The new U.S. Census data on poverty and household income was just released. While the official poverty rate was 10.5% last year, the level varies sharply from state to state. In Mississippi, the figure is 19.1%, or 82% higher than the national average. State figures are based on an average of three years, so the 82% increase is not entirely accurate. However, even with adjustments, the number is grim.

The official poverty rate has been questioned, although that does not make the Mississippi number less troubling. The Census Bureau also issues a Supplementary Poverty Measure, which shows a national rate of 11.7%. The difference between 10.5% and 11.7% is programs that “lift” people above the poverty level. They are primarily tax credits and Social Security.

The poverty rate measurement for states averages three years (2017, 2018, 2019) to get a statistically stable set of numbers. Based on this measure, the national poverty rate is 11.5%. The Mississippi figure should be measured against that number. That puts the figure for the southern state 66% above the total. The widest contrast with any other state is that between Mississippi and New Hampshire, where the poverty rate is 5.6%.

These are the official poverty rates for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, based on the 2017, 2018 and 2019 weighting measure.

Location	People in Poverty (thousands)	Rate
United States	37,316	11.5
Alabama	715	14.7
Alaska	84	11.8
Arizona	870	12.1
Arkansas	437	15.0
California	4,482	11.4
Colorado	516	9.1
Connecticut	338	9.7
Delaware	74	7.6
District of Columbia	96	1.1
Florida	2,725	12.9
Georgia	1,383	13.3
Hawaii	131	9.4
Idaho	177	10.0
Illinois	1,302	10.4
Indiana	738	11.2
Iowa	269	8.7
Kansas	297	10.4
Kentucky	629	14.2
Louisiana	869	19.1
Maine	152	11.4
Maryland	458	7.6
Massachusetts	629	9.2
Michigan	1,059	10.7
Minnesota	419	7.4
Mississippi	559	19.1
Missouri	667	11.1
Montana	106	10.1
Nebraska	193	10.2
Nevada	369	12.1
New Hampshire	76	5.6
New Jersey	24	8.2
New Mexico	353	17.2
New York	2,348	12.1
North Carolina	1,418	13.6
North Dakota	75	10.1
Ohio	1,423	12.4
Oklahoma	478	12.4
Oregon	412	9.8
Pennsylvania	1,321	10.5
Rhode Island	102	9.8
South Carolina	727	14.4
South Dakota	91	10.6
Tennessee	813	12.1
Texas	3,601	12.7
Utah	243	7.6
Vermont	55	1.1
Virginia	809	9.7
Washington	661	8.8
West Virginia	277	15.6
Wisconsin	506	8.7
Wyoming	59	10.5

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