Discover the Poorest City in California

Before we delve into the details of the poorest city in California, we must give the metric used to determine this placement. The United States government collects data for future planning and investments each year. This data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS). The government can create estimates up to five years in advance to determine an area’s various housing, economic, social, and demographic characteristics through this data.

The latest edition of this survey was released in December 2022. It determined that a standard household income in the state of California is roughly $79K per year. This number may seem impressive, but it’s important to be mindful that even the most wealthy areas of the state, in which many tech giants and entertainment big-wigs reside, are included within this average. As you’ll soon discover, not all parts of The Golden State earn this much.

Top 5 Poorest Cities in California

The poorest city in California lies among a range of other economically challenged populations. To understand the extent of this city’s struggles, we must compare it to similar areas. Below is a list of the five poorest cities in California as of recent data, including other variables such as their unemployment rates and median household incomes. If some of these numbers surprise you, keep in mind that over a quarter of all California residents live in conditions that are below or around the poverty line.

What is the Poorest City in California?

The small and humble city of Huron was founded in 1888. Located in Fresno County, the city spans a mere 1.6 square miles of land. Though more recent statistics cannot determine whether this remains accurate, it had the highest proportion of Hispanic and Latino residents in the United States at the time of the 2000 Census. What makes Huron the poorest city in California, though, is a combination of a low median income in tandem with high poverty and unemployment rates.

You see, with the state’s average household income of roughly 79K per year, Huron’s humble 31K average pales in comparison. So much so that, statistically, it is 60% lower than the statewide average. Although, that doesn’t mean the citizens of Huron are unhappy with their humble lifestyle. Only a fifty-minute drive from the city of Fresno, it is an agricultural landscape jam-packed with hard-working residents. These people take pride in their homes without the need for any bells and whistles.

Poverty in Huron

Low median incomes can often work in tandem with high rates of poverty. Huron’s poverty rate is 41.3%, making up nearly half of the area’s residents. Remember, though, that such a small city likely also has a low cost of living. Just because the people residing in Huron are objectively impoverished does not necessarily mean they struggle to attain basic necessities. Still, with the statewide California poverty rate of 11.7% in 2021, Huron has a far more substantial rate.

Where is Huron, California Located on a Map?

Should you choose to visit Huron, California, know that it is a mere hop, skip, and jump away from Fresno. It is located within Fresno County, in the San Joaquin Valley region of Northern California. Small, humble, and teeming with agricultural landscapes, it is quite a beautiful place to drive through on your way to another major city.

There aren’t too many local sights or noteworthy tourist destinations, but the city is central to other, more bustling areas. Still, a stop in Huron can allow you to try their many fantastic Hispanic eateries, stroll through their local community park, and gain a richer understanding of agricultural living.