U.S. immigrant poverty rates swing from 7.5% to 71% by state, new data finds

4 States Trap 1 in 5 Immigrants in Extreme Poverty, Exposing America’s Immigrant Divide

KEY FINDINGS

• Connecticut records 71.1% of foreign-born residents in moderate poverty , more than 2.38 times higher than second-ranked Arkansas (29.8%) driving the state to the nation’s worst Immigrant Poverty Index score of 86.1.

• Southern states dominate immigrant poverty rankings, claiming six of the top 10 positions.

• New Hampshire offers the best economic outcomes for foreign-born residents nationwide, with just 14.8% in moderate poverty and 7.5% in extreme poverty, the lowest in the nation.

In New Hampshire, 7.5% of foreign-born residents live below the federal poverty line—the lowest rate in the nation. In Connecticut, 71.1% remain trapped in moderate poverty, earning too much to qualify for assistance yet too little to achieve financial stability. These two states, separated by just 150 miles, occupy opposite ends of a 56.4-point divide in immigrant economic outcomes. The disparity is not incidental; it reflects structural differences in labor markets, cost of living, and policy environments that shape whether foreign-born residents build wealth or struggle to survive.

This analysis by The Mendoza Law Firm ranks all 50 U.S. states using an Immigrant Poverty Index (0-100 scale). The index combines extreme poverty rates (below 100% of federal poverty level, weighted at 60 points) and moderate poverty rates (100-199% of poverty level, weighted at 40 points), drawing on Migration Policy Institute data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Higher scores indicate worse outcomes.

States With the Highest Overall Immigrant Poverty Index Scores

Rank	State	Extreme Poverty (%)	Moderate Poverty (%)	Poverty Index (100)
1	Connecticut	16.2	71.1	86.1
2	Louisiana	20.7	26.4	73.7
3	New Mexico	20.4	25.8	72.52
4	Kentucky	20.6	24.7	72.47
5	Mississippi	21.1	21.5	72.1
6	Alabama	18.4	19.5	63.3
7	Iowa	17.2	24.2	62.5
8	Oklahoma	16.2	23.9	59.5
9	Indiana	16.4	22.7	59.4
10	Texas	16.6	21.2	59.1
11	Michigan	17.2	17.7	58.9
12	North Dakota	17.3	17.1	58.8
13	Ohio	16.8	19.2	58.6
14	Tennessee	16.4	20.5	58.2
15	Idaho	15.9	22.6	57.9

The top-ranked state’s index score of 86.1 exceeds the second-ranked state by 12.4 points, driven by an unprecedented 71.1% moderate poverty rate. Six Southern states appear in the top 10, establishing a clear regional pattern of elevated immigrant economic hardship.

States With the Highest Extreme Poverty Rates Among Foreign-Born Residents

Extreme Poverty Rank	State	Below 100% Poverty (%)	Overall Index Rank
15	Oklahoma	16.2	8
14	Connecticut	16.2	1
13	New York	16.4	16
12	Tennessee	16.4	14
11	Indiana	16.4	9
10	Texas	16.6	10
9	Ohio	16.8	13
8	Michigan	17.2	11
7	Iowa	17.2	7
6	North Dakota	17.3	12
5	Alabama	18.4	6
4	New Mexico	20.4	3
3	Kentucky	20.6	4
2	Louisiana	20.7	2
1	Mississippi	21.1	5

Four states exceed the 20% threshold, meaning more than one in five foreign-born residents live below the federal poverty line. The top-ranked state’s 21.1% rate is nearly triple the national low of 7.5%.

States With the Highest Moderate Poverty Rates Among Foreign-Born Residents

Rank	State	100-199% Poverty (%)	Overall Index Rank
15	South Carolina	21.1	17
14	Texas	21.2	10
13	Nebraska	21.2	18
12	Mississippi	21.5	5
11	North Carolina	21.5	27
10	Idaho	22.6	15
9	Indiana	22.7	9
8	Oklahoma	23.9	8
7	Iowa	24.2	7
6	Kentucky	24.7	4
5	South Dakota	25.0	29
4	New Mexico	25.8	3
3	Louisiana	26.4	2
2	Arkansas	29.8	26
1	Connecticut	71.1	1

The top-ranked state’s 71.1% moderate poverty rate exceeds the second-ranked state by 41.3 percentage points, a gap larger than the entire spread of extreme poverty rates nationwide. This concentration traps nearly three-quarters of foreign-born residents in economic vulnerability.

States With the Lowest Immigrant Poverty Index Scores

Rank	State	Extreme Poverty (%)	Moderate Poverty (%)	Poverty Index
50	New Hampshire	7.5	14.8	29.7
49	Alaska	9.2	17.1	35.8
48	Virginia	10.2	15.0	37.4
47	Hawaii	10.7	12.7	37.6
46	Maryland	10.2	15.9	37.9
45	New Jersey	11.0	15.5	40.0
44	Washington	11.3	14.0	40.0
43	Vermont	11.7	12.2	40.1
42	Montana	12.4	15.6	44.0
41	Colorado	12.7	14.3	44.2

The best-performing state records just 7.5% extreme poverty and an index score of 29.7 , more than half the national median. All top 10 performers maintain moderate poverty rates below 18%, demonstrating achievable benchmarks for immigrant economic integration.

Complete State Rankings by Immigrant Poverty Index

Rank	State	Extreme Poverty (%)	Moderate Poverty (%)	Poverty Index
1	Connecticut	16.2	71.1	86.1
2	Louisiana	20.7	26.4	73.7
3	New Mexico	20.4	25.8	72.52
4	Kentucky	20.6	24.7	72.47
5	Mississippi	21.1	21.5	72.1
6	Alabama	18.4	19.5	63.3
7	Iowa	17.2	24.2	62.5
8	Oklahoma	16.2	23.9	59.5
9	Indiana	16.4	22.7	59.4
10	Texas	16.6	21.2	59.1
11	Michigan	17.2	17.7	58.9
12	North Dakota	17.3	17.1	58.8
13	Ohio	16.8	19.2	58.6
14	Tennessee	16.4	20.5	58.2
15	Idaho	15.9	22.6	57.9
16	New York	16.4	18.3	56.9
17	South Carolina	15.5	21.1	55.9
18	Nebraska	15.3	21.2	55.4
19	Arizona	15.4	20.4	55.3
20	Kansas	15.4	20.2	55.2
21	Pennsylvania	15.4	17.4	53.6
22	Utah	15.4	17.2	53.5
23	Florida	14.7	20.2	53.2
24	West Virginia	15.3	16.8	53.0
25	Wisconsin	14.6	19.2	52.3
26	Arkansas	12.5	29.8	52.3
27	North Carolina	13.6	21.5	50.8
28	Missouri	13.7	20.0	50.2
29	South Dakota	12.5	25.0	49.6
30	Wyoming	14.0	16.7	49.2
31	Rhode Island	13.4	19.6	49.1
32	Minnesota	13.8	17.5	49.1
33	Georgia	13.2	19.2	48.3
34	Maine	13.6	16.6	48.0
35	Delaware	13.7	15.2	47.5
36	Massachusetts	13.8	14.5	47.4
37	California	13.0	18.3	47.3
38	Oregon	12.8	18.2	46.6
39	Illinois	12.7	17.1	45.7
40	Nevada	12.0	20.3	45.5
41	Colorado	12.7	14.3	44.2
42	Montana	12.4	15.6	44.0
43	Vermont	11.7	12.2	40.1
44	Washington	11.3	14.0	40.0
45	New Jersey	11.0	15.5	40.0
46	Maryland	10.2	15.9	37.9
47	Hawaii	10.7	12.7	37.6
48	Virginia	10.2	15.0	37.4
49	Alaska	9.2	17.1	35.8
50	New Hampshire	7.5	14.8	29.7

The complete rankings reveal a 56.4-point spread from worst to best, with scores clustering between 45 and 60 for the majority of states.

Methodology

The Immigrant Poverty Index ranks all 50 U.S. states on a 0-100 scale using Migration Policy Institute data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. The index combines extreme poverty rates (foreign-born residents below 100% of the federal poverty level, weighted at 60 points) and moderate poverty rates (100-199% of poverty level, weighted at 40 points). Each state’s percentage is normalized against the national high—Mississippi’s 21.1% for extreme poverty and Connecticut’s 71.1% for moderate poverty, with higher scores indicating worse economic outcomes for foreign-born residents.

Data Sources

State Income Data: https://www.migrationpolicy.org/data/state-profiles/state/income/MN

Research Dataset: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DCzhNSt_wVBgAa6u8hj_n9aMeRYrtYIeQazuutMW_u4/edit?usp=sharing

Study By: https://mendozafirm.com

About The Mendoza Law Firm

The Mendoza Law Firm provides legal services in immigration law, personal injury, and international professional recruitment for U.S. companies seeking qualified professionals from abroad. The firm advocates for immigrant communities through legal representation and public education initiatives.