This Is the State Where People Can’t Make Ends Meet

By Douglas A. McIntyre Published Mar 24, 1:00PM EDT

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This Is the State Where People Can’t Make Ends Meet — © Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images

The U.S. Census Bureau began to track the effects of COVID-19 on the population through its Household Pulse Survey on April 23 of last year. As the agency’s researchers wrote at the time, “The Household Pulse Survey is designed to deploy quickly and efficiently, collecting data to measure household experiences during the coronavirus pandemic.” The Census has not said how long this will continue, but it is an unprecedented picture of the impact of the pandemic on the population, both at the state and large metro areas.

In addition to such factors as employment status, food security, education disruptions, and physical and mental well-being, the survey gathers and reports on whether people believe they can pay their bills. This section of the Pulse Survey is called “Difficulty Paying for Usual Household Expenses.” It is defined as adults living in households where it has been “somewhat” or “very” difficult to pay their normal household costs.

This story is based on the findings produced during week 23 of the survey, which are based on questions answered from January 20 to February 1. Nationwide, 35.4% of adults responded in the affirmative to this question.

In the “Difficulty Paying for Usual Household Expenses” section of the Household Pulse Survey, the state where the most people faced these challenges was Louisiana, at 49.5% of surveyed adults.

Determining exactly how these expense issues are related to income or poverty is not part of the survey’s mission. However, it is notable that, like Louisiana, most of the states near the top of the list are in the South. Alabama and Florida are each above the national average, with 39% of adults saying that had trouble making ends meet. South Carolina is also high at 37.1%. Kentucky is just below that at 37%. Notably, most of these states have low median household incomes compared to the national number. (These are America’s richest and poorest states.)

The survey also looks at the same questions for major cities. Houston sits at the most troubled end of the spectrum at 44.5%, followed by Miami at 43% and Los Angeles at 42.8%.

Click here to see the state where the most people can’t make ends meet.

50. Minnesota
> Adult population in 2019: 4,241,624
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 969,727
> Share of adults with that expectation: 24.3%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 9.0% (3rd lowest)

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49. New Hampshire
> Adult population in 2019: 1,073,014
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 249,469
> Share of adults with that expectation: 24.6%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 7.3% (the lowest)

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48. North Dakota
> Adult population in 2019: 561,016
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 131,344
> Share of adults with that expectation: 24.8%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 10.6% (17th lowest)

Vermont (CC BY 2.0) by Zdenek Svoboda

47. Vermont
> Adult population in 2019: 485,485
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 116,379
> Share of adults with that expectation: 24.8%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 10.2% (15th lowest)

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46. Utah
> Adult population in 2019: 2,281,207
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 551,550
> Share of adults with that expectation: 25.4%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 8.9% (2nd lowest)

45. Washington
> Adult population in 2019: 5,890,357
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 1,459,243
> Share of adults with that expectation: 25.7%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 9.8% (9th lowest)

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44. South Dakota
> Adult population in 2019: 642,658
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 164,930
> Share of adults with that expectation: 26.5%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 11.9% (23rd highest)

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43. Iowa
> Adult population in 2019: 2,342,905
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 587,147
> Share of adults with that expectation: 26.6%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 11.2% (20th lowest)

42. Maine
> Adult population in 2019: 1,065,620
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 272,838
> Share of adults with that expectation: 26.6%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 10.9% (19th lowest)

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41. Wisconsin
> Adult population in 2019: 4,438,719
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 1,142,233
> Share of adults with that expectation: 26.6%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 10.4% (16th lowest)

40. Missouri
> Adult population in 2019: 4,617,880
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 1,187,053
> Share of adults with that expectation: 27.0%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 12.9% (18th highest)

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39. Massachusetts
> Adult population in 2019: 5,324,065
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 1,376,721
> Share of adults with that expectation: 27.7%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 9.4% (8th lowest)

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38. Pennsylvania
> Adult population in 2019: 9,776,154
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 2,563,908
> Share of adults with that expectation: 28.0%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 12.0% (22nd highest)

37. Montana
> Adult population in 2019: 822,204
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 227,709
> Share of adults with that expectation: 28.9%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 12.6% (20th highest)

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36. Idaho
> Adult population in 2019: 1,343,198
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 367,780
> Share of adults with that expectation: 29.1%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 11.2% (21st lowest)

35. Ohio
> Adult population in 2019: 8,822,539
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 2,505,062
> Share of adults with that expectation: 29.6%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 13.1% (15th highest)

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34. Kansas
> Adult population in 2019: 2,140,957
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 601,127
> Share of adults with that expectation: 30.0%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 11.4% (24th lowest)

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33. Michigan
> Adult population in 2019: 7,644,458
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 2,101,105
> Share of adults with that expectation: 30.1%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 13.0% (17th highest)

32. Nebraska
> Adult population in 2019: 1,418,191
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 412,211
> Share of adults with that expectation: 30.5%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 9.9% (10th lowest)

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31. Rhode Island
> Adult population in 2019: 817,559
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 230,567
> Share of adults with that expectation: 31.2%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 10.8% (18th lowest)

30. Virginia
> Adult population in 2019: 6,472,737
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 1,934,305
> Share of adults with that expectation: 31.8%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 9.9% (11th lowest)

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29. Oregon
> Adult population in 2019: 3,302,727
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 998,485
> Share of adults with that expectation: 31.9%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 11.4% (23rd lowest)

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New Jersey Turnpike (CC BY 2.0) by James Loesch

28. New Jersey
> Adult population in 2019: 6,776,822
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 2,044,147
> Share of adults with that expectation: 32.4%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 9.2% (5th lowest)

27. Maryland
> Adult population in 2019: 4,586,920
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 1,422,244
> Share of adults with that expectation: 32.9%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 9.0% (4th lowest)

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26. Connecticut
> Adult population in 2019: 2,732,423
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 859,900
> Share of adults with that expectation: 33.1%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 10.0% (12th lowest)

25. Delaware
> Adult population in 2019: 754,637
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 242,832
> Share of adults with that expectation: 33.8%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 11.3% (22nd lowest)

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24. Colorado
> Adult population in 2019: 4,454,718
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 1,450,127
> Share of adults with that expectation: 33.9%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 9.3% (7th lowest)

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23. Alaska
> Adult population in 2019: 524,925
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 169,578
> Share of adults with that expectation: 34.1%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 10.1% (13th lowest)

22. Indiana
> Adult population in 2019: 5,015,550
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 1,618,928
> Share of adults with that expectation: 34.2%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 11.9% (24th highest)

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21. West Virginia
> Adult population in 2019: 1,379,576
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 439,238
> Share of adults with that expectation: 34.2%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 16.0% (6th highest)

20. Mississippi
> Adult population in 2019: 2,189,670
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 708,351
> Share of adults with that expectation: 34.3%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 19.6% (the highest)

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19. Arizona
> Adult population in 2019: 5,597,268
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 1,801,360
> Share of adults with that expectation: 34.5%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 13.5% (13th highest)

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18. North Carolina
> Adult population in 2019: 8,017,566
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 2,738,094
> Share of adults with that expectation: 36.1%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 13.6% (12th highest)

17. Tennessee
> Adult population in 2019: 5,221,475
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 1,800,102
> Share of adults with that expectation: 36.7%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 13.9% (9th highest)

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16. Illinois
> Adult population in 2019: 9,546,424
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 3,282,104
> Share of adults with that expectation: 36.8%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 11.5% (25th lowest)

15. Wyoming
> Adult population in 2019: 433,400
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 152,059
> Share of adults with that expectation: 36.8%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 10.1% (14th lowest)

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14. Kentucky
> Adult population in 2019: 3,344,102
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 1,156,689
> Share of adults with that expectation: 37.0%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 16.3% (4th highest)

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13. South Carolina
> Adult population in 2019: 3,969,123
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 1,385,149
> Share of adults with that expectation: 37.1%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 13.8% (10th highest)

12. Arkansas
> Adult population in 2019: 2,246,527
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 796,094
> Share of adults with that expectation: 37.9%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 16.2% (5th highest)

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New York med mamma (CC BY 2.0) by Helen Alfvegren

11. New York
> Adult population in 2019: 14,847,080
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 5,340,654
> Share of adults with that expectation: 37.9%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 13.0% (16th highest)

10. New Mexico
> Adult population in 2019: 1,589,574
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 572,429
> Share of adults with that expectation: 38.4%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 18.2% (3rd highest)

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9. Alabama
> Adult population in 2019: 3,717,378
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 1,289,975
> Share of adults with that expectation: 39.0%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 15.5% (7th highest)

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8. Florida
> Adult population in 2019: 17,085,385
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 6,299,584
> Share of adults with that expectation: 39.0%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 12.7% (19th highest)

7. Hawaii
> Adult population in 2019: 1,073,229
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 416,233
> Share of adults with that expectation: 39.8%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 9.3% (6th lowest)

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6. Georgia
> Adult population in 2019: 7,955,983
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 2,958,501
> Share of adults with that expectation: 39.9%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 13.3% (14th highest)

5. California
> Adult population in 2019: 29,939,021
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 11,430,810
> Share of adults with that expectation: 41.2%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 11.8% (25th highest)

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4. Oklahoma
> Adult population in 2019: 2,916,436
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 1,127,922
> Share of adults with that expectation: 41.2%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 15.2% (8th highest)

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3. Nevada
> Adult population in 2019: 2,399,457
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 958,771
> Share of adults with that expectation: 42.1%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 12.5% (21st highest)

2. Texas
> Adult population in 2019: 21,356,906
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 8,363,492
> Share of adults with that expectation: 42.4%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 13.6% (11th highest)

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1. Louisiana
> Adult population in 2019: 3,431,432
> Adults who are having difficulty making ends meet: 1,534,981
> Share of adults with that expectation: 49.5%
> Poverty rate in 2019: 19.0% (2nd highest)

About the Author Douglas A. McIntyre →

Douglas A. McIntyre is the co-founder, chief executive officer and editor in chief of 24/7 Wall St. and 24/7 Tempo. He has held these jobs since 2006.

McIntyre has written thousands of articles for 24/7 Wall St. He is an expert on corporate finance, the automotive industry, media companies and international finance. He has edited articles on national demographics, sports, personal income and travel.

His work has been quoted or mentioned in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, NBC News, Time, The New Yorker, HuffPost USA Today, Business Insider, Yahoo, AOL, MarketWatch, The Atlantic, Bloomberg, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, The Guardian and many other major publications. McIntyre has been a guest on CNBC, the BBC and television and radio stations across the country.

A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College, McIntyre also was president of The Harvard Advocate. Founded in 1866, the Advocate is the oldest college publication in the United States.

TheStreet.com, Comps.com and Edgar Online are some of the public companies for which McIntyre served on the board of directors. He was a Vicinity Corporation board member when the company was sold to Microsoft in 2002. He served on the audit committees of some of these companies.

McIntyre has been the CEO of FutureSource, a provider of trading terminals and news to commodities and futures traders. He was president of Switchboard, the online phone directory company. He served as chairman and CEO of On2 Technologies, the video compression company that provided video compression software for Adobe’s Flash. Google bought On2 in 2009.