Neediest Cities in America (2025)

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Neediest Cities in America in 2024

Neediest Cities in America in 2024

wallethub.com

Overall Rank*	City	Total Score	Economic Well-Being Rank	Health & Safety Rank
1	Detroit, MI	58.13	1	7
2	Gulfport, MS	57.76	2	8
3	Brownsville, TX	57.22	9	2
4	Cleveland, OH	53.79	3	22
5	Shreveport, LA	52.63	8	17
6	Laredo, TX	51.65	30	6
7	Augusta, GA	50.82	5	76
8	New Orleans, LA	50.81	10	46
9	Corpus Christi, TX	50.54	49	4
10	Birmingham, AL	50.48	35	9
11	St. Louis, MO	50.44	29	10
12	Fort Smith, AR	50.25	77	1
13	Memphis, TN	50.14	22	23
14	Philadelphia, PA	49.94	7	66
15	Los Angeles, CA	49.48	24	21
16	Fresno, CA	49.32	23	29
17	Baton Rouge, LA	49.25	18	43
18	Las Cruces, NM	49.01	32	24
19	New York, NY	48.84	6	100
20	Newark, NJ	48.79	14	67
21	Jackson, MS	48.46	16	74
22	Houston, TX	48.37	59	5
23	Little Rock, AR	47.90	28	47
24	Baltimore, MD	47.80	15	91
25	Columbia, SC	47.77	4	131
26	Indianapolis, IN	47.74	19	75
27	San Bernardino, CA	47.66	31	44
28	Wilmington, DE	47.53	17	90
29	Dover, DE	47.51	11	112
30	Miami, FL	47.38	43	26
31	El Paso, TX	47.37	48	19
32	San Antonio, TX	47.36	53	13
33	Hialeah, FL	47.33	57	12
34	Montgomery, AL	47.28	20	89
35	Las Vegas, NV	47.18	37	32
36	Richmond, VA	46.69	13	119
37	Mobile, AL	46.29	47	36
38	Toledo, OH	46.06	34	68
39	Lubbock, TX	45.99	69	18
40	Dallas, TX	45.97	60	20
41	Columbus, GA	45.77	27	92
42	North Las Vegas, NV	45.58	44	53
43	Atlanta, GA	45.58	21	122
44	Rochester, NY	45.52	26	99
45	Tulsa, OK	45.44	79	11
46	Albuquerque, NM	45.20	56	42
47	Springfield, MO	45.17	129	3
48	Cincinnati, OH	45.15	42	69
49	Lewiston, ME	45.09	61	40
50	Newport News, VA	44.85	58	52

Spoiler: The Rest of the cities

Overall Rank*	City	Total Score	Economic Well-Being Rank	Health & Safety Rank
51	New Haven, CT	44.54	12	154
52	Chattanooga, TN	44.50	75	33
53	Milwaukee, WI	44.49	51	65
54	Akron, OH	44.44	40	96
55	San Francisco, CA	44.41	86	14
56	Norfolk, VA	44.39	39	97
57	Buffalo, NY	44.35	36	101
58	Tucson, AZ	44.19	66	34
59	Fayetteville, NC	44.18	55	63
60	Amarillo, TX	44.07	91	15
61	Long Beach, CA	44.05	38	104
61	Bridgeport, CT	44.05	33	121
63	Oklahoma City, OK	43.92	80	30
64	Honolulu, HI	43.90	64	50
65	Huntington, WV	43.64	65	58
66	Bakersfield, CA	43.63	62	60
67	Glendale, AZ	43.54	82	35
68	Stockton, CA	43.14	50	98
69	Providence, RI	42.76	25	143
70	Chicago, IL	42.68	41	132
71	Denver, CO	42.57	83	56
72	Reno, NV	42.55	119	16
73	Portland, OR	42.44	78	61
74	Rapid City, SD	42.35	112	38
75	Kansas City, MO	42.33	92	49
76	Burlington, VT	42.31	70	79
77	Modesto, CA	42.11	52	118
78	Louisville, KY	42.09	72	82
79	Oakland, CA	42.09	67	85
80	Phoenix, AZ	42.09	89	57
81	Salem, OR	41.94	107	55
82	Grand Prairie, TX	41.38	105	54
83	Knoxville, TN	41.35	116	39
84	Greensboro, NC	41.34	90	71
85	Spokane, WA	41.32	122	28
86	Tallahassee, FL	41.02	68	111
87	Wichita, KS	40.94	115	48
88	Columbus, OH	40.91	63	125
89	St. Paul, MN	40.86	71	109
90	Sacramento, CA	40.84	54	137
91	Jacksonville, FL	40.83	84	94
92	Arlington, TX	40.73	114	59
93	Garland, TX	40.71	97	83
94	Irving, TX	40.71	118	51
95	Fort Worth, TX	40.70	94	84
96	Fort Lauderdale, FL	40.64	74	116
97	Nashville, TN	40.58	100	78
98	Salt Lake City, UT	40.44	137	25
99	Winston-Salem, NC	40.43	99	80
100	Anaheim, CA	40.41	139	27
101	Tampa, FL	40.40	76	115
102	Washington, DC	40.35	45	155
103	Oxnard, CA	40.10	101	88
104	Boston, MA	39.98	46	161
105	Grand Rapids, MI	39.97	93	102
106	Fort Wayne, IN	39.82	81	126
107	Anchorage, AK	39.37	123	70
108	Missoula, MT	39.27	154	37
109	Tacoma, WA	39.03	149	31
110	Ontario, CA	39.02	87	130
111	Aurora, CO	39.02	102	113
112	Orlando, FL	38.89	108	106
113	Billings, MT	38.84	153	45
114	Minneapolis, MN	38.63	88	136
115	Vancouver, WA	38.56	150	41
116	Santa Ana, CA	38.38	131	81
117	West Valley City, UT	38.35	145	62
118	Charleston, WV	38.25	133	77
119	Santa Clarita, CA	38.24	104	128
120	Des Moines, IA	38.24	106	124
121	Garden Grove, CA	37.91	143	72
122	Moreno Valley, CA	37.88	73	156
123	Nampa, ID	37.74	113	129
124	Santa Rosa, CA	37.60	117	117
125	Fontana, CA	37.57	96	141
126	Tempe, AZ	37.30	126	105
127	Henderson, NV	37.29	110	135
128	Manchester, NH	37.27	98	145
129	Omaha, NE	37.19	127	108
130	Worcester, MA	37.16	95	149
131	Riverside, CA	37.15	120	127
132	Charlotte, NC	37.11	109	138
133	Seattle, WA	37.05	148	73
134	Colorado Springs, CO	36.99	140	93
135	Mesa, AZ	36.98	124	120
136	Austin, TX	36.97	146	87
137	Jersey City, NJ	36.81	103	147
138	Glendale, CA	36.80	144	95
139	Charleston, SC	36.79	85	160
140	St. Petersburg, FL	36.77	136	103
141	Huntsville, AL	36.59	111	144
142	Casper, WY	36.55	157	86
143	Cheyenne, WY	36.13	168	64
144	Portland, ME	35.74	147	123
145	Lexington-Fayette, KY	35.58	125	140
146	Pittsburgh, PA	35.20	121	151
147	Port St. Lucie, FL	35.07	152	114
148	Cape Coral, FL	34.56	130	152
149	Pembroke Pines, FL	34.08	155	133
150	Yonkers, NY	33.96	142	148
151	Lincoln, NE	33.82	151	134
152	San Diego, CA	33.54	134	158
153	Boise, ID	33.44	172	107
154	Aurora, IL	33.37	128	172
155	Juneau, AK	33.22	177	110
156	Chula Vista, CA	33.22	132	170
157	San Jose, CA	33.15	138	165
158	Oceanside, CA	32.96	135	168
159	Peoria, AZ	32.17	159	150
160	Fargo, ND	32.11	169	146
161	Durham, NC	31.90	160	153
162	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	31.75	156	164
162	Cedar Rapids, IA	31.75	141	177
164	Nashua, NH	31.28	174	139
165	Sioux Falls, SD	31.27	167	159
166	Plano, TX	30.94	178	142
167	Chandler, AZ	30.94	163	162
168	Raleigh, NC	30.72	162	167
168	Scottsdale, AZ	30.72	166	166
170	South Burlington, VT	30.71	164	169
171	Madison, WI	30.71	170	157
172	Warwick, RI	30.44	161	175
173	Virginia Beach, VA	29.92	165	174
174	Chesapeake, VA	29.87	158	180
175	Gilbert, AZ	29.16	175	171
176	Irvine, CA	28.47	173	179
177	Huntington Beach, CA	27.92	176	176
178	Fremont, CA	27.72	171	181
179	Pearl City, HI	26.98	180	173
180	Bismarck, ND	26.51	179	178
181	Overland Park, KS	26.04	182	163
182	Columbia, MD	24.16	181	182

How they figured it out​

Methodology​

In order to determine the cities with the neediest populations, WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across two key dimensions, “Economic Well-Being” and “Health & Safety.”

We evaluated those dimensions using 28 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of economic disadvantage. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available at the state level only.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. In determining our sample, we considered only the city proper in each case and excluded cities in the surrounding metro area.

Economic Well-Being - Total Points: 60​

• Child Poverty Rate: Triple Weight (~7.83 Points)
• Adult Poverty Rate: Triple Weight (~7.83 Points)
• Unemployment Rate: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
• Underemployment Rate: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
• Homelessness Rate: Triple Weight (~7.83 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the number of homeless persons per 1,000 residents.
• Presence of Homeless Criminalization Laws: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
  Note: This binary metric considers the presence or absence of such legislation.
• Change in Family Homelessness (2023 vs 2022): Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
• Well-Being Index: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
  Note: This metric refers to the Sharecare Community Well-Being Index Score.
• Consumer Bankruptcy Rate: Half Weight (~1.30 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the number of nonbusiness bankruptcy filings per capita.
• Foreclosure Rate: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
• Share of Owner-Occupied Housing Units Spending at Least 35% of Their Household Income on Housing: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
• Share of Delinquent Debtors: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
• Median Credit Score: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
• High School Dropout Rate: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
• Undereducated Rate: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the share of population aged 25 and over who did not graduate from high school.
• Share of Children Eligible for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)
• “Economic Security” Ranking: Half* Weight (~1.30 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the state’s policy potential to improve the economic security of workers, families and retirees and is based on the Economic Security Scorecard produced by the WOW (Wider Opportunities for Women) nonprofit organization.
• Economic Mobility: Full Weight (~2.61 Points)

Health & Safety - Total Points: 40​

• Uninsured Rate: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the share of residents without health insurance coverage.
• Food Insecurity Rate: Double Weight (~7.27 Points)
• Share of Homes with Inadequate Plumbing: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the share of occupied housing units without complete plumbing facilities.
• Share of Homes with Inadequate Kitchens: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the share of occupied housing units without complete kitchen facilities.
• Share of Severely Overcrowded Homes: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the share of occupied housing units that are considered “severely overcrowded,” meaning more than 1.5 persons occupy each room.
• Share of Offline Homes: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the share of households lacking a computer and broadband Internet service.
• Share of Adults Who Needed to See a Doctor but Couldn’t: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
  Note: This metric refers to the share of adults who needed to see a doctor in the past year, but couldn’t because of costs.
• Share of Depressed Adults: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the share of adults who were diagnosed with depression.
• Suicide Rate: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
• Crime Rate: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of July 29, 2024 from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, Chmura Economics & Analytics, County Health Rankings, National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, National Alliance to End Homelessness, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Equality of Opportunity Project, Feeding America, Wider Opportunities for Women, ATTOM, a property data provider - U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, Sharecare Community Well-Being Index and TransUnion.

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