Describe Walter Cunningham's family and explain their socio-economic status.

The Cunningham family can be described as poor, but respectable. While the Ewells are universally despised in Maycomb for being no good, lazy "white trash," the Cunninghams are further up the social scale on account of the fact that they're hard working. They may not have much in life, but what they do have comes from the sweat of their brow.
With their hard-working attitude comes a fierce pride and self-reliance. Unlike Bob Ewell, they wouldn't dream of accepting a welfare check or anything they might construe as charity. That's why Walter Cunningham always opts to pay Atticus for the legal work he does for him, even if it it's in stove-wood or hickory nuts. No matter how poor they may be, the Cunninghams will always pay their way, even if it's in kind, rather than cash.