When it comes to economic hardship in Florida, one community stands out as the state’s poorest town: Gifford. Located in Indian River County near Vero Beach, Gifford has consistently ranked at the bottom in terms of median household income and poverty rates according to recent studies and U.S. Census Bureau data.
Key Statistics for Gifford
- Median household income: $22,353
- Poverty rate: 48.6% (compared to the statewide rate of 13.1%)
- Population: Over 4,400 residents
- Percentage of households receiving SNAP benefits: 46%
- Median home value: $115,300
These figures highlight the severe economic challenges facing Gifford, with nearly half of its residents living below the poverty line and a median income far below the Florida average of $61,777.
How Gifford Was Ranked
Gifford was identified as Florida’s poorest town by 24/7 Wall St., which analyzed five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey. The study considered towns with populations between 1,000 and 25,000 people and ranked them by median household income.
Broader Context
While Gifford holds the distinction for towns, other Florida communities also struggle with high poverty rates. For example, Quincy and Cocoa West have poverty rates of 46.7% and 37.9%, respectively, but Gifford’s combination of extremely low median income and high poverty rate make it the most economically disadvantaged town in the state.
Gifford’s economic struggles reflect broader issues of inequality and limited opportunity in some parts of Florida. With nearly half its population living in poverty and a median household income less than half the state average, Gifford stands as the poorest town in Florida according to the latest available data.
Sources:
- https://247wallst.com/income/2024/05/06/towns-in-florida-with-the-worst-poverty/
- https://www.iheart.com/content/2023-12-21-the-poorest-city-in-florida/
- https://www.iheart.com/content/2023-11-08-the-poorest-town-in-florida/
- https://www.sparklymaidmiami.com/blog/what-is-the-poorest-part-of-florida
- https://thecapitolist.com/floridas-poorest-town-has-an-annual-median-income-of-just-22000/