49. Arkansas
> Median household income: $41,995
> Population: 2,978,204 (18th lowest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 5.2% (24th highest)
> Poverty rate: 19.1% (4th highest)

Goods and services in Arkansas cost less on average than almost anywhere else in the country. While the relative affordability certainly helps low income households, state residents are still quite poor. The typical household earns $41,995 a year, second lowest after Mississippi. Also, 19.1% of people live in poverty, the fourth highest poverty rate of any state. Homes tend to have relatively low values to match the low incomes. At just $120,700, the typical home in Arkansas is valued at more than $70,000 below the national benchmark of $194,500.

ASJ

Which is the richest state?

48. West Virginia
> Median household income: $42,019
> Population: 1,844,128 (13th lowest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 6.7% (the highest)
> Poverty rate: 17.9% (7th highest)

The typical West Virginia household earns $42,019, compared to the national median income of $55,775. Individuals struggling to find work who live on little to no income contribute to low household incomes in West Virginia. Of workers in the state, 6.7% were unemployed in 2015, the highest annual unemployment rate of any state.

West Virginia’s population is one of the largest recipients of government assistance programs such as SNAP, which each year help millions of people cope with poverty. Of households in the state, 16.0% use food stamps, the ninth highest share.

47. Alabama
> Median household income: $44,765
> Population: 4,858,979 (24th highest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 6.1% (8th highest)
> Poverty rate: 18.5% (5th highest)

Alabama is one of the poorest states in the nation with a median household income of $44,765 a year. However, this figure is notably higher than in 2014, when the median income, adjusted for inflation, was $42,895.

Like in many of the poorest states, Alabama’s poverty rate of 18.5% is among the highest of all states. Other problems the state faces are a high jobless rate and a high proportion of households relying on food stamps. Last year, 6.1% of workers were unemployed, the eighth highest jobless rate of any state. With low incomes, home values are also low in Alabama. The median home is worth $134,100, or more than $60,000 below the national benchmark of $194,500.

46. Kentucky
> Median household income: $45,215
> Population: 4,425,092 (25th lowest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 5.4% (20th highest)
> Poverty rate: 18.5% (5th highest)

Like most states, Kentucky’s median household income of $45,215 a year has increased since 2014, when the median income, adjusted for inflation, was $43,014 a year. Residents are still quite poor, however. Kentucky’s poverty rate of 18.5% is the fifth highest poverty rate of all states. While no guarantee, a college degree substantially improves the odds of finding a job with a good wage. In Kentucky, just 23.3% of adults have a bachelor’s degree, considerably lower than the national college attainment rate of 30.6%.

45. New Mexico
> Median household income: $45,382
> Population: 2,085,109 (15th lowest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 6.6% (3rd highest)
> Poverty rate: 20.4% (2nd highest)

New Mexico’s 2015 median household income remained unchanged from 2014, reflecting little improvement in the residents’ standard of living. The typical New Mexico household earns $45,382 a year, well below the national median income of $55,775. Like in many of the poorest states, poverty also continues to be a major problem in New Mexico. The state’s poverty rate of 20.4% is the second highest in the country.

44. Louisiana
> Median household income: $45,727
> Population: 4,670,724 (25th highest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 6.3% (6th highest)
> Poverty rate: 19.6% (3rd highest)

In addition to one of the lowest median household incomes, Louisiana has the third highest poverty rate in the country at 19.6%. Further, some state households earn incomes well below the poverty level. As many as one in 10 households earn $10,000 or less a year, the second highest such share of any state. Workers out of a job likely helped reduce median incomes in the state. At 6.3%, the state’s 2015 unemployment rate was sixth highest of all states.

Statewide, homes are valued at just $155,600, or more than $30,000 below the national benchmark of $194,500.

43. South Carolina
> Median household income: $47,238
> Population: 4,896,146 (23rd highest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 6.0% (10th highest)
> Poverty rate: 16.6% (11th highest)

The typical household in South Carolina makes $47,238 a year, eighth lowest of all states. However, this figure is up significantly from 2014, when the median income, adjusted for inflation, was $45,277. Like in many of the poorest states, poverty remains a major problem. South Carolina’s poverty rate of 16.6% is 11th highest of any state. The state also faces a high jobless rate. In 2015, 6.0% of workers were unemployed, the 10 highest rate nationally.

Homes values in South Carolina, at just $148,600, are more than $40,000 below the national median home value of $194,500. While the low home values mirror the state’s low incomes, they also speak to the low cost of living in the state, which on average is nearly 10% cheaper than across the nation.

42. Tennessee
> Median household income: $47,275
> Population: 6,600,299 (17th highest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 5.8% (14th highest)
> Poverty rate: 16.7% (10th highest)

As was the case in most states, Tennessee’s median household income of $47,275 increased significantly from 2014, when the median income was $44,403. Still, Tennesseans are not wealthy. In addition to one of the lowest median household incomes, 16.7% of people live in poverty, the 10th highest poverty rate of all states.

Government programs help millions of impoverished Americans make ends meet, especially in the nation’s poorest states. In Tennessee, 17.6% of households rely on food stamps, a higher percentage than in all but two other states.

41. North Carolina
> Median household income: $47,830
> Population: 10,042,802 (9th highest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 5.7% (15th highest)
> Poverty rate: 16.4% (12th highest)

North Carolina is one of the poorest states in the nation with a median household income of $47,830 a year. This figure is notably higher than in 2014, however, when median income, adjusted for inflation, was $46,585. Despite the improvement, poverty is still high in the state. At 16.4%, the state’s poverty rate is 12th highest of all states.

Low incomes tend to accompany low home values — and North Carolina is a case in point. Statewide, homes are valued at just $160,100, or more than $30,000 below the national median value of $194,500.

40. Idaho
> Median household income: $48,275
> Population: 1,654,930 (12th lowest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 4.1% (12th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 15.1% (20th highest)

While Idaho households tend to earn incomes well below the national median income of $55,775, the state’s job market is relatively healthy. Idaho’s 2015 unemployment rate of 4.1% was 12th lowest of all states, and exceptionally low compared with other low income states. Some portion of residents earn very high incomes in every state. In Idaho, however, only 2.7% of households earn $200,000 or more, nearly the lowest of any state. By contrast, 5.8% of households nationwide earn such high incomes.

39. Oklahoma
> Median household income: $48,568
> Population: 3,911,338 (23rd lowest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 4.2% (15th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 16.1% (13th highest)

The typical Oklahoma household earns $48,568 in a year, well below the national median income of $55,775. With lower incomes, home values are also low. Statewide, the median home value is just $126,800, more than $60,000 below the national median home value of $194,500.

A college education opens doors to more and higher paying job opportunities. In Oklahoma, fewer than one in four adults have a bachelor’s degree, one of the lowest proportions of all states. This could partially explain the relatively low incomes in the state.

38. Florida
> Median household income: $49,426
> Population: 20,271,272 (3rd highest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 5.4% (20th highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.7% (16th highest)

The typical Florida household earns $49,426, well below the national median income of $55,775. The housing crisis slammed Florida harder than most states. While home values in the state rose from $162,700 in 2014 to $179,800 in 2015, the value remains $10,000 below the national median value of $194,500.

Wages rose across the nation and in most states, but the distribution of that income has worsened. Income distribution in Florida is especially unequal — the Gini coefficient pegs the state fifth worst for income inequality.

37. Montana
> Median household income: $49,509
> Population: 1,032,949 (7th lowest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 4.1% (12th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 14.6% (24th highest)

The typical Montana household earns $49,509, well below the national median income of $55,775. While household income is lower than the national income level, home values in the state are relatively high. The median value of a home in the state is $209,500, higher than the national median home value of $194,500.

The percentage of Montana adults who have at least a high school diploma increased to 93.5%, now the highest share of any state. The state’s bachelor’s attainment rate of just under 30% is inline with the national attainment rate.

36. Missouri
> Median household income: $50,238
> Population: 6,083,672 (18th highest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 5.0% (24th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 14.8% (21st highest)

Missouri’s unemployment rate dropped by 1.2 percentage points in 2015 compared to 2014, nearly the largest improvement of any state. However, at 5.0%, the state’s unemployment rate is still just slightly below the national jobless rate of 5.2%. As in many other relatively low income states, Missouri’s median home value of $147,800 is more than $40,000 below the national benchmark of $194,500.

35. Indiana
> Median household income: $50,532
> Population: 6,619,680 (16th highest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 4.8% (20th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 14.5% (25th highest)

The typical Indiana household earns about $5,000 less than the national median income level. Low incomes often occur in places with low levels of education. In Indiana, 24.9% of adults have a bachelor’s degree, one of the lowest college attainment rates in the country and more than 5 percentage points below the national rate. Statewide, homes have relatively low values at a median of just $131,000, or more than $60,000 below the national median home value of $194,500.

34. Ohio
> Median household income: $51,075
> Population: 11,613,423 (7th highest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 4.9% (22nd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 14.8% (21st highest)

Ohio has a median household income of $51,075, about $4,700 less than the national median income. Places with lower incomes tend to have less valuable real estate. In Ohio, homes are valued relatively low at just $136,400, or more than $50,000 below the national benchmark of $194,500. Low incomes in the state may be tied to the relatively small share of adults with a college education. In Ohio, just 26.8% of adults have a bachelor’s degree. Conditions may be improving slightly in the state as the share of Ohio’s population living in poverty has declined from 16.4% to 14.8%.

33. Michigan
> Median household income: $51,084
> Population: 9,922,576 (10th highest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 5.4% (20th highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.8% (15th highest)

Michigan’s median household income of $51,084 In many states with lower household incomes, poverty is also a problem. Michigan has the 15th highest poverty rate in the country at 15.8% of residents. A weak job market can be a drag on incomes. At 5.4%, the state had one of the highest unemployment rates in the country in 2015. Low incomes often correspond with low educational attainment, and Michigan is no exception. In Michigan, 27.8% of adults have a bachelor’s degree compared to a national college attainment rate of 30.6%.

32. Georgia
> Median household income: $51,244
> Population: 10,214,860 (8th highest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 5.9% (12th highest)
> Poverty rate: 17.0% (9th highest)

While not a perfect correlation, poverty tends to be more common in low income states. Georgia’s poverty rate of 17.0% is ninth highest in the country. To help alleviate conditions for those living below the poverty line, the government assists a disproportionate number of Georgia families. The 14.1% of state households relying on food stamps is the 15th highest such share in the country. The state’s low incomes are also likely tied to its relatively weak job market. At 5.9%, the state had one of the higher unemployment rates in the country in 2015.

Chief posted:

ASJ

Which is the richest state?

Ask a Guyanese they will say New York.

That is not true.

Chief posted:

ASJ

Which is the richest state?

Assalamo Alaikum, Chief we are getting to that, I myself do not know

31. Arizona
> Median household income: $51,492
> Population: 6,828,065 (14th highest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 6.1% (8th highest)
> Poverty rate: 17.4% (8th highest)

States with high unemployment tend to have lower incomes. Arizona’s 2015 annual unemployment rate of 6.1% was the eighth highest in the country. Matching another trend among low-income states, Arizona also has the eighth highest poverty rate in the country at 17.4%. The state’s low incomes may be tied to the relatively small share of adults in the state who pursued higher education. Just 27.7% of adults in Arizona have a bachelor’s degree.

30. Maine
> Median household income: $51,494
> Population: 1,329,328 (9th lowest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 4.4% (17th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.4% (22nd lowest)

An educated population tends to earn more. Despite the higher than average 91.7% share of adults with at least a high school education, incomes in Maine are relatively low. The typical household in the state earns $51,494 a year, roughly $4,300 less than the typical American household. Low incomes may be due to a large proportion of the state’s workforce being employed in a low-paying industry. In fact, 13.1% of Maine’s workforce is employed in the retail sector, the second highest share in the country.

29. Nevada
> Median household income: $52,431
> Population: 2,890,845 (16th lowest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 6.7% (the highest)
> Poverty rate: 14.7% (23rd highest)

Nevada’s median household income of $52,431 a year is not a significant improvement from 2014. Indeed, economic stagnation is a major problem in the state. The 6.7% unemployment rate in 2015 was the worst in the country. While nevada was hit hard by the housing crisis, the state’s home values today are relatively high. The typical home in the state is worth $221,400, compared to the national median home value of $194,500.

28. South Dakota
> Median household income: $53,017
> Population: 858,469 (5th lowest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 3.1% (3rd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.7% (24th lowest)

The typical South Dakota household earns only $53,017 a year, nearly $2,800 less than the typical American household. Despite lower incomes, the state’s economy is faring relatively well. Only 3.1% of the state’s workforce were unemployed in 2015, the third smallest rate of any state in the country. A dollar also goes a lot farther in South Dakota than in nearly every other state. Goods and services are 12% cheaper in the state than they are across the country as a whole.

27. Kansas
> Median household income: $53,906
> Population: 2,911,641 (17th lowest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 4.2% (15th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.0% (20th lowest)

The median household income in Kansas increased to $53,906 from $52,556 in 2014. Despite the increase, the typical household in the state makes about $1,900 less than the typical American household. Lower incomes may not be felt as much, however, as goods and services are 9.3% less expensive in Kansas than they are nationwide. A lower cost of living may partially explain the relatively low food stamp recipiency rate. Only 8.6% of area households rely on food stamps, the sixth smallest share of any state in the country.

asj posted:

37. Montana
> Median household income: $49,509
> Population: 1,032,949 (7th lowest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 4.1% (12th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 14.6% (24th highest)

The typical Montana household earns $49,509, well below the national median income of $55,775. While household income is lower than the national income level, home values in the state are relatively high. The median value of a home in the state is $209,500, higher than the national median home value of $194,500.

The percentage of Montana adults who have at least a high school diploma increased to 93.5%, now the highest share of any state. The state’s bachelor’s attainment rate of just under 30% is inline with the national attainment rate.

Montana is a beautiful state. I won't mind living there. Land is very expensive though.

26. Oregon
> Median household income: $54,148
> Population: 4,028,977 (24th lowest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 5.7% (15th highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.4% (17th highest)

The typical Oregon household earns $54,148 a year, roughly $1,600 less than the typical American household. In addition to lower than average incomes, the state faces a high jobless rate and a high food stamp recipiency rate. Last year, 5.7% of workers were unemployed, the 15th highest rate nationally. Even more striking, 18.9% of households currently rely on food stamps, the largest share of any state in the country.

25. Iowa
> Median household income: $54,736
> Population: 3,123,899 (21st lowest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 3.7% (9th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 12.2% (17th lowest)

Iowa’s 2015 median household income of $54,736 is effectively unchanged from the previous year, reflecting little improvement in the residents’ standard of living. Considering that incomes nationwide increased in 2015, state residents are relatively poorer — the typical Iowa household used to earn slightly more than the typical American household, but it now earns about $1,000 less. Though incomes are lower, a dollar goes further in Iowa than it does across the country. Goods and services are nearly 10% cheaper in Iowa than they are nationwide.

24. Nebraska
> Median household income: $54,996
> Population: 1,896,190 (14th lowest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 3.0% (2nd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 12.6% (19th lowest)

The typical Nebraska household earns $54,996 a year. Though the state’s median household income is nearly $1,000 lower than the corresponding national figure, it is significantly higher than it was in 2014, when the typical Nebraska household earned $52,707.

While Nebraska residents may not be the highest earners in the country, they benefit from several important economic advantages. Goods and services are 9.4% cheaper in the state than they are across the country, and the state’s 3% unemployment rate in 2015 was the second lowest in the country.

23. Wisconsin
> Median household income: $55,638
> Population: 5,771,337 (20th highest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 4.6% (19th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 12.1% (15th lowest)

The typical Wisconsin household earns $55,638 a year, only about $150 less than the median income nationwide. While incomes across the state are roughly in line with the nation as a whole, income inequality is far less pronounced in Wisconsin. With one of the lowest Gini coefficients of any state in the country, income is relatively evenly distributed across the Wisconsin’s 5,771,337 residents.

Homes across the state are worth less than homes across the country. The typical Wisconsin home is valued at just $168,300, or more than $20,000 below the national median home value of $194,500.

22. Texas
> Median household income: $55,653
> Population: 27,469,114 (2nd highest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 4.5% (18th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 15.9% (14th highest)

Only 82.4% of adults in Texas have completed high school, the second smallest share of any state in the country. While a high school education is a fundamental precursor to most careers, incomes in Texas are roughly in line with typical earnings nationwide. The typical household in Texas earns $55,653 a year, a significant increase from $53,105 in 2014. Nationwide, median household income has risen to $55,775 a year from $53,713 in 2014.

21. Pennsylvania
> Median household income: $55,702
> Population: 12,802,503 (6th highest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 5.1% (25th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.2% (21st lowest)

Increasing by about $2,500 from 2014, the $55,702 median household income in Pennsylvania remains roughly in line with the nationwide median income. Though home values in the state have increased dramatically last year, they remain well below the value of a typical American home. The median home value in the Keystone State is just $170,600, or more than $20,000 below the national median home value of $194,500.

20. Vermont
> Median household income: $56,990
> Population: 626,042 (2nd lowest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 3.7% (9th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.2% (4th lowest)

The typical Vermont household earns $56,990 a year, roughly $1,200 more than the typical American household. With a slightly higher than normal median household income, poverty is far less common in the Green Mountain State than it is across the country. Only 10.2% of Vermonters live below the poverty line, a smaller share than in all but three other states. Higher incomes and a lower poverty rate across the state is likely partially attributable to higher educational attainment rates. In Vermont, 36.9% of adults have at least a bachelor’s degree, higher than 30.6% of American adults with similar education.

19. Rhode Island
> Median household income: $58,073
> Population: 1,056,298 (8th lowest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 6.0% (10th highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.9% (25th lowest)

The typical Rhode Island household earns $58,073 a year compared to the $55,775 the typical American household earns. While incomes in Rhode Island tend to be slightly higher than they are across the country as a whole, state residents are more likely than the typical American to struggle in other ways. Economic problems the state faces include a high jobless rate and a high proportion of households relying on food stamps. Last year, 6.0% of workers were unemployed, the 10th highest rate nationally. Meanwhile, 16.2% of households rely on food stamps, the sixth highest rate.

18. Illinois
> Median household income: $59,588
> Population: 12,859,995 (5th highest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 5.9% (12th highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.6% (23rd lowest)

High median incomes and a low poverty rate demonstrate how Illinois has one of the most equitable income distributions in the country. Statewide, homes were valued relatively low, at just $180,300, or more than $10,000 below the national benchmark of $194,500. Illinois’s relatively high education attainment rate partly accounts for high incomes in the area. More than 32.9% of adults had at least a bachelor’s degree last year, compared to 30.6% nationally.

17. Wyoming
> Median household income: $60,214
> Population: 586,107 (the lowest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 4.2% (15th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.1% (10th lowest)

Wyoming was one of only two states to report an uptick in unemployment in 2015 compared to 2014. Despite a worsening job market, incomes across the state rose significantly. The typical Wyoming household earns $60,214 a year, up from $57,080 in 2014.

Higher levels of education typically lead to higher incomes. Despite having a higher median household income than most states, a relatively small share of adults in Wyoming are college educated. Only 26.2% of adults in the state have a bachelor’s degree, a considerably smaller share than the 30.6% share of American adults with similar education.

16. North Dakota
> Median household income: $60,557
> Population: 756,927 (4th lowest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 2.7% (the lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.0% (9th lowest)

For the second year in a row, North Dakota’s 2.7% annual unemployment rate was the lowest in the country. The strong job market across the state contributes to higher incomes. The typical household in the state earns $60,557 a year, nearly $5,000 more than the typical American household. While incomes across the state are relatively high, they have not increased significantly from the previous year, likely at least in part due to persistent low oil prices.

With higher than average incomes and low unemployment, a small share of North Dakota residents depend on government assistance. Only 6.9% of households in the state receive food stamps, roughly half the comparable nationwide share.

15. New York
> Median household income: $60,850
> Population: 19,795,791 (4th highest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 5.3% (23rd highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.4% (17th highest)

While the median household income in New York is relatively high — roughly $5,000 higher than the corresponding national figure — not all state residents are benefitting. Alongside higher incomes is a higher poverty rate. In fact, New York is one of a handful of rich states with a poverty rate above the 14.7% national rate — 15.4% of state residents live in poverty. With higher than average incomes and relatively pervasive poverty, New York has the worst income inequality in the country.

Those at the lower end of the income spectrum are further strained by a high cost of living. Goods and services are 15.7% more expensive in New York than they are across the country as a whole.