Lowes, Kentucky, has been named the poorest town in Kentucky for 2025, with a staggering poverty rate of 79.9%. This figure is dramatically higher than both the state average (16.1%) and the national average (12.5%), making Lowes the community with the highest concentration of poverty in the state.
Other Notably Impoverished Towns
- Gilbertsville (77.6% poverty rate)
- Hiseville (74.3%)
- New Hope (74.3%)
- Flat Lick (73.6%)
These towns all have poverty rates well above 70%, highlighting severe economic hardship in several small Kentucky communities.
City vs. Town Rankings
While some sources, such as 24/7 Wall Street, have previously named Glasgow as the poorest “town” based on median household income and a high poverty rate (nearly 27%), current 2025 data shows that much smaller communities like Lowes now surpass Glasgow in terms of poverty percentage. For larger cities, Morehead ranks as the poorest with a poverty rate of 34.5%.
Table: Poorest Towns in Kentucky (2025)
| Town | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|
| Lowes | 79.9% |
| Gilbertsville | 77.6% |
| Hiseville | 74.3% |
| New Hope | 74.3% |
| Flat Lick | 73.6% |
Lowes, Kentucky, holds the unfortunate distinction of being the poorest town in the state for 2025, with nearly 8 in 10 residents living below the poverty line.
Sources
[1] https://hdpulse.nimhd.nih.gov/data-portal/_social/poverty/table?statefips=21&demo=00009
[2] https://zipatlas.com/us/ky/city-comparison/highest-poverty.htm
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hoq6gNVrAo
[4] https://www.roadsnacks.net/poorest-places-in-kentucky/
[5] https://www.wnky.com/glasgow-ranked-poorest-kentucky-town/