Highest Poverty in Pennsylvania

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 · Pennsylvania

Highest Poverty — Pennsylvania

1 McKeesport 30.8%

2 Lewistown 30.8%

3 McKees Rocks 30.6%

4 Duquesne 29.9%

5 Darby 29.8%

6 Harrisburg 27.5%

7 Oxford 27.5%

8 Clairton 26.5%

9 Corry 26.1%

10 Johnstown 26.1%

11 Chester 25.2%

12 Hazleton 24.1%

13 Reading 23.1%

14 Vandergrift 22.9%

15 Pittston 22.3%

16 West Hazleton 21.8%

17 Sharon Hill 21.6%

18 Carbondale 21.0%

19 Punxsutawney 20.3%

20 Erie 19.6%

21 York 19.4%

22 Uniontown 19.4%

23 Lebanon 19.3%

24 New Castle 18.9%

25 Tamaqua 18.8%

26 Nazareth 18.7%

27 Shamokin 18.6%

28 Pottsville 18.6%

29 Berwick 18.6%

30 Scranton 18.5%

31 Williamsport 18.4%

32 Beaver Falls 18.3%

33 Lancaster 17.7%

34 Sharon 17.7%

35 Philadelphia 17.5%

36 Wilkes-Barre 17.4%

37 Titusville 17.4%

38 Allentown 17.3%

39 Bradford 17.3%

40 Coatesville 16.7%

41 Brentwood 16.7%

42 Collingdale 16.6%

43 Monaca 16.6%

44 Folcroft 16.4%

45 Plymouth 16.4%

46 Bridgeport 16.2%

47 Clearfield 16.1%

48 Butler 16.1%

49 Pottstown 15.9%

50 Kingston 15.8%

51 Bloomsburg 15.6%

52 Sunbury 15.6%

53 Jeannette 15.5%

54 Wilkinsburg 15.5%

55 Norristown 15.2%

56 Nanticoke 15.2%

57 Millersville 15.1%

58 Steelton 14.9%

59 Carlisle 14.8%

60 Taylor 14.8%

61 Easton 14.7%

62 Meadville 14.2%

63 Duryea 14.1%

64 Lock Haven 14.0%

65 Altoona 13.9%

66 Oil City 13.9%

67 Arlington Heights 13.7%

68 Prospect Park 13.4%

69 Monessen 13.3%

70 Somerset 13.3%

71 Clifton Heights 13.2%

72 Croydon 13.1%

73 Birdsboro 12.8%

74 Aliquippa 12.7%

75 Shillington 12.5%

76 Connellsville 12.3%

77 Pittsburgh 12.2%

78 Sanatoga 12.2%

79 Turtle Creek 12.2%

80 Glenolden 12.0%

81 California 12.0%

82 Mount Carmel 11.9%

83 Bellefonte 11.9%

84 Manheim 11.8%

85 Columbia 11.7%

86 Munhall 11.5%

87 New Holland 11.4%

88 Parkville 11.3%

89 Huntingdon 11.0%

90 Hanover 10.7%

91 Coraopolis 10.7%

92 Washington 10.5%

93 Franklin 10.5%

94 Bethlehem 10.2%

95 Red Lion 10.2%

96 New Brighton 9.9%

97 East Stroudsburg 9.8%

98 Lehighton 9.8%

99 West Chester 9.7%

100 Colonial Park 9.7%

Cities with the highest poverty rates in Pennsylvania face deep economic challenges affecting a significant portion of their population. McKeesport has a poverty rate of 30.8%.

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 McKeesport, 30.8% 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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