Highest Poverty in California

Top 100 cities ranked by highest poverty

Largest Cities Smallest Cities Most Dense Least Dense Highest Income Lowest Income Lowest Unemployment Highest Unemployment Lowest Poverty Highest Poverty Highest Home Value Most Affordable Highest Rent Lowest Rent Most Educated Youngest Cities Oldest Cities Safest Cities Highest Crime Warmest Cities Coldest Cities Rainiest Cities Driest Cities

All Countries · United States · California

Highest Poverty — California

1 Orange Cove 39.4%

2 East Bakersfield 35.6%

3 Lamont 34.1%

4 Lucerne Valley 29.7%

5 Mendota 28.9%

6 August 27.3%

7 Parlier 27.1%

8 Arvin 27.0%

9 Firebaugh 27.0%

10 Dinuba 26.9%

11 Lindsay 26.6%

12 Hillcrest 26.4%

13 Keyes 25.3%

14 Cudahy 25.1%

15 McFarland 24.9%

16 East Niles 24.4%

17 Benton Park 24.3%

18 Potomac Park 24.2%

19 Huron 23.8%

20 Kerman 23.8%

21 Oildale 23.5%

22 Westmont 23.1%

23 California City 22.6%

24 Fruitridge Pocket 22.6%

25 Lemon Hill 22.3%

26 Guadalupe 22.2%

27 Fowler 22.0%

28 El Rio 21.8%

29 Madera 21.7%

30 Mayfair 21.7%

31 Farmersville 21.2%

32 Corcoran 21.1%

33 Earlimart 20.9%

34 Good Hope 20.2%

35 Heber 19.8%

36 Woodlake 19.8%

37 Grass Valley 19.4%

38 Wasco 19.4%

39 Bell 19.3%

40 South El Monte 19.2%

41 Bell Gardens 19.0%

42 Linda 18.9%

43 Merced 18.6%

44 West Modesto 18.5%

45 Barstow 18.3%

46 Brawley 18.3%

47 Piñon Hills 18.3%

48 Orosi 18.2%

49 Shafter 18.1%

50 Parkway 18.0%

51 Atwater 17.9%

52 Maywood 17.8%

53 Florence-Graham 17.8%

54 Marysville 17.7%

55 Calexico 17.7%

56 Chowchilla 17.6%

57 Clearlake 17.6%

58 East Hemet 17.4%

59 Yreka 17.4%

60 Franklin CDP (Merced County) 17.3%

61 Calipatria 17.3%

62 El Centro 17.2%

63 Avenal 16.7%

64 East Rancho Dominguez 16.7%

65 Hilmar-Irwin 16.6%

66 Victorville 16.4%

67 Fresno 16.3%

68 Florin 16.3%

69 Reedley 16.2%

70 El Cajon 16.1%

71 Mecca 15.9%

72 San Bernardino 15.9%

73 Los Banos 15.9%

74 Tulare 15.8%

75 Adelanto 15.8%

76 Anderson 15.8%

77 Exeter 15.6%

78 North Highlands 15.6%

79 Willowbrook 15.5%

80 Banning 15.5%

81 Arcata 15.5%

82 Desert Hot Springs 15.5%

83 Huntington Park 15.5%

84 Muscoy 15.5%

85 Blythe 15.4%

86 Red Bluff 15.4%

87 Salton City 14.9%

88 Selma 14.9%

89 Garnet 14.8%

90 Hawaiian Gardens 14.7%

91 Orland 14.6%

92 West Athens 14.6%

93 Joshua Tree 14.6%

94 Newman 14.4%

95 Palermo 14.4%

96 Holtville 14.4%

97 Livingston 14.3%

98 Hesperia 14.3%

99 Valle Vista 14.2%

100 Garden Acres 14.2%

Cities with the highest poverty rates in California face deep economic challenges affecting a significant portion of their population. Orange Cove has a poverty rate of 39.4%.

High poverty rates impact communities in multiple ways: reduced access to healthcare and healthy food, lower educational outcomes, higher crime rates, and deteriorating infrastructure. These challenges are interconnected and require comprehensive solutions.

Addressing poverty in these cities requires a multi-pronged approach including economic development, affordable housing, quality education, healthcare access, and workforce training programs targeting underserved populations.

Did You Know?

1. In Orange Cove, 39.4% of residents — roughly 1 in 3 people — live below the poverty line.
2. Child poverty rates in these cities are often even higher than the overall rate, sometimes exceeding 40%.
3. Poverty is measured by household income relative to family size — the threshold varies from $15,060 for an individual to $31,200 for a family of four.

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