Revealed: These Are the Poorest States in America

The constantly rising inflation rates are gradually diminishing the actual wages of diligent workers throughout the country. Nevertheless, it is a fact that people with more wealth have been able to manage the surging expenses much more easily. Interestingly, in some states of the United States, there are more families with considerably higher incomes, while in others, larger families are grappling with extremely low incomes. 

It is surprising to know that 31 states, including seven of the top 10 most populous states, have a median household income lower than the national average of $74,755. Moreover, 21 of these states have a poverty rate that is higher than the national average. 

Our team at CEOWORLD magazine has conducted a detailed analysis of the median annual household earnings for each state in the United States using the 2022 American Community Survey by the U.S. Census Bureau. Based on our findings, we have identified 31 states where the median household income falls below the national average, providing valuable insights into the poor states in the country. 

1. Mississippi

• • Median household annual income: $52,719
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 93,168 (8.1% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 544,104 (19.1%)
  • Population: 2,940,057

2. West Virginia

• • Median household annual income: $54,329
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 52,185 (7.1% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 308,825 (17.9%)
  • Population: 1,775,156

3. Louisiana

• • Median household annual income: $55,416
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 143,940 (7.9% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 829,565 (18.6%)
  • Population: 4,590,241

4. Arkansas

• • Median household annual income: $55,432
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 88,467 (7.3% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 496,311 (16.8%)
  • Population: 3,045,637

5. Kentucky

• • Median household annual income: $59,341
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 123,697 (6.8% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 722,865 (16.5%)
  • Population: 4,512,310

6. Oklahoma

• • Median household annual income: $59,673
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 100,950 (6.4% of households)
  •  People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 610,254 (15.7%)
  • Population: 4,019,800

7. Alabama

• • Median household annual income: $59,674
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 152,705 (7.6% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 800,395 (16.2%)
  • Population: 5,074,296

8. New Mexico

• • Median household annual income: $59,726
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 62,451 (7.4% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 364,725 (17.6%)
  • Population: 2,113,344

9. South Carolina

• • Median household annual income: $64,115
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 130,922 (6.1% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 717,348 (14.0%)
  • Population: 5,282,634

10. Missouri

• • Median household annual income: $64,811
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 144,208 (5.7% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 791,030 (13.2%)
  • Population: 6,177,957

11. Tennessee

• • Median household annual income: $65,254
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 154,793 (5.4% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 915,683 (13.3%)
  • Population: 7,051,339

12. Ohio

• • Median household annual income: $65,720
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 286,511 (5.9% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 1,540,922 (13.4%)
  • Population: 11,756,058

13. Indiana

• • Median household annual income: $66,785
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 151,905 (5.6% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 834,550 (12.6%)
  • Population: 6,833,037

14. Michigan

• • Median household annual income: $66,986
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 231,223 (5.7% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 1,315,899 (13.4%)
  • Population: 10,034,118

15. North Carolina

• • Median household annual income: $67,481
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 232,212 (5.4% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 1,329,157 (12.8%)
  • Population: 10,698,973

16. Montana

• • Median household annual income: $67,631
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 23,231 (5.0% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 133,233 (12.1%)
  • Population: 1,122,867

17. Kansas

• • Median household annual income: $68,925
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 62,150 (5.3% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 342,670 (12.0%)
  • Population: 2,937,150

18. Florida

• • Median household annual income: $69,303
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 495,572 (5.6% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 2,762,679 (12.7%)
  • Population: 22,244,823

19. Maine

• • Median household annual income: $69,543
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 28,445 (4.7% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 145,161 (10.8%)
  • Population: 1,385,340

20. Iowa

• • Median household annual income: $69,588
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 57,792 (4.3% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 339,867 (11.0%)
  • Population: 3,200,517

21. Nebraska

• • Median household annual income: $69,597
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 39,385 (4.9% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 215,838 (11.2%)
  • Population: 1,967,923

22. South Dakota

• • Median household annual income: $69,728
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 18,379 (5.0% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 109,889 (12.5%)
  • Population: 909,824

23. Wyoming

• • Median household annual income: $70,042
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 12,728 (5.2% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 66,943 (11.8%)
  • Population: 581,381

24. Wisconsin

• • Median household annual income: $70,996
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 115,058 (4.6% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 617,037 (10.7%)
  • Population: 5,892,539

25. Pennsylvania

• • Median household annual income: $71,798
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 291,562 (5.5% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 1,483,365 (11.8%)
  • Population: 12,972,008

26. North Dakota

• • Median household annual income: $71,970
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 16,738 (5.0% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 86,192 (11.5%)
  • Population: 779,261

27. Texas

• • Median household annual income: $72,284
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 611,011 (5.5% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 4,113,641 (14.0%)
  • Population: 30,029,572

28. Nevada

• • Median household annual income: $72,333
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 67,608 (5.6% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 390,848 (12.5%)
  • Population: 3,177,772

29. Idaho

• • Median household annual income: $72,785
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 27,531 (3.8% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 202,517 (10.7%)
  • Population: 1,939,033

30. Georgia

• • Median household annual income: $72,837
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 229,257 (5.6% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 1,348,344 (12.7)
  • Population: 10,912,876

31. Vermont

• • Median household annual income: $73,991
  • Households with incomes under $10,000: 11,050 (4.0% of households)
  • People in households with incomes under the poverty line: 65,162 (10.4%)
  • Population: 647,064

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