Houston has the highest poverty rate among the country’s 10 most populous cities.
About 21.2% of Houston’s population lived below the poverty line last year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released Thursday. That means more than 500,000 Houstonians made less than the federal poverty income threshold, which is $15,940 for one person and $32,130 for a household of four.
Houston’s high rate put the city just ahead of Philadelphia’s 19.7% and New York City’s 18.0%. Houston’s ranking above Philadelphia fell within the 1.2% margin of error, meaning the two cities’ true positions could be swapped…