Philadelphia Returns to Being the Poorest Large City

After a one-year reprieve, Philadelphia has reclaimed the unwanted distinction of having the highest poverty rate among the 10 most populous U.S. cities. Philadelphia’s poverty rate of 20.4% in 2025 is higher than the 17.7% rate of Houston, which took the top spot in 2024, and New York City. Among other densely populated peer cities in the Northeast and Midwest, Philadelphia’s poverty rate is far lower than in Detroit and Cleveland, similar to that of Baltimore, and higher than in Boston and Washington.