Philadelphia once again poorest big city in the United States, census data shows

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — The latest U.S. Census data shows Philadelphia is once again America’s poorest big city.

The city improved in 2024, when the poverty rate dropped below 20% for the first time since at least 1979.

Census data for 2025 shows it went back up to 20.4% of Philadelphians living below the poverty level.

For a family of four, that is a yearly income of $32,649.

New York and Houston are tied for the second poorest big cities.