takes the 17th spot on our list of the US cities with the highest homeless population per capita as the largest and most populous city of Minnesota, a state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. The state has around 14.62 homeless individuals for every 10,000 people.
16. Providence, Rhode Island
Estimated Homeless Population: 1,810
Estimated Total Population: 1,095,962
Homeless Population Per 10,000 People: 16.51
Homeless Population Per Capita: 0.001651
Rhode Island is the smallest state in the US by area, located in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. Estimates show that the state has an estimated homeless population of around 1,810 people.
15. Manchester, New Hampshire
Estimated Homeless Population: 2,441
Estimated Total Population: 1,402,054
Homeless Population Per 10,000 People: 17.41
Homeless Population Per Capita: 0.001741
As the largest city in the state of New Hampshire, Manchester ranks 15th on our list of the US cities with the highest homeless population per capita. According to recent estimates, the state has an estimated population of around 1,402,054 people, of which approximately 2,441 are experiencing homelessness.
14. Albuquerque, New Mexico
Estimated Homeless Population: 3,842
Estimated Total Population: 2,114,371
Homeless Population Per 10,000 People: 18.17
Homeless Population Per Capita: 0.001817
Recent estimates show that New Mexico has a homeless population per capita of 0.001817, ranking its largest city, Albuquerque, at 14th on our list. The rate of homelessness in the state of New Mexico stands at 18.17 individuals per 10,000 residents.
13. Phoenix, Arizona
Estimated Homeless Population: 14,237
Estimated Total Population: 7,431,344
Homeless Population Per 10,000 People: 19.15
Homeless Population Per Capita: 0.001915
Phoenix is the largest city in Arizona, located in the southwestern region of the United States. The state has around 19.15 homeless individuals for every 10,000 people and a total population of around 7,431,344 people.
12. Billings, Montana
Estimated Homeless Population: 2,178
Estimated Total Population: 1,132,812
Homeless Population Per 10,000 People: 19.22
Homeless Population Per Capita: 0.001922
Montana is a landlocked state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Its largest city is Billings, which ranks 12th on our list of the US cities with the highest homeless population per capita. Montana has around 19.22 individuals experiencing homelessness per 10,000 people.
11. Denver, Colorado
Estimated Homeless Population: 14,439
Estimated Total Population: 5,877,610
Homeless Population Per 10,000 People: 24.56
Homeless Population Per Capita: 0.002456
Denver is the largest city in Colorado, a Western US state. The state has a homeless population per capita of 0.002456, which translates to 24.56 homeless individuals for every 10,000 people.
10. Las Vegas, Nevada
Estimated Homeless Population: 8,666
Estimated Total Population: 3,194,176
Homeless Population Per 10,000 People: 27.13
Homeless Population Per Capita: 0.002713
Las Vegas is the largest city in the landlocked state of Nevada. There are about 27.13 homeless individuals for every 10,000 people in the state, and the total population is around 3,194,176 people.
9. Boston, Massachusetts
Estimated Homeless Population: 19,141
Estimated Total Population: 7,001,399
Homeless Population Per 10,000 People: 27.33
Homeless Population Per Capita: 0.002733
Boston is Massachusetts’s capital and most populous city. It is located in the New England region of the Northeastern US and has a total population of around 7,001,399 people. Estimates show that there are around 27.33 homeless people per 10,000 people in the state.
8. Portland, Maine
Estimated Homeless Population: 4,258
Estimated Total Population: 1,395,722
Homeless Population Per 10,000 People: 30.5
Homeless Population Per Capita: 0.003050
Portland, the largest city in the northeastern-most state of Maine, ranks eighth on our list. The state has a total population of 1,395,722 people, with 30.5 people experiencing homelessness out of every 10,000 residents.
7. Anchorage, Alaska
Estimated Homeless Population: 2,614
Estimated Total Population: 733,406
Homeless Population Per 10,000 People: 35.64
Homeless Population Per Capita: 0.003564
Alaska has a rate of 35.64 homeless individuals per 10,000 people, which ranks its largest city, Anchorage, seventh on our list. Although Alaska is the largest state in the US by area, it has a population of only around 733,406 people.
6. Seattle, Washington
Estimated Homeless Population: 28,036
Estimated Total Population: 7,812,880
Homeless Population Per 10,000 People: 35.88
Homeless Population Per Capita: 0.003588
Washington has one of the highest homelessness rates in the United States. Recent estimates show that the state houses 35.88 homeless individuals for every 10,000 residents. Its largest city is Seattle, which lies in the Pacific Northwest region of North America.
5. Honolulu, Hawaii
Estimated Homeless Population: 6,223
Estimated Total Population: 1,435,138
Homeless Population Per 10,000 People: 43.36
Homeless Population Per Capita: 0.004336
Despite its glistening beaches and high-rise hotels, Hawaii has one of the highest homelessness rates in the United States. The state has a total population of around 1,435,138 people, of which 6,223 are estimated to experience homelessness. Its largest city and capital, Honolulu, thus ranks fifth on our list.