Mississippians continue to lag behind the rest of the nation in incomes and poverty rates. Courtesy Kevin Marsh
Thursday, September 20, 2012
2011 U.S. Census data show an overall improving economic picture, but not necessarily for Mississippi, which continues to lag behind the rest of the nation in recovery in terms of household income and poverty. Yesterday, the Census released two new American Community Survey briefs, one on household income and the other on poverty.
The Magnolia State has the lowest household median income, $36,919, according to the data released yesterday, almost half that of Maryland's $70,004, the highest household median in the United States. The median is the halfway point; half of U.S. households have incomes above the median and half fall below the median. The median for all Americans in 2011 was $50,502, a 1.3 percent decline from the previous year.
"Vermont was the only state that showed an increase in real median household income," the brief states. "The median household income in Vermont rose from $50,707 in the 2010 ACS to $52,776 in the 2011 ACS."
Poverty is another area that moved in the wrong direction last year, for the fourth year in a row. The federal poverty guideline for a family of four in 2012 is 23,050. With more than 650,000 people in poverty, Mississippi ranked No. 1 among the states with the highest poverty rates in 2011, at 22.6 percent.
For the U.S. as a whole last year, 48.5 million people had household incomes below the poverty line, an increase of 0.6 percent from the previous year, the brief states. That increase, however, is smaller than previous years.
The Gini Index, which measures income inequality, also rose in 2011, suggesting more income inequality across the country. The index indicates concentration of wealth: a 0.0 score is where everyone holds equal wealth, and 1.0 could only happen if all wealth were held by one person. The U.S. score for 2011 is 0.475, which the brief characterizes as "significantly higher" than the 2010 score of 0.469.
Comments
brjohn9 11 years, 7 months ago
It has been said many times, but these maps make it plain that the poorest states are generally the reddest states. Those states also have the worst income inequality. But shouldn't the job creators be raining wealth down on workers in red America? I would love to see how many people in Mississippi pay no federal income taxes. The percentage must be quite high. Nevertheless, no one but me doubts that Romney will win Mississippi in this election. Remember that McCain took the state in 2008 only because he won more than 90 percent of the white vote. That really dispirited me last time, but now it gives me just a little satisfaction, because that white voting bloc is going to crack sooner rather than later. When it does, Republicans are going to howl.
justjess 11 years, 7 months ago
It is hard to believe that citizens here in the poorest state in America would dare vote for Mitt Romney. He has made it crystal clear that he is not concerned about the "47%" and he has acused President Obama of trying to take money from the rich to give to the poor. Has he ever thought about the fact that it took people from the "47%" to line their pockets?
It is mind boggling to know that Medicare recipients, the physically and mentally challenged, poor children, the new poor (had a job but, company closed, ect.), and others are talked about with such disdain. The Republicans have instituted a new discriminatory system and it is not based on race, color or creed: it is based on income. It is my sincere hope that Mississippians are listening and that we can come together as a unified state to get these selfish, void of compassion, crazy talking folks out of office and for sure, we MUST make sure that Mr. Paul and Mr. Mitt are not voted in as Pres. & Vice.
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