Poverty and poor health go hand in hand
Counties with more people in poverty have far more adults who say their health is fair or poor.
Counties with higher Poverty Rate tend to have higher Adults in Fair or Poor Health.
Very strong link: a correlation of 0.82 across 2,916 counties.CorrelationHow closely two metrics move together, from −1 to +1. Near +1: both rise together. Near −1: one rises as the other falls. Near 0: no clear link.More in the glossary →
Health researchers have long described a “health gradient”: people with lower incomes report worse health. The CDC’s county estimates show the same pattern place by place.
Each dot in the chart is one of 2,916 counties. The correlation between Poverty Rate and Adults in Fair or Poor Health is 0.82, a very strong relationship: about 68% of the differences in Adults in Fair or Poor Health from place to place line up with Poverty Rate. Ranked instead of measured, the link is 0.80.
The highest Adults in Fair or Poor Health is in Dimmit County, TX (41.9%), Zavala County, TX (41.6%) and Oglala Lakota County, SD (41.1%); the lowest is in Falls Church city, VA (10.4%), Douglas County, CO (10.7%) and Los Alamos County, NM (11.0%). The median place has 19.9% for Adults in Fair or Poor Health and 13.1% for Poverty Rate.
The biggest exceptions sit furthest from the trend line. Sutton County, TX, Garza County, TX and Foard County, TX have a much higher Adults in Fair or Poor Health than their Poverty Rate would predict, while San Juan County, CO, Faulk County, SD and Watauga County, NC have a much lower one.
This is a comparison across places, not proof that one causes the other: both can follow from something else, such as income, age or how urban a place is. Poverty Rate is from 2024 and Adults in Fair or Poor Health from 2023.
Highest Adults in Fair or Poor Health
| Place | Adults in Fair or Poor Health | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Dimmit County, TX | 41.9% | 41.1% |
| Zavala County, TX | 41.6% | 33.9% |
| Oglala Lakota County, SD | 41.1% | 57.6% |
| Starr County, TX | 40.8% | 33.5% |
| Zapata County, TX | 40.0% | 38.4% |
Lowest Adults in Fair or Poor Health
| Place | Adults in Fair or Poor Health | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Falls Church city, VA | 10.4% | 4.02% |
| Douglas County, CO | 10.7% | 3.77% |
| Los Alamos County, NM | 11.0% | 3.53% |
| Hinsdale County, CO | 11.3% | 4.08% |
| Pitkin County, CO | 11.3% | 7.8% |
Explore it yourself
- Open this comparison in the interactive chart to highlight places, change the metrics or colour by party.
- Full ranking and sources for Poverty Rate
- Full ranking and sources for Adults in Fair or Poor Health