America's Richest and Poorest States

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Studies like this would be much more meaningful if they controlled for cost of living.

That applies within a state as well, which helps explain the flight from the cities, and longer commutes.

[mota bhai 2,675]

This is dead on.

I would have plenty of disposable income if I made what I make now but lived in Kentucky. But I live in New Jersey and after all the taxes and the sky high auto insurance rates and everything else... I manage to save very little.

Someone making 10,000 less than me living in Louisville is a lot richer than I am.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

My house is paid for. That is like an extra $1,000 to $2,000 a month I don't have to spend on rent or a house payment.

[GandD 5,966]

I would have plenty of disposable income if I made what I make now but lived in Kentucky. But I live in New Jersey and after all the taxes and the sky high auto insurance rates and everything else... I manage to save very little.

Someone making 10,000 less than me living in Louisville is a lot richer than I am.

Yeah, that's what I keep trying to get my wife to understand. 6% sales tax and next to nothing on a State income tax is pretty nice. Canada may be nice, but 13% sales tax and nearly double price on retail items can kiss my a$$.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/america-richest-poorest-states-042117509.html

The majority of the economic growth since the recession has benefitted the wealthy. In general people earn less money than in 2008, adjusted for inflation. Misissippi is still the poorest state. Mississippi still has the highest rate of childhood and adult obesity. The good news is, that in America, the poorest people are the most overweight. More people than ever on government assistance. Highest percentage of people on food stamps in history. Lowest workforce participation since 1977. Unemployment rate only as low as 7.5% because 1/3 of eligible workers have abandoned looking for work. and no longer can collect unemployment.

What we really need is a government shut down.

What do the numbers really mean..California for instance number 11 ranked by median income, but if the avg home cost 6 times more than number 31 Georgia, are you really better off.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Yeah, that's what I keep trying to get my wife to understand. 6% sales tax and next to nothing on a State income tax is pretty nice. Canada may be nice, but 13% sales tax and nearly double price on retail items can kiss my a$$.

Figure what you pay for health insurance and deduct that from the 13% and the numbers start to get much closer. Just sayin.

In most places, the cost of housing in Canada is cheaper than the US too.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

This is dead on.

Ding Ding Ding

Just ranking by Median income means nothing...Yeah HI is number 5...The cost of living is astronomical

[Novembro 1,763]

Let's just bomb the poor states and be done with it. Government intervention, yeah!

[GandD 5,966]

Figure what you pay for health insurance and deduct that from the 13% and the numbers start to get much closer. Just sayin.

In most places, the cost of housing in Canada is cheaper than the US too.

Well, in our case, we're comparing Kentucky and Toronto. Huge difference. My health insurance plan is actually quite cheap and covers nearly everything, in many cases completely. Base on the differences in out of pocket verses income tax rate in Ontario, I could not justify living there. For use, health insurance is next to nothing unless the wife gets infected with a little human. Even then, it would be cheaper here on average.

[mota bhai 2,675]

Yeah, that's what I keep trying to get my wife to understand. 6% sales tax and next to nothing on a State income tax is pretty nice. Canada may be nice, but 13% sales tax and nearly double price on retail items can kiss my a$$.

Well, there is something to be said for the "money isn't everything" argument. I could afford a nicer home in Tulsa or Detroit (for example) and I could probably load up the kids 529 and our own tax deferred savings but not being within a stones throw of the best Indian food outside of India.... isn't worth it. Take my money.

Well, in our case, we're comparing Kentucky and Toronto. Huge difference. My health insurance plan is actually quite cheap and covers nearly everything, in many cases completely. Base on the differences in out of pocket verses income tax rate in Ontario, I could not justify living there. For use, health insurance is next to nothing unless the wife gets infected with a little human. Even then, it would be cheaper here on average.

But Toronto is so much nicer.

[GandD 5,966]

Well, there is something to be said for the "money isn't everything" argument. I could afford a nicer home in Tulsa or Detroit (for example) and I could probably load up the kids 529 and our own tax deferred savings but not being within a stones throw of the best Indian food outside of India.... isn't worth it. Take my money.

Yes, agreed. That certainly is part of the decision.

But Toronto is so much nicer.

And colder.

[mota bhai 2,675]

Yes, agreed. That certainly is part of the decision.

And colder.

Wear a sweater, you p****.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Well, in our case, we're comparing Kentucky and Toronto. Huge difference. My health insurance plan is actually quite cheap and covers nearly everything, in many cases completely. Base on the differences in out of pocket verses income tax rate in Ontario, I could not justify living there. For use, health insurance is next to nothing unless the wife gets infected with a little human. Even then, it would be cheaper here on average.

Toronto is one of the most expensive cities to live in North America. Almost no one lives there, they all commute from the outskirts because the cost of living there is so expensive, it's just like NYC or Boston. Like I said, MOST places in Canada are cheaper to live than the US.

It sounds like you have a super health plan, how much do you pay per week for you and your wife? Ours is about $100 per week.

ETA: Canada is much cleaner than most of the US too. When we go to Canada to visit we always comment on how much cleaner and better kept the roads and infrastructure are in Canada compared to here.

Edited September 24, 2013 by Teddy B

[mota bhai 2,675]

Toronto is one of the most expensive cities to live in North America. Almost no one lives there, they all commute from the outskirts because the cost of living there is so expensive, it's just like NYC or Boston. Like I said, MOST places in Canada are cheaper to live than the US.

It sounds like you have a super health plan, how much do you pay per week for you and your wife? Ours is about $100 per week.

Toronto isn't comparable to NYC, not even close.

Even Boston isn't comparable to NYC.

NYC barely compares with NYC.

[GandD 5,966]

Toronto is one of the most expensive cities to live in North America. Almost no one lives there, they all commute from the outskirts because the cost of living there is so expensive, it's just like NYC or Boston. Like I said, MOST places in Canada are cheaper to live than the US.

It sounds like you have a super health plan, how much do you pay per week for you and your wife? Ours is about $100 per week.

ETA: Canada is much cleaner than most of the US too. When we go to Canada to visit we always comment on how much cleaner and better kept the roads and infrastructure are in Canada compared to here.

$14 a week covers me and the wife. $20 co-pay i think.

Canada is pretty clean but mostly when compared to the north east. Nearly everything in our city is new. There's been a surge in population and businesses are constantly going up here so we're not really suffering from the "white flight" or ageing infrastructure the north east is seeing.