Highest Poverty in Michigan

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 · Michigan

Highest Poverty — Michigan

1 Benton Harbor 42.3%

2 Muskegon Heights 38.9%

3 Highland Park 34.2%

4 Hamtramck 34.0%

5 River Rouge 30.8%

6 Inkster 29.9%

7 Dowagiac 28.7%

8 Saginaw 27.0%

9 Detroit 26.9%

10 Flint 26.9%

11 Melvindale 26.1%

12 Beecher 24.9%

13 Albion 24.2%

14 Buena Vista 24.0%

15 Bridgeport 22.1%

16 Mount Pleasant 19.9%

17 Adrian 19.8%

18 Ypsilanti 19.7%

19 Pontiac 19.6%

20 Dearborn 19.4%

21 Jackson 18.7%

22 Big Rapids 18.5%

23 Eastpointe 18.2%

24 Springfield 18.2%

25 Niles 18.1%

26 Ludington 17.7%

27 Richmond 17.4%

28 Port Huron 17.3%

29 Houghton 17.3%

30 Kalamazoo 17.2%

31 Lincoln Park 17.2%

32 Ishpeming 17.2%

33 Muskegon 16.9%

34 Dearborn Heights 16.4%

35 Hillsdale 16.3%

36 Monroe 16.1%

37 Houghton Lake 15.3%

38 Bay City 15.2%

39 New Haven 15.2%

40 Lansing 14.8%

41 Taylor 14.6%

42 Harper Woods 14.6%

43 Wayne 14.2%

44 Alma 14.0%

45 Escanaba 13.9%

46 Gladstone 13.8%

47 Sturgis 13.6%

48 Fair Plain 13.3%

49 Lapeer 13.2%

50 Grand Rapids 13.1%

51 Davison 13.0%

52 Alpena 12.8%

53 Oak Park 12.6%

54 Allegan 12.6%

55 Wyandotte 12.1%

56 Ecorse 12.1%

57 St. Johns 12.1%

58 Burton 11.7%

59 Owosso 11.7%

60 Coldwater 11.6%

61 Battle Creek 11.5%

62 Three Rivers 11.5%

63 Iron Mountain 11.4%

64 Shields 11.4%

65 Belding 11.4%

66 South Monroe 11.2%

67 Sault Ste. Marie 10.9%

68 Hazel Park 10.8%

69 Westland 10.7%

70 Comstock Park 10.7%

71 Mount Clemens 10.2%

72 Ionia 10.1%

73 Milan 10.0%

74 Woodhaven 9.5%

75 Eastwood 9.5%

76 Garden City 9.1%

77 Menominee 9.1%

78 Warren 9.0%

79 Cadillac 8.9%

80 St. Louis 8.9%

81 Wyoming 8.7%

82 Southgate 8.6%

83 Fraser 8.6%

84 Madison Heights 8.5%

85 Manistee 8.4%

86 Cutlerville 8.3%

87 Sterling Heights 8.2%

88 Greenville 8.2%

89 Roseville 8.1%

90 Marquette 8.1%

91 Grand Haven 8.0%

92 Romulus 7.8%

93 Midland 7.7%

94 Holt 7.7%

95 Flat Rock 7.7%

96 Walled Lake 7.7%

97 East Lansing 7.5%

98 Milford 7.4%

99 St. Clair 7.4%

100 Holland 7.3%

Cities with the highest poverty rates in Michigan face deep economic challenges affecting a significant portion of their population. Benton Harbor has a poverty rate of 42.3%.

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 Benton Harbor, 42.3% of residents — roughly 1 in 2 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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