Highest Poverty in Illinois

Top 100 cities ranked by highest poverty

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All Countries · United States · Illinois

Highest Poverty — Illinois

1 East St. Louis 31.1%

2 Cahokia Heights 28.2%

3 Riverdale 27.5%

4 Du Quoin 24.1%

5 Carlinville 22.4%

6 Harrisburg 22.2%

7 West Frankfort 21.7%

8 Harvey 21.0%

9 Kankakee 21.0%

10 Carbondale 20.6%

11 Macomb 20.5%

12 Rock Falls 20.4%

13 Markham 19.8%

14 Chicago Heights 19.8%

15 Hazel Crest 19.2%

16 Streator 19.1%

17 DeKalb 18.9%

18 Danville 18.9%

19 Greenville 18.7%

20 Calumet City 18.5%

21 North Chicago 17.8%

22 Vandalia 17.8%

23 Alton 17.7%

24 Sauk Village 17.6%

25 Marengo 17.2%

26 Rockford 16.7%

27 Worth 16.6%

28 Salem 16.3%

29 Benton 15.8%

30 Charleston 15.7%

31 Milan 15.6%

32 Taylorville 15.6%

33 East Moline 15.5%

34 Mount Vernon 15.5%

35 Lincoln 15.1%

36 Justice 15.1%

37 Dolton 14.9%

38 Murphysboro 14.7%

39 Centralia 14.6%

40 Rantoul 14.3%

41 Maywood 14.0%

42 Chicago Ridge 13.9%

43 Galesburg 13.9%

44 Mattoon 13.9%

45 Peoria 13.6%

46 LaSalle 13.6%

47 Chester 13.6%

48 Rock Island 13.4%

49 Decatur 13.3%

50 Freeport 13.2%

51 Zion 13.1%

52 Chicago 13.0%

53 Lynwood 13.0%

54 Pontoon Beach 12.8%

55 Highwood 12.7%

56 Monmouth 12.6%

57 Dixon 12.5%

58 Moline 12.4%

59 Hanover Park 12.4%

60 Herrin 12.4%

61 Steger 12.1%

62 Candlewick Lake 12.0%

63 Park Forest 12.0%

64 Ottawa 11.9%

65 University Park 11.8%

66 Mount Carmel 11.8%

67 Beardstown 11.7%

68 Jerseyville 11.7%

69 Alsip 11.5%

70 Franklin Park 11.5%

71 Springfield 11.2%

72 Wood River 11.2%

73 Lansing 11.2%

74 Granite City 11.2%

75 Urbana 11.1%

76 Broadview 11.1%

77 Marion 11.0%

78 Waukegan 10.9%

79 Canton 10.9%

80 Belvidere 10.9%

81 Genoa 10.8%

82 Summit 10.7%

83 Midlothian 10.7%

84 Peoria Heights 10.4%

85 Calumet Park 10.1%

86 Quincy 10.1%

87 Cicero 10.0%

88 South Beloit 10.0%

89 Stickney 10.0%

90 Harvard 10.0%

91 Carpentersville 10.0%

92 Princeton 9.9%

93 Clarendon Hills 9.9%

94 Blue Island 9.9%

95 Pekin 9.8%

96 West Chicago 9.7%

97 Park City 9.6%

98 Northlake 9.6%

99 Loves Park 9.4%

100 Effingham 9.4%

Cities with the highest poverty rates in Illinois face deep economic challenges affecting a significant portion of their population. East St. Louis has a poverty rate of 31.1%.

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 East St. Louis, 31.1% 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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