The cunninghams and ewells are both poor. what makes these families different from one another

The Cunninghams and Ewells from the novel To Kill a Mockingbird are both poor and belongs to the lowest circle of Maycomb society yet they differ in such a way that Walter Cunningham pays Atticus his services in goods than money. They are also a step above Ewells as they work harder in their land than just rely on welfare.