Cleveland, according to the U.S Census Bureau: Crushed by the loss of steel and other manufacturing jobs, Cleveland has ranked high for poverty before ââ?¬â?? but never No. 1. That changed when a report from the U.S. Census Bureau recently rated it has the nation’s poorest big city, putting it ahead of Detroit, Miami and Newark, N.J. … The unwanted distinction is the latest in a litany of struggles for Cleveland, which appeared to be on the rebound over the past decade, with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Browns Stadium, Jacobs Field and Gund Arena.