Minnesota

In 2012, about 11.4 percent of Minnesotans lived in poverty, a figure that is a subtle decline from 11.9 percent in 2011 and less than the United States average of 15.9 percent. Some of the major contributors to overall poverty in Minnesota include the increased costs of child care, health care, and consumer goods, coupled with flat household earnings.

In 2008, Minnesota’s per capita income was $42,772, making it the 10th-highest in the nation. The unemployment rate was 4.6 percent in June 2014, below the national average of 6.3 percent. However, by United States poverty standards, set at an income of $21,954 per year for a family of four, poverty had increased approximately 3 percent between 2005 and 2011, affecting more than 600,000 Minnesotans. In addition, ...