Despite being named the “most charitable state,” Mississippi is the poorest in the nation. More specifically, the state has the highest number of residents living in poverty and the lowest median household income in the country. These statistics pertain to the state as a whole, but what about cities within the state? In order to determine the state’s poorest cities, we turned to the website “Road Snacks.” The website recently conducted a study, which ranked all Mississippi cities with populations over 2,000. Taking into consideration factors such as poverty level, median household income, and unemployment rates, the following ten cities were determined to be the poorest in the state.
While Hollandale’s Leroy Percy State Park attracts numerous visitors throughout the year, many are unaware that 40.2% of residents are living in poverty.
58.6% of Tchula residents are living in poverty. Based on that alone, Tchula would have been ranked the 2nd poorest city in the state; however, the city’s unemployment rate, which is 20.3%, is substantially lower than most on the list.
In the past, Moorhead was a railroad town, believed to have played a huge role in the development of the blues. Today, 44.3% of the city’s residents are living in poverty.
Located in Bolivar County, 49.7% of residents are living in poverty; however, the unemployment rate is 26.7%, which is lower than most cities on this list.
At 91%, this town has the highest percentage of residents living in poverty; however, it should be taken into consideration that a vast majority of residents are college students, as University is the name for the area that encompasses the University of Mississippi campus.
Remember, just because a city is on this list it doesn’t mean the city isn’t worthy of a visit or unlivable. Most, if not all, places listed above have something spectacular to offer – from beautiful state parks to amazing festivals. Were you surprised by these rankings?
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Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for the past 25 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships, working for The Royal Obsession and Anatomie clothing. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as Parents & Kids Magazine and Girl Meets Strong. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
