How Florida’s Poorest County Compares to the Rest of the Nation

The United States is often celebrated for its economic successes throughout history. But, like Florida, every state has its own economy to deal with, which varies significantly.

Credit Karma examined which county is the poorest in each state, while also comparing them to the richest. Are you surprised by which Florida county made this list?

State-by-State County Analysis

Texas BBQ barn.
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To compile the list of the poorest counties in each state, Credit Karma measured factors including median household income, mean household income, and poverty rates. For comparison, they included the richest counties in each state based on the same guidelines. 

There are 3,143 counties and county equivalents in the United States. Delaware has the fewest counties (3), and Texas has the most (254). With that in mind, these are the statistically poorest (and richest) counties in each state.

1: Perry County, Alabama

Perry County, Alabama.
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  • Median household income: $23,875
  • Poverty rate: 36.1%

Shelby County is the richest county in Alabama, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $78,889
  • Poverty rate: 6.9%

2: Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska

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  • Median household income: $37,358
  • Poverty rate: 37.9%

Chugach Census Area is the richest county in Alaska, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $90,776
  • Poverty rate: 5.2%

3: Apache County, Arizona

Canyon de Chelly, Apache County, Arizona.
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  • Median household income: $33,967
  • Poverty rate: 34.4%

Maricopa County is the richest county in Arizona, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $67,799
  • Poverty rate: 12.7%

4: Phillips County, Arkansas

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  • Median household income: $33,724
  • Poverty rate: 31.3%

Benton County is the richest county in Arkansas, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $71,556
  • Poverty rate: 8.6%

5: Trinity County, California

Trinity County, California.
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  • Median household income: $41,780
  • Poverty rate: 23.2%

San Mateo County is the richest county in California, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $128,091
  • Poverty rate: 6.2%

6: Costilla County, Colorado

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  • Median household income: $34,732
  • Poverty rate: 26.6%

Douglas County is the richest county in Colorado, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $121,393
  • Poverty rate: 3.2%

7: Windham County, Connecticut

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  • Median household income: $67,365
  • Poverty rate: 11.5%

Fairfield County is the richest county in Connecticut, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $97,539
  • Poverty rate: 8.9%

8: Kent County, Delaware

Kent County, Delaware.
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  • Median household income: $60,117
  • Poverty rate: 13.2%

New Castle County is the richest county in Delaware, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $75,275
  • Poverty rate: 10.7%

9: Madison County, Florida

Madison County, Florida.
Photo Credit: Guy Bryant via stock.adobe.com.
  • Median household income: $35,240
  • Poverty rate: 29.8%

St. Johns County is the richest county in Florida, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $83,803
  • Poverty rate: 7.7%

10: Jenkins County, Georgia

Jenkins County, Millen, Georgia.
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  • Median household income: $25,712
  • Poverty rate: 34.5%

Forsyth County is the richest county in Georgia, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $112,834
  • Poverty rate: 5.2%

11: Hawaii County, Hawaii

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  • Median household income: $65,401
  • Poverty rate: 14.0%

Honolulu County is the richest county in Hawaii, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $87,722
  • Poverty rate: 8.4%

12: Madison County, Idaho

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  • Median household income: $44,419
  • Poverty rate: 26.7%

Teton County is the richest county in Idaho, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $73,274
  • Poverty rate: 6.9%

13: Alexander County, Illinois

Alexander County, Illinois.
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  • Median household income: $34,709
  • Poverty rate: 26.9%

DuPage County is the richest county in Illinois, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $94,930
  • Poverty rate: 6.2%

14: Crawford County, Indiana

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  • Median household income: $41,761
  • Poverty rate: 19.4%

Hamilton County is the richest county in Indiana, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $98,880
  • Poverty rate: 4.4%

15: Appanoose County, Iowa

Aerial view of farmland in Iowa.
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  • Median household income: $39,693
  • Poverty rate: 19.7%

Dallas County is the richest county in Iowa, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $88,368
  • Poverty rate: 5.2%

16: Chautauqua County, Kansas

Chautauqua County, Kansas.
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  • Median household income: $39,500
  • Poverty rate: 19.6%

Johnson County is the richest county in Kansas, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $91,650
  • Poverty rate: 4.9%

17: Wolfe County, Kentucky

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  • Median household income: $22,292
  • Poverty rate: 36.1%

Oldham County is the richest county in Kentucky, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $103,761
  • Poverty rate: 4.8%

18: East Carroll Parish, Louisiana

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  • Median household income: $24,551
  • Poverty rate: 50.7%

Ascension Parish is the richest county in Louisiana, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $82,594
  • Poverty rate: 10.0%

19: Piscataquis County, Maine

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  • Median household income: $42,083
  • Poverty rate: 17.3%

Cumberland County is the richest county in Maine, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $76,014
  • Poverty rate: 8.3%

20: Somerset County, Maryland

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  • Median household income: $44,980
  • Poverty rate: 20.0%

Howard County is the richest county in Maryland, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $124,042
  • Poverty rate: 5.1%

21: Hampden County, Massachusetts

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  • Median household income: $57,623
  • Poverty rate: 15.7%

Nantucket County is the richest county in Massachusetts, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $112,306
  • Poverty rate: 6.3%

22: Clare County, Michigan

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  • Median household income: $41,163
  • Poverty rate: 22.7%

Livingston County is the richest county in Michigan, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $84,274
  • Poverty rate: 5.3%

23: Mahnomen County, Minnesota

Photo Credit: JTrnka/Shutterstock.com.
  • Median household income: $45,398
  • Poverty rate: 21.0%

Carver County is the richest county in Minnesota, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $104,011
  • Poverty rate: 3.4%

24: Holmes County, Mississippi

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  • Median household income: $24,074
  • Poverty rate: 40.2%

Madison County is the richest county in Mississippi, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $71,621
  • Poverty rate: 10.6%

25: Oregon County, Missouri

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  • Median household income: $32,766
  • Poverty rate: 26.3%

St. Charles County is the richest county in Missouri, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $87,644
  • Poverty rate: 4.8%

26: Glacier County, Montana

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  • Median household income: $37,645
  • Poverty rate: 29.7%

Jefferson County is the richest county in Montana, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $71,779
  • Poverty rate: 6.5%

27: Pawnee County, Nebraska

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  • Median household income: $46,063
  • Poverty rate: 20.2%

Sarpy County is the richest county in Nebraska, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $83,051
  • Poverty rate: 5.6%

28: Mineral County, Nevada

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  • Median household income: $31,500
  • Poverty rate: 20.8%

Douglas County is the richest county in Nevada, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $71,415
  • Poverty rate: 7.5%

29: Coos County, New Hampshire

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  • Median household income: $48,945
  • Poverty rate: 11.7%

Rockingham County is the richest county in New Hampshire, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $93,962
  • Poverty rate: 4.6%

30: Cumberland County, New Jersey

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  • Median household income: $55,709
  • Poverty rate: 16.0%

Hunterdon County is the richest county in New Jersey, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $117,858
  • Poverty rate: 3.9%

31: McKinley County, New Mexico

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  • Median household income: $36,179
  • Poverty rate: 35.2%

Los Alamos County is the richest county in New Mexico, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $119,266
  • Poverty rate: 4.0%

32: Bronx County, New York

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  • Median household income: $41,895
  • Poverty rate: 27.0%

Nassau County is the richest county in New York, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $120,036
  • Poverty rate: 5.4%

33: Washington County, North Carolina

Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina.
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  • Median household income: $30,941
  • Poverty rate: 27.3%

Union County is the richest county in North Carolina, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $82,557
  • Poverty rate: 7.4%

34: Sioux County, North Dakota

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  • Median household income: $41,893
  • Poverty rate: 32.9%

Dunn County is the richest county in North Dakota, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $82,750
  • Poverty rate: 6.7%

35: Athens County, Ohio

Athens County, Ohio.
Photo Credit: Zack Frank via stock.adobe.com.
  • Median household income: $42,414
  • Poverty rate: 27.9%

Delaware County is the richest county in Ohio, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $111,411
  • Poverty rate: 4.8%

36: Adair County, Oklahoma

Adair County, Oklahoma.
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  • Median household income: $34,375
  • Poverty rate: 26.6%

Canadian County is the richest county in Oklahoma, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $73,591
  • Poverty rate: 7.4%

37: Malheur County, Oregon

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  • Median household income: $44,362
  • Poverty rate: 21.1%

Washington County is the richest county in Oregon, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $86,626
  • Poverty rate: 8.5%

38: Cameron County, Pennsylvania

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  • Median household income: $40,342
  • Poverty rate: 18.2%

Chester County is the richest county in Pennsylvania, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $104,161
  • Poverty rate: 6.3%

39: Providence County, Rhode Island

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  • Median household income: $62,323
  • Poverty rate: 14.0%

Bristol County is the richest county in Rhode Island, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $85,413
  • Poverty rate: 7.1%

40: Allendale County, South Carolina

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  • Median household income: $26,074
  • Poverty rate: 28.0%

Beaufort County is the richest county in South Carolina, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $71,430
  • Poverty rate: 9.3%

41: Todd County, South Dakota

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  • Median household income: $24,102
  • Poverty rate: 58.9%

Lincoln County is the richest county in South Dakota, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $84,260
  • Poverty rate: 5.0%

42: Hancock County, Tennessee

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  • Median household income: $28,234
  • Poverty rate: 31.1%

Williamson County is the richest county in Tennessee, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $111,196
  • Poverty rate: 4.7%

43: Presidio County, Texas

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  • Median household income: $22,716
  • Poverty rate: 39.9%

Rockwall County is the richest county in Texas, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $105,956
  • Poverty rate: 3.8%

44: Piute County, Utah

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  • Median household income: $29,125
  • Poverty rate: 19.1%

Summit County is the richest county in Utah, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $106,973
  • Poverty rate: 4.5%

45: Essex County, Vermont

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  • Median household income: $47,035
  • Poverty rate: 14.1%

Grand Isle County is the richest county in Vermont, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $81,667
  • Poverty rate: 6.3%

46: Radford City, Virginia

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  • Median household income: $34,576
  • Poverty rate: 39.3%

Falls Church City is the richest county in Virginia, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $146,922
  • Poverty rate: 2.0%

47: Whitman County, Washington

Whitman County, Washington.
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  • Median household income: $42,288
  • Poverty rate: 26.0%

King County is the richest county in Washington, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $99,158
  • Poverty rate: 8.4%

48: McDowell County, West Virginia

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  • Median household income: $26,072
  • Poverty rate: 32.8%

Jefferson County is the richest county in West Virginia, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $82,551
  • Poverty rate: 9.4%

49: Menominee County, Wisconsin

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  • Median household income: $47,188
  • Poverty rate: 28.3%

Waukesha County is the richest county in Wisconsin, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $88,985
  • Poverty rate: 5.0%

50: Niobrara County, Wyoming

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  • Median household income: $46,111
  • Poverty rate: 21.5%

Teton County is the richest county in Wyoming, and these are its stats:

  • Median household income: $87,053
  • Poverty rate: 6.5%

Poorest County in America

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Todd County is the poorest county in South Dakota and the entire U.S. Being home to financially struggling counties isn’t new to South Dakota; in 2011, Ziebach County held the title of the poorest county in America due to nearly 60% of the population living at or below the poverty line. 

One reason Ziebach County struggled was the harsh winter when seasonal construction jobs and prairie work halted. In 2023, experts warned that South Dakota’s long winter season continues to have a negative impact on the Mount Rushmore State’s businesses. Some areas in South Dakota had over 60 inches of snow, which was almost 24 inches above the typical rate. 

Virginia’s Wealthiest County

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Falls Church City is the richest county in the U.S., with a median household income of approximately $146,000. Virginia is considered so economically healthy that WalletHub ranked it as the best state to retire

Virginia is notably tax-friendly, as it doesn’t tax social security benefits for retirees. Also, for everyone living in the state, the cost of living is considered affordable compared to many other parts of the U.S. Virginia has a generally mild climate and the temperature doesn’t typically fall below 30 degrees during the winter, reducing the potential for hurt businesses due to harsh weather. 

Hope for Mississippi’s Economy

Swamp area in Mississippi.
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Holmes County is the poorest in Mississippi and the seventh-poorest county in the U.S. According to WorldAtlas, the Magnolia State ranks as the poorest state in the U.S., with a median household income of approximately $53,000

There’s hope when it comes to Mississippi’s economy. Between 2000 and 2022, the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) reportedly rose almost 20%. According to one expert, Mississippi handled the 2020 recession better than the Great Recession that occurred between 2008 and 2009. 

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