More than 60 years have passed since President Lyndon Johnson declared war on poverty, and yet, poverty remains endemic in the United States. In any given year over the last three decades, anywhere from 31.6 million to 48.8 million Americans were living below the poverty line. Over that period, the annual U.S. poverty rate climbed as high as 15.9%, and never fell below 11.3%.
The effects of poverty extend far beyond economics. According to the latest Pulse Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau, 38% of American adults earning less than $25,000 reported feeling depressed or hopeless on most days, compared to 17% of all adults. Additionally, 27% of adults in the lowest income bracket reported not having enough to eat within the last week, three times the food insufficiency rate among all adults.
In most of the country, including Virginia, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sets the poverty line at an annual income of $15,060 for individuals and $31,200 for a family of four. In Virginia, 10.0% of the population live below these thresholds — and in many towns across the state, the poverty rate is far higher.
Using five-year estimates from the Census’ 2022 American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified the towns in Virginia with the highest poverty rates. We considered all places — including cities, towns, and unincorporated communities — with populations between 5,000 and 50,000. Because the presence of colleges and universities can distort economic realities in a given area, places where 20% or more of the population are enrolled in a post-secondary institution were excluded from analysis.
Among the 35 places on this list, poverty rates range from 13.8% to 27.3%, and in all but two of these places, the typical household earns less than the statewide median household income of $87,249.
Widespread financial hardship in these areas is partially attributable to a lack of economic opportunity. In most places on this list, the five-year average unemployment rate is higher than the comparable 4.3% jobless rate across Virginia.
Incomes and job security tend to rise with educational attainment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical worker with a bachelor’s degree earns 66% more than those with no more than a high school diploma. Additionally, workers with only a high school education are far more likely to be unemployed than college graduates. In the vast majority of towns on this list, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree is below the 41.0% statewide bachelor’s degree attainment rate.
Why It Matters
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The United States is, in many ways, the center of gravity of the global economy. The U.S. dollar has been the world’s leading reserve currency since the end of World War II, and American gross domestic product accounts for over a quarter of economic activity worldwide. Despite these advantages, more than one in every 10 Americans have been living below the poverty line for decades. For those facing serious financial hardship, the effects are far reaching. Poverty can negatively impact mental health, social relationships, and life expectancy.
35. Collinsville
Source: Famartin / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 13.8%
- Median household income: $45,914
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.5%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.5%
- Population: 7,640
34. Hutchison
Source: Famartin / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 14.4%
- Median household income: $99,647
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 2.8%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 42.6%
- Population: 6,947
33. Front Royal
Source: ablokhin / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 15.5%
- Median household income: $62,735
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.5%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.4%
- Population: 15,064
32. Abingdon
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 15.7%
- Median household income: $56,164
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.0%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 37.3%
- Population: 8,346
31. Waynesboro
Source: Matthew T. Carroll / Moment Open via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 16.1%
- Median household income: $52,519
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.7%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 27.2%
- Population: 22,341
30. Dumbarton
Source: Taber Andrew Bain / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 16.4%
- Median household income: $59,005
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.5%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 28.4%
- Population: 8,271
29. Big Stone Gap
Source: Joshua Moore / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 16.4%
- Median household income: $52,663
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.7%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.4%
- Population: 5,221
28. Winchester
Source: BackyardProduction / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 16.8%
- Median household income: $62,495
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.2%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 32.3%
- Population: 28,103
27. Covington
Source: ablokhin / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 16.9%
- Median household income: $45,737
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 2.6%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.4%
- Population: 5,722
26. Bristol
Source: Joel Carillet / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 17.0%
- Median household income: $45,250
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.1%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.8%
- Population: 17,036
25. Emporia
Source: Corvokarasu at English Wikipedia / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 17.3%
- Median household income: $41,442
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.0%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.5%
- Population: 5,680
24. Hybla Valley
Source: AlbertHerring / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 17.5%
- Median household income: $65,843
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.3%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 35.0%
- Population: 18,104
23. Bluefield
Source: Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 18.0%
- Median household income: $53,162
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 2.8%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 29.0%
- Population: 5,059
22. Fredericksburg
Source: Charley Carter / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 18.0%
- Median household income: $83,445
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.1%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 43.5%
- Population: 28,258
21. Dulles Town Center
Source: Famartin / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 18.1%
- Median household income: $114,034
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.0%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 51.8%
- Population: 5,884
20. Franklin
- Poverty rate: 18.7%
- Median household income: $57,537
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.3%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.2%
- Population: 8,194
19. Bellwood
- Poverty rate: 19.0%
- Median household income: $50,231
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.4%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.6%
- Population: 7,783
18. Highland Springs
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 19.1%
- Median household income: $54,270
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.4%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.8%
- Population: 14,881
17. South Boston
- Poverty rate: 20.4%
- Median household income: $49,654
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.3%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.9%
- Population: 7,942
16. Marion
Source: Michael Gibson / 500px / 500px via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 20.7%
- Median household income: $37,337
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.1%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.8%
- Population: 5,722
15. Bailey’s Crossroads
Source: Famartin / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 21.3%
- Median household income: $78,286
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.2%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 43.5%
- Population: 24,785
14. Hopewell
- Poverty rate: 21.3%
- Median household income: $50,661
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.6%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.1%
- Population: 23,046
13. Bensley
Source: Famartin / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 21.9%
- Median household income: $44,026
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.5%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.3%
- Population: 6,032
12. Buena Vista
Source: (c) Sean Board / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 21.9%
- Median household income: $48,783
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 1.3%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.5%
- Population: 6,639
11. Seven Corners
Source: Ser Amantio di Nicolao / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 22.0%
- Median household income: $63,625
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.2%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 37.3%
- Population: 9,141
10. Petersburg
- Poverty rate: 22.2%
- Median household income: $46,930
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.1%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.8%
- Population: 33,261
9. Galax
Source: Eifel Kreutz / iStock / Getty Images Plus
- Poverty rate: 22.4%
- Median household income: $44,612
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.4%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.5%
- Population: 6,687
8. Pulaski
Source: NSA Digital Archive / iStock via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 22.6%
- Median household income: $55,213
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.1%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.4%
- Population: 8,982
7. Woodstock
Source: Eli Wilson / 500px / 500Px Plus via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 23.5%
- Median household income: $64,470
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.2%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.6%
- Population: 5,798
6. Martinsville
- Poverty rate: 24.6%
- Median household income: $39,127
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.3%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.3%
- Population: 13,539
5. Montrose
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 24.6%
- Median household income: $39,023
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.3%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.3%
- Population: 8,363
4. Richlands
Source: Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons
- Poverty rate: 25.0%
- Median household income: $35,959
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.5%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.2%
- Population: 5,266
3. Danville
- Poverty rate: 25.3%
- Median household income: $41,484
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.8%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.7%
- Population: 42,507
2. Bedford
Source: John Covert / 500px Prime via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 26.7%
- Median household income: $41,154
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 2.4%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.5%
- Population: 6,676
1. Wytheville
Source: ablokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Poverty rate: 27.3%
- Median household income: $39,459
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.4%
- Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.5%
- Population: 8,228
| Rank | Place | Poverty rate (%) | Median household income ($) | Unemployment rate (%) | Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (%) | Total population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wytheville, Virginia | 27.3 | 39,459 | 5.4 | 23.5 | 8,228 |
| 2 | Bedford, Virginia | 26.7 | 41,154 | 2.4 | 19.5 | 6,676 |
| 3 | Danville, Virginia | 25.3 | 41,484 | 5.8 | 18.7 | 42,507 |
| 4 | Richlands, Virginia | 25.0 | 35,959 | 8.5 | 15.2 | 5,266 |
| 5 | Montrose, Virginia | 24.6 | 39,023 | 4.3 | 16.3 | 8,363 |
| 6 | Martinsville, Virginia | 24.6 | 39,127 | 4.3 | 20.3 | 13,539 |
| 7 | Woodstock, Virginia | 23.5 | 64,470 | 5.2 | 25.6 | 5,798 |
| 8 | Pulaski, Virginia | 22.6 | 55,213 | 4.1 | 15.4 | 8,982 |
| 9 | Galax, Virginia | 22.4 | 44,612 | 4.4 | 17.5 | 6,687 |
| 10 | Petersburg, Virginia | 22.2 | 46,930 | 11.1 | 21.8 | 33,261 |
| 11 | Seven Corners, Virginia | 22.0 | 63,625 | 8.2 | 37.3 | 9,141 |
| 12 | Buena Vista, Virginia | 21.9 | 48,783 | 1.3 | 21.5 | 6,639 |
| 13 | Bensley, Virginia | 21.9 | 44,026 | 8.5 | 11.3 | 6,032 |
| 14 | Hopewell, Virginia | 21.3 | 50,661 | 8.6 | 11.1 | 23,046 |
| 15 | Bailey’s Crossroads, Virginia | 21.3 | 78,286 | 7.2 | 43.5 | 24,785 |
| 16 | Marion, Virginia | 20.7 | 37,337 | 5.1 | 20.8 | 5,722 |
| 17 | South Boston, Virginia | 20.4 | 49,654 | 4.3 | 19.9 | 7,942 |
| 18 | Highland Springs, Virginia | 19.1 | 54,270 | 5.4 | 17.8 | 14,881 |
| 19 | Bellwood, Virginia | 19.0 | 50,231 | 7.4 | 13.6 | 7,783 |
| 20 | Franklin, Virginia | 18.7 | 57,537 | 5.3 | 23.2 | 8,194 |
| 21 | Dulles Town Center, Virginia | 18.1 | 114,034 | 4.0 | 51.8 | 5,884 |
| 22 | Fredericksburg, Virginia | 18.0 | 83,445 | 5.1 | 43.5 | 28,258 |
| 23 | Bluefield, Virginia | 18.0 | 53,162 | 2.8 | 29.0 | 5,059 |
| 24 | Hybla Valley, Virginia | 17.5 | 65,843 | 6.3 | 35.0 | 18,104 |
| 25 | Emporia, Virginia | 17.3 | 41,442 | 7.0 | 16.5 | 5,680 |
| 26 | Bristol, Virginia | 17.0 | 45,250 | 4.1 | 22.8 | 17,036 |
| 27 | Covington, Virginia | 16.9 | 45,737 | 2.6 | 11.4 | 5,722 |
| 28 | Winchester, Virginia | 16.8 | 62,495 | 5.2 | 32.3 | 28,103 |
| 29 | Big Stone Gap, Virginia | 16.4 | 52,663 | 11.7 | 19.4 | 5,221 |
| 30 | Dumbarton, Virginia | 16.4 | 59,005 | 4.5 | 28.4 | 8,271 |
| 31 | Waynesboro, Virginia | 16.1 | 52,519 | 4.7 | 27.2 | 22,341 |
| 32 | Abingdon, Virginia | 15.7 | 56,164 | 4.0 | 37.3 | 8,346 |
| 33 | Front Royal, Virginia | 15.5 | 62,735 | 7.5 | 17.4 | 15,064 |
| 34 | Hutchison, Virginia | 14.4 | 99,647 | 2.8 | 42.6 | 6,947 |
| 35 | Collinsville, Virginia | 13.8 | 45,914 | 6.5 | 26.5 | 7,640 |
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