The poorest county in the entire country, McCreary also has an average life expectancy at birth of just 73 years—six years below the national average. Just because a state is prosperous, it doesn’t necessarily follow that all its counties will be equally well off.
By contrast, the richest county in the U.S. is Loudoun County, Virginia, which boasts a median household income of $142,299. This high-income county is located right near the nation’s capital, in the bustling and wealthy Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metropolitan area.
With an average unemployment rate of 8.8% last year, over one-in-four children living below the poverty line and an ongoing opioid crisis, Louisiana is the fourth poorest state in the U.S. And the reality could be even worse than the poverty statistics suggest.
Not only is Telfair County the poorest in Georgia, it’s one of the poorest counties in the country. In addition, few healthy diet and lifestyle options contribute to the county’s lower life expectancy—at 76 years, it’s three years shorter than the national average. (Images: Shutterstock)
10. Georgia: Telfair County. Not only is Telfair County the poorest in Georgia, it’s one of the poorest counties in the country. In addition, few healthy diet and lifestyle options contribute to the county’s lower life expectancy—at 76 years, it’s three years shorter than the national average.
The poorest county in the entire country, McCreary also has an average life expectancy at birth of just 73 years—six years below the national average. Just because a state is prosperous, it doesn’t necessarily follow that all its counties will be equally well off.
Poverty rate: 11.9% . The Hoosier State is one of the most affordable in the nation, but stagnant wages are forcing residents to relocate if they care about building wealth and not just keeping a roof overhead.
Poverty rate: 11.2%. The Corn State’s economy is heavily driven by its manufacturing and agriculture industries, which haven’t been the most stable of late. Iowan farmers took a major hit from the trade war with China in 2019, which dropped demand for corn and soybean exports.
The region has a dearth of affordable housing and federal support; officials say it’s $342 million behind where it needs to be to combat homelessness. A large number of Nevadans work in the leisure and hospitality sector — twice the number in health and education — and the pay typically isn’t great.
Arizona led the U .S. in poverty re duction between 2015 and 2018; however, the state’s poverty rate is still three percentage points higher than the country as a whole. The state’s kids are slipping behind on education, hurting their long-term job prospects.
America’s 50 states may be united, but equal they are not. The income a typical resident can expect to earn varies tremendously from state to state, leading to a totally different quality of life. The median household income in the wealthiest state, Maryland, almost doubles that of the poorest.
To make matters worse, Mississippi often ranks as the unhealthiest state, as well, with high rates of diabetes, obesity and premature mortality, and as one of the worst for education. Just 22% of residents over age 25 have their bachelor’s degree, which is about 10 percentage points lower than the U.S. rate.