Indiana is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes and midwestern region of North America. Indiana is the 16th most-populated and 38th largest state by area. The cost of living in Indiana is the least expensive west of the Appalachian Mountains. The economy of the state is diverse, with a gross state product of $298 billion in 2012. The state is believed to have a higher poverty rate compared to all of its neighboring states, with the exception of Kentucky. The poverty rate among Indianans is reported to be increasing, mainly attributed to a lack of educational access and work supports. Statistics from rural Indiana indicate some troubling trends; the number of people living in poverty went up to 107,000, nearly a 50 percent ...