These Are America’s Poorest States, Ranked
#24: Nevada
Median income per household: $60, 365
Rate of poverty: 12.5%
Las Vegas’s allure often worsens the plight of the desperate, contributing to Southern Nevada’s severe homelessness issue, affecting over 6,500 individuals. Many battle addictions, showcasing the region’s deeper socio-economic struggles.
Nevada grapples with insufficient affordable housing and federal aid, lagging by $342 million in combating homelessness. With many relying on low-paying jobs in leisure and hospitality, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated their economic hardships through plummeting tourism and gaming revenues.
#23: Kansas
Median income per household: $59, 597
Rate of poverty: 11.4%
Kansas shines as an affordable haven, boasting a median home value of $166,000, as per Zillow. But weighing the boon of low mortgage rates against scant job prospects is advisable for potential movers.
With Kansas’s minimum wage at the federal floor of $7.25, a bill aiming for $15 by 2027 is notable. Despite a low unemployment rate, over 100,000 children, 15% of them, grapple with poverty, highlighting socioeconomic challenges.