Poverty Rate by State

Map

Table

Introduction

Poverty is defined as not having enough income to meet one’s basic needs. This is for items such as food, clothing, housing, and the like. Poverty can be caused by various social, economic, and political elements such as unemployment, limited access to education, systematic discrimination and marginalization to name a few.  

In the United States, the poverty guidelines are determined by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and are updated every year in the Federal Register; the poverty guidelines will change depending on the size of the household. These guidelines are used for administrative purposes, as they help to determine someone’s poverty status. In 2021, the poverty guidelines for the mainland United States were $12,880 for a single person over a year and $17,420 for two people, increasing to $44,660 for a house of eight and then an additional $4,540 for every person above that. Therefore, if a single individual were to have less than $12,880 a year, they would be considered to be in a state of poverty, and would possibly be eligible for certain federal and local programs. 

The Census Bureau found that 13.15% of the total population (or 42.31 million Americans) lived below the poverty line in 2020. However, this population is not distributed equally over the country; poverty rates differ greatly from one state to another.   

Learn for yourself how poverty rates can change by state by browsing the data in the charts.

#StatePoverty RateMedian Household IncomeMinimum WagePersonal Income per Capita
1Mississippi18.7%$46,637$7.25$44,796
2Louisiana17.8%$57,206$7.25$54,074
3New Mexico16.8%$53,463$11.5$49,396
4West Virginia15.8%$46,836$8.75$48,192
5Arkansas15.2%$50,784$11$50,943
6District of Columbia15%$90,640$10.5$98,317
7Alabama14.9%$56,929$7.25$48,540
8Kentucky14.9%$55,629$7.25$50,713
9Oklahoma14.3%$60,096$7.25$53,579
10Georgia14%$61,497$7.25$55,366
11South Carolina13.8%$62,542$7.25$52,047
12Tennessee13.6%$62,166$7.25$55,315
13Texas13.4%$67,404$7.25$60,427
14North Carolina12.9%$62,891$7.25$55,654
15Arizona12.8%$70,821$12.8$54,422
16New York12.7%$72,920$13.2$77,029
17Michigan12.6%$64,488$9.87$54,684
18Ohio12.6%$62,689$9.3$56,548
19Nevada12.5%$64,340$10.5$58,451
20Florida12.4%$59,734$10$61,529
21Montana12.4%$64,999$9.2$56,936
22Missouri12.1%$63,594$11.15$55,141
23Indiana11.6%$70,190$7.25$56,644
24South Dakota11.6%$73,893$9.95$65,647
25California11.5%$81,575$14$77,211
26Illinois11%$79,253$12$67,767
27Oregon11%$81,855$13.5$60,990
28Delaware10.9%$68,687$15.2$59,998
29Pennsylvania10.9%$72,627$7.25$64,370
30Kansas10.6%$75,979$7.25$59,660
31Maine10.6%$71,139$12.75$57,319
32Rhode Island10.6%$74,982$12.25$61,726
33Iowa10.2%$72,429$7.25$57,012
34North Dakota10.2%$68,882$7.25$65,324
35Idaho10.1%$76,918$7.25$52,021
36Wisconsin10%$69,943$7.25$59,064
37Connecticut9.7%$80,958$14$82,918
38Alaska9.6%$81,133$10.34$67,742
39Washington9.5%$87,648$14.49$72,163
40Massachusetts9.4%$86,566$14.25$83,229
41New Jersey9.4%$88,559$13$75,086
42Vermont9.4%$76,079$12.55$59,652
43Nebraska9.2%$78,109$9$62,776
44Virginia9.2%$80,268$11$66,396
45Wyoming9.2%$71,052$7.25$66,337
46Colorado9%$84,954$12.56$70,764
47Maryland9%$97,332$12.5$69,694
48Hawaii8.9%$82,199$10.1$58,967
49Minnesota8.3%$80,441$10.33$65,579
50Utah7.3%$87,649$7.25$56,268
51New Hampshire7%$88,841$7.25$74,229

Poverty Rate by State

Alabama

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14.9%

Ranked in the US

#7

Ranked in the US

#46

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#32

Personal Income per Capita

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$48,540

Ranked in the US

#49

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Alaska

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9.6%

Ranked in the US

#38

Ranked in the US

#12

$10.34

Ranked in the US

#22

Personal Income per Capita

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$67,742

Ranked in the US

#12

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Arizona

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12.8%

Ranked in the US

#15

Ranked in the US

#28

$12.8

Ranked in the US

#9

Personal Income per Capita

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$54,422

Ranked in the US

#41

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Arkansas

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15.2%

Ranked in the US

#5

Ranked in the US

#49

Ranked in the US

#18

Personal Income per Capita

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$50,943

Ranked in the US

#46

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

California

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11.5%

Ranked in the US

#25

Ranked in the US

#11

Ranked in the US

#4

Personal Income per Capita

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$77,211

Ranked in the US

#4

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Colorado

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Ranked in the US

#46

Ranked in the US

#8

$12.56

Ranked in the US

#11

Personal Income per Capita

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$70,764

Ranked in the US

#9

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Connecticut

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9.7%

Ranked in the US

#37

Ranked in the US

#13

Ranked in the US

#5

Personal Income per Capita

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$82,918

Ranked in the US

#3

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Delaware

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10.9%

Ranked in the US

#28

Ranked in the US

#32

$15.2

Ranked in the US

#1

Personal Income per Capita

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$59,998

Ranked in the US

#24

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

District of Columbia

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Ranked in the US

#6

Ranked in the US

#2

$10.5

Ranked in the US

#20

Personal Income per Capita

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$98,317

Ranked in the US

#1

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Florida

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12.4%

Ranked in the US

#20

Ranked in the US

#44

Ranked in the US

#25

Personal Income per Capita

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$61,529

Ranked in the US

#21

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Georgia

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Ranked in the US

#10

Ranked in the US

#42

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#33

Personal Income per Capita

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$55,366

Ranked in the US

#37

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Hawaii

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8.9%

Ranked in the US

#48

Ranked in the US

#9

$10.1

Ranked in the US

#24

Personal Income per Capita

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$58,967

Ranked in the US

#28

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Idaho

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10.1%

Ranked in the US

#35

Ranked in the US

#18

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#34

Personal Income per Capita

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$52,021

Ranked in the US

#45

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Illinois

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Ranked in the US

#26

Ranked in the US

#16

Ranked in the US

#15

Personal Income per Capita

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$67,767

Ranked in the US

#11

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Indiana

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11.6%

Ranked in the US

#23

Ranked in the US

#29

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#35

Personal Income per Capita

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$56,644

Ranked in the US

#33

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Iowa

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10.2%

Ranked in the US

#33

Ranked in the US

#25

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#36

Personal Income per Capita

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$57,012

Ranked in the US

#31

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Kansas

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10.6%

Ranked in the US

#30

Ranked in the US

#20

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#37

Personal Income per Capita

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$59,660

Ranked in the US

#25

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Kentucky

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14.9%

Ranked in the US

#8

Ranked in the US

#47

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#38

Personal Income per Capita

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$50,713

Ranked in the US

#47

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Louisiana

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17.8%

Ranked in the US

#2

Ranked in the US

#45

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#39

Personal Income per Capita

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$54,074

Ranked in the US

#42

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Maine

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10.6%

Ranked in the US

#31

Ranked in the US

#26

$12.75

Ranked in the US

#10

Personal Income per Capita

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$57,319

Ranked in the US

#30

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Maryland

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Ranked in the US

#47

Ranked in the US

#1

$12.5

Ranked in the US

#13

Personal Income per Capita

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$69,694

Ranked in the US

#10

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Massachusetts

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9.4%

Ranked in the US

#40

Ranked in the US

#7

$14.25

Ranked in the US

#3

Personal Income per Capita

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$83,229

Ranked in the US

#2

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Michigan

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12.6%

Ranked in the US

#17

Ranked in the US

#35

$9.87

Ranked in the US

#27

Personal Income per Capita

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$54,684

Ranked in the US

#40

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Minnesota

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8.3%

Ranked in the US

#49

Ranked in the US

#14

$10.33

Ranked in the US

#23

Personal Income per Capita

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$65,579

Ranked in the US

#16

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Mississippi

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18.7%

Ranked in the US

#1

Ranked in the US

#51

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#40

Personal Income per Capita

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$44,796

Ranked in the US

#51

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Missouri

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12.1%

Ranked in the US

#22

Ranked in the US

#37

$11.15

Ranked in the US

#17

Personal Income per Capita

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$55,141

Ranked in the US

#39

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Montana

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12.4%

Ranked in the US

#21

Ranked in the US

#34

$9.2

Ranked in the US

#29

Personal Income per Capita

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$56,936

Ranked in the US

#32

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Nebraska

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9.2%

Ranked in the US

#43

Ranked in the US

#17

Ranked in the US

#30

Personal Income per Capita

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$62,776

Ranked in the US

#19

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Nevada

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12.5%

Ranked in the US

#19

Ranked in the US

#36

$10.5

Ranked in the US

#21

Personal Income per Capita

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$58,451

Ranked in the US

#29

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

New Hampshire

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Ranked in the US

#51

Ranked in the US

#3

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#41

Personal Income per Capita

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$74,229

Ranked in the US

#7

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

New Jersey

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9.4%

Ranked in the US

#41

Ranked in the US

#4

Ranked in the US

#8

Personal Income per Capita

help

$75,086

Ranked in the US

#6

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

New Mexico

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16.8%

Ranked in the US

#3

Ranked in the US

#48

$11.5

Ranked in the US

#16

Personal Income per Capita

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$49,396

Ranked in the US

#48

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

New York

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12.7%

Ranked in the US

#16

Ranked in the US

#23

$13.2

Ranked in the US

#7

Personal Income per Capita

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$77,029

Ranked in the US

#5

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

North Carolina

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12.9%

Ranked in the US

#14

Ranked in the US

#38

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#42

Personal Income per Capita

help

$55,654

Ranked in the US

#36

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

North Dakota

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10.2%

Ranked in the US

#34

Ranked in the US

#31

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#43

Personal Income per Capita

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$65,324

Ranked in the US

#17

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Ohio

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12.6%

Ranked in the US

#18

Ranked in the US

#39

$9.3

Ranked in the US

#28

Personal Income per Capita

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$56,548

Ranked in the US

#34

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Oklahoma

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14.3%

Ranked in the US

#9

Ranked in the US

#43

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#44

Personal Income per Capita

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$53,579

Ranked in the US

#43

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Oregon

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Ranked in the US

#27

Ranked in the US

#10

$13.5

Ranked in the US

#6

Personal Income per Capita

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$60,990

Ranked in the US

#22

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Pennsylvania

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10.9%

Ranked in the US

#29

Ranked in the US

#24

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#45

Personal Income per Capita

help

$64,370

Ranked in the US

#18

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Rhode Island

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10.6%

Ranked in the US

#32

Ranked in the US

#21

$12.25

Ranked in the US

#14

Personal Income per Capita

help

$61,726

Ranked in the US

#20

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

South Carolina

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13.8%

Ranked in the US

#11

Ranked in the US

#40

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#46

Personal Income per Capita

help

$52,047

Ranked in the US

#44

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

South Dakota

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11.6%

Ranked in the US

#24

Ranked in the US

#22

$9.95

Ranked in the US

#26

Personal Income per Capita

help

$65,647

Ranked in the US

#15

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Tennessee

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13.6%

Ranked in the US

#12

Ranked in the US

#41

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#47

Personal Income per Capita

help

$55,315

Ranked in the US

#38

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Texas

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13.4%

Ranked in the US

#13

Ranked in the US

#33

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#48

Personal Income per Capita

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$60,427

Ranked in the US

#23

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Utah

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7.3%

Ranked in the US

#50

Ranked in the US

#5

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#49

Personal Income per Capita

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$56,268

Ranked in the US

#35

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Vermont

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9.4%

Ranked in the US

#42

Ranked in the US

#19

$12.55

Ranked in the US

#12

Personal Income per Capita

help

$59,652

Ranked in the US

#26

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Virginia

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9.2%

Ranked in the US

#44

Ranked in the US

#15

Ranked in the US

#19

Personal Income per Capita

help

$66,396

Ranked in the US

#13

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Washington

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9.5%

Ranked in the US

#39

Ranked in the US

#6

$14.49

Ranked in the US

#2

Personal Income per Capita

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$72,163

Ranked in the US

#8

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

West Virginia

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15.8%

Ranked in the US

#4

Ranked in the US

#50

$8.75

Ranked in the US

#31

Personal Income per Capita

help

$48,192

Ranked in the US

#50

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Wisconsin

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Ranked in the US

#36

Ranked in the US

#30

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#50

Personal Income per Capita

help

$59,064

Ranked in the US

#27

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita

Wyoming

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9.2%

Ranked in the US

#45

Ranked in the US

#27

$7.25

Ranked in the US

#51

Personal Income per Capita

help

$66,337

Ranked in the US

#14

Poverty Rate

Median Household Income

Minimum Wage

Personal Income per Capita