Highest Poverty in Virginia

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 · Virginia

Highest Poverty — Virginia

1 Woodstock 28.4%

2 South Boston 21.4%

3 Covington 20.6%

4 Montrose 20.2%

5 Bailey's Crossroads 20.1%

6 Galax 19.9%

7 Bensley 19.9%

8 Hopewell 19.6%

9 Richlands 19.4%

10 Bluefield 19.2%

11 Petersburg 18.8%

12 Danville 18.7%

13 Buena Vista 17.0%

14 Martinsville 16.6%

15 Bedford 16.1%

16 Big Stone Gap 15.9%

17 Bellwood 15.3%

18 Pulaski 15.2%

19 Hybla Valley 15.1%

20 Potomac Mills 14.9%

21 Roanoke 14.8%

22 Portsmouth 14.7%

23 Bristol 14.7%

24 Radford 14.6%

25 Wytheville 14.5%

26 Ashland 14.2%

27 Spotsylvania Courthouse 14.2%

28 Highland Springs 13.4%

29 Seven Corners 13.1%

30 Norfolk 12.6%

31 Harrisonburg 12.5%

32 Winchester 12.3%

33 Richmond 12.0%

34 Lynchburg 11.7%

35 Hutchison 11.7%

36 Dumfries 11.7%

37 Newport News 11.6%

38 Culpeper 11.3%

39 Groveton 10.8%

40 Bull Run CDP (Prince William County) 10.7%

41 Manchester 10.6%

42 Fredericksburg 10.3%

43 Franklin 10.3%

44 Marion 10.3%

45 Lexington 10.2%

46 Meadowbrook 10.0%

47 Collinsville 9.9%

48 Front Royal 9.8%

49 Fishersville 9.5%

50 Charlottesville 9.4%

51 Dumbarton 9.4%

52 Colonial Heights 9.3%

53 Abingdon 9.2%

54 Hampton 9.1%

55 Waynesboro 9.1%

56 Woodburn 9.0%

57 Emporia 9.0%

58 East Highland Park 8.8%

59 Blacksburg 8.6%

60 Farmville 8.6%

61 Lakeside 8.4%

62 Falmouth 8.4%

63 Staunton 8.3%

64 Woodlawn CDP (Fairfax County) 8.2%

65 Ettrick 8.0%

66 Christiansburg 7.8%

67 Suffolk 7.7%

68 Yorkshire 7.6%

69 Sterling 7.5%

70 Sudley 7.4%

71 Crozet 7.4%

72 Salem 7.3%

73 University of Virginia 7.3%

74 Vinton 7.3%

75 Huntington 7.1%

76 Woodbridge 7.0%

77 Annandale 6.9%

78 Chester 6.9%

79 Lorton 6.9%

80 Lincolnia 6.8%

81 Virginia Beach 6.6%

82 Fair Lakes 6.6%

83 Sandston 6.5%

84 Quantico Base 6.5%

85 Chesapeake 6.3%

86 Alexandria 6.2%

87 Fairfax 6.2%

88 Springfield 6.0%

89 Cherry Hill 6.0%

90 Mount Vernon 6.0%

91 Manassas 5.9%

92 Merrifield 5.9%

93 Triangle 5.9%

94 Gloucester Point 5.6%

95 Carrollton 5.6%

96 Herndon 5.5%

97 Brandermill 5.5%

98 Madison Heights 5.5%

99 Tuckahoe 5.4%

100 Stuarts Draft 5.4%

Cities with the highest poverty rates in Virginia face deep economic challenges affecting a significant portion of their population. Woodstock has a poverty rate of 28.4%.

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 Woodstock, 28.4% of residents — roughly 1 in 4 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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