Richlands has been named the poorest town in Virginia for 2024. Richlands, with a population of 5,266, has a poverty rate of 25.0% and a median household income of just $35,959, making it the lowest among all Virginia towns assessed in the latest reports.
How Richlands Compares
- Poverty Rate: 25.0%
- Median Income: $35,959
- People in Poverty: 1,315
While other towns and cities in Virginia also face significant economic challenges-such as Wytheville, Martinsville, Danville, and Radford-Richlands stands out due to its combination of high poverty rate and low median income.
Other Notably Impoverished Towns in Virginia
- Wytheville: 27.3% poverty rate, $39,459 median income
- Blacksburg: 45.1% poverty rate (influenced by student population), $42,012 median income
- Martinsville: 24.6% poverty rate, $39,127 median income
- Danville: 25.3% poverty rate, $41,484 median income
Context
These rankings are based on a combination of factors, including poverty rates, median household incomes, and the number of residents living below the poverty line. While larger cities like Roanoke and Danville face high numbers of people in poverty, smaller towns like Richlands have the highest poverty rates relative to their population size.
Richlands currently holds the distinction of being the poorest town in Virginia, reflecting ongoing economic challenges for many residents in this part of the state.
Sources:
- https://247wallst.com/income/2024/05/11/towns-in-virginia-with-the-worst-poverty/
- https://hdpulse.nimhd.nih.gov/data-portal/_social/poverty/table?statefips=51&demo=00008
- https://wfirnews.com/news/star-city-declared-poorest-big-city-in-virginia
- https://www.roadsnacks.net/poorest-places-in-virginia/