Public Policy Institute of New York State, Inc. The Public Policy Institute of New York State, Inc.

Just the Facts - Key Economic and Social Indicators for New York State

Poverty Rate, 1998-99

Table 7
Rank State Amt.   Rank State Amt.
1 New Mexico 20.5%   27 Nevada 10.9%
2 Louisiana 19.1%   28 Missouri 10.7%
3 Mississippi 16.9%   29 Rhode Island 10.7%
4 West Virginia 16.8%   30 Maine 10.5 %
5 Montana 16.1%   31 Delaware 10.3%
6 NEW YORK 15.4%   32 Michigan 10.35
7 Texas 15.0 %   33 Pennsylvania 10.3%
8 Alabama 14.8%   34 Massachusetts 10.2%
9 Arkansas 14.7%   35 Illinois 10.0%
10 California 14.6%   36 Vermont 9.8%
11 Arizona 14.3%   37 South Dakota 9.3%
12 North Dakota 14.1%   38 Washington 9.2%
13 North Carolina 13.8%   39 Minnesota 8.8%
14 Oregon 13.8%   40 New Hampshire 8.8%
15 Idaho 13.5%   41 Colorado 8.7%
16 Oklahoma 13.45   42 Wisconsin 8.7%
17 Georgia 13.25   43 Alaska 8.5%
18 Florida 12.8%   44 Virginia 8.4%
19 Kentucky 12.8%   45 Connecticut 8.3%
20 South Carolina 12.7%   46 Iowa 8.3%
21 Tennessee 12.7%   47 New Jersey 8.2%
22 Nebraska 11.6%   48 Indiana 8.0 %
23 Ohio 11.6%   49 Utah 7.3%
24 Wyoming 11.1%   50 Maryland 7.2%
25 Hawaii 10.9%    
26 Kansas 10.9%   U.S. average  12.3%
Source: U.S.Census Bureau http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/povty99.html
New York was one of only four states nationwide to show significant improvement in both poverty rate and median income in 1999.