These Virginia Towns has the Worst Poverty Ever

This post contains links that are affiliated with a company. If you buy something using these links, 247wallst may earn money.

It has been over 60 years since President Lyndon Johnson declared war on poverty, but poverty still exists in the United States. Between the past 30 years, the number of Americans living below the poverty line has ranged from 31.6 million to 48.8 million each year. During that time, the poverty rate in the United States reached a high of 15.9% per year and never dropped below 11.3%.

Poverty has impacts that go beyond just money and finances. The most recent Pulse Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau found that 38% of American adults who earn less than $25,000 reported feeling depressed or hopeless on most days. This is compared to 17% of all adults. Furthermore, 27% of adults in the lowest income bracket said they did not have enough food to eat in the past week. This is three times higher than the rate of food insufficiency among all adults.

The poverty line is the income level set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to determine if someone is considered to be living in poverty. In Virginia and most of the country, the poverty line is set at $15,060 per year for individuals and $31,200 per year for a family of four. In Virginia, 10.0% of the population live below these thresholds. In many towns across the state, the poverty rate is much higher.

Also Read: Listing the 10 Most ‘unaffordable’ Cities in America, Los Angeles is No. 1

Based on data from the Census’ 2022 American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. found the towns in Virginia with the highest poverty rates. We looked at all different types of places, such as cities, towns, and unincorporated communities, that have populations ranging from 5,000 to 50,000. We excluded areas from our analysis where 20% or more of the population are enrolled in a college or university because this can affect the economic situation in those places.

Out of the 35 places on this list, the poverty rates range from 13.8% to 27.3%. In almost all of these places, except for two, the average household earns less than the statewide median household income of $87,249.

Many people in these areas are experiencing financial difficulties because there are not enough job opportunities. In most places on this list, the average unemployment rate over the past five years is higher than Virginia’s jobless rate of 4.3%.

People with higher levels of education generally have higher incomes and more job security. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, people who have a bachelor’s degree typically earn 66% more money than people who only have a high school diploma. Furthermore, individuals who have completed high school are much more likely to be without a job compared to those who have a college degree. In most of the towns on this list, the percentage of adults with a bachelor’s degree is lower than the statewide bachelor’s degree attainment rate of 41.0%.

The United States is a very important player in the global economy. The U.S. dollar has been the most important currency in the world since the end of World War II. The American economy is responsible for more than a quarter of the economic activity worldwide. Even though there are many benefits, over 10% of Americans have been living in poverty for many years. People who are experiencing significant financial difficulties are greatly affected in many ways. Being poor can have a negative effect on mental health, social relationships, and how long someone lives.