Income inequality has听 since the 1970s, with the largest difference seen in dense cities and counties. In 2017,听 went to the richest 1% of the global population. The 3.7 billion poorest people saw no growth. In the United States, it takes a CEO a little more than one workday to earn what the average employee makes in a year.
Income inequality varies globally, but it also differs among states. Using data from the听 collected between 2011 and 2016, 爆料TV compiled a list ranking each state鈥攁long with Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico鈥攖o show where income inequality was least and greatest. The survey uses the听, a statistical measure of income inequality that uses an index value from 0 to 1, where 0 indicates perfect equality (all households receive an equal share of income) and 1 indicates perfect inequality (only one person or group gets all wealth).
Click through to see how each state compares.
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- Gini Index estimate: 0.42
-听County with highest inequality: Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area (Gini Index estimate: 0.45)
-听County with lowest inequality: Skagway Municipality (Gini Index estimate: 0.33)
- Number of counties: 29
Alaska, which isn鈥檛 densely populated, has the lowest rate of income inequality. It showed a decrease in income disparity听.
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- Gini Index estimate: 0.42
-听County with highest inequality: Albany County (Gini Index estimate: 0.50)
-听County with lowest inequality: Sublette County (Gini Index estimate: 0.33)
-听Number of counties: 23
Jackson, Wyo., home to Teton County and the Jackson Hole ski area, in 2016 had the worst income inequality of any metro area in the United States. However, the overall state听 since 2010.
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- Gini Index estimate: 0.43
-听County with highest inequality: Summit County (Gini Index estimate: 0.48)
-听County with lowest inequality: Tooele County (Gini Index estimate: 0.36)
- Number of counties: 29
While Utah as a state has the third-lowest income inequality in the country, Summit Count's Park City听has a higher rate than the national average. The city is home to a large ski resort, where issues like听 for low-income residents or seasonal workers are often a problem.
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- Gini Index estimate: 0.43
-听County with highest inequality: Hawaii County (Gini Index estimate: 0.46)
-听County with lowest inequality: Kalawao County (Gini Index estimate: 0.40)
- Number of counties: 5
Unions are powerful in Hawaii, which helps prevent some income disparity. While Hawaii has a smaller difference between the rich and the poor compared to other states, it鈥檚 still听 to raise their wealth.
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- Gini Index estimate: 0.44
-听County with highest inequality: Grafton County (Gini Index estimate: 0.47)
-听County with lowest inequality: Sullivan County (Gini Index estimate: 0.41)
-听Number of counties: 10
New Hampshire's income inequality is toward the bottom of the list, with wide rates of wealth disparity recently听.
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- Gini Index estimate: 0.44
- County with highest inequality: Johnson County (Gini Index estimate: 0.49)
-听County with lowest inequality: Cedar County (Gini Index estimate: 0.37)
-听Number of counties: 99
- Income disparity听 in Iowa, where rates were already below the national average.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.44
-听County with highest inequality: Windsor County (Gini Index estimate: 0.47)
-听County with lowest inequality: Orange County (Gini Index estimate: 0.40)
-听Number of counties: 14
Vermont showed a听 in income inequality from 2015 to 2016. Earlier this year, Vermont voted to raise the state鈥檚听. Raising the minimum wage is one non-tax option to help听.
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- Gini Index estimate: 0.44
-听County with highest inequality: Ozaukee County (Gini Index estimate: 0.48)
-听County with lowest inequality: Calumet County (Gini Index estimate: 0.37)
-听Number of counties: 72
A 2017 report听showed that levels of income inequality in Wisconsin unseen since the Great Depression. Low- and middle-income earners also pay听 than their wealthier counterparts.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.44
-听County with highest inequality: Campbell County (Gini Index estimate: 0.54)
-听County with lowest inequality: Hamlin County (Gini Index estimate: 0.38)
-听Number of counties: 66
The income inequality rate for the state grew听 from 2015 to 2016, but it spiked 8.53% in Campbell County over the same time period.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.44
-听County with highest inequality: Madison County (Gini Index estimate: 0.51)
-听County with lowest inequality: Power County (Gini Index estimate: 0.36)
-听Number of counties: 44
The wealth gap in the Boise area widened by $44,400 to $170,000 from 2011 to 2016, putting it at #7 on Bloomberg's听. The gap grew by $31,000 on a national level.
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- Gini Index estimate: 0.44
-听County with highest inequality: Banner County (Gini Index estimate: 0.52)
-听County with lowest inequality: Gosper County (Gini Index estimate: 0.36)
-听Number of counties: 93
Overall income inequality is lower in Nebraska than most other states, but the difference in pay between men and women is higher than it is nationally. In 2017, the average woman would have had to work听 to make the same as her male counterpart.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.45
-听County with highest inequality: New Castle County (Gini Index estimate: 0.45)
-听County with lowest inequality: Kent County (Gini Index estimate: 0.42)
-听Number of counties: 3
A century ago, Delaware had the听 of any state in the United States. The rate dropped after a state income tax of 19.8% was introduced and higher-income households moved away.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.45
-听County with highest inequality: Hennepin County (Gini Index estimate: 0.49)
-听County with lowest inequality: Lake of the Woods County (Gini Index estimate: 0.36)
-听Number of counties: 87
Income inequality is highest in Hennepin County, home to Minneapolis and Minnesota鈥檚听. In 2017, Minnesota was ranked听the second worst state for racial equality after Wisconsin.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.45
-听County with highest inequality: Monroe County (Gini Index estimate: 0.51)
-听County with lowest inequality: Union County (Gini Index estimate: 0.37)
-听Number of counties: 92
Over the past 10 years, only two other states have had听. The top fifth of Indiana households saw a their median income increase by 20.9% from 2007 to 2016, a rate that was four times higher than the poorest fifth in the state.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.45
-听County with highest inequality: Baltimore city (Gini Index estimate: 0.51)
-听County with lowest inequality: Calvert County (Gini Index estimate: 0.38)
- Number of counties: 24
The disparity in household income is highest in Baltimore. There is a听 in wealth between whites and other races. Many point to听 of much of the unrest and violence in the city.
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- Gini Index estimate: 0.45
-听County with highest inequality: Lincoln County (Gini Index estimate: 0.50)
-听County with lowest inequality: Lander County (Gini Index estimate: 0.35)
-听Number of counties: 17
Nevada鈥檚 minimum wage听, but they are one of a few states that require employers to pay daily overtime in addition to overtime for more than 40 hours a week.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.45
-听County with highest inequality: Cumberland County (Gini Index estimate: 0.47)
-听County with lowest inequality: Knox County (Gini Index estimate: 0.42)
-听Number of counties: 16
Voters in 2016听 on those making more than $200,000 a year. Activists in Maine are trying to get a听 that would partially close the federal loophole that allows the wealthy to avoid paying Social Security payroll taxes on a majority of their income.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.45
-听County with highest inequality: Whitman County (Gini Index estimate: 0.51)
-听County with lowest inequality: Douglas County (Gini Index estimate: 0.38)
-听Number of counties: 39
Seattle鈥檚 Gini coefficient听 in 2016, rivaling the income disparity of San Francisco. The richest 20% earned more than half of the city鈥檚 total income and also snagged a $40,000 raise in pay.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.45
-听County with highest inequality: Decatur County (Gini Index estimate: 0.50)
-听County with lowest inequality: Jefferson County (Gini Index estimate: 0.34)
-听Number of counties: 105
Kansas saw a slight听 from 2015 to 2016.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.45
-听County with highest inequality: Glacier County (Gini Index estimate: 0.52)
-听County with lowest inequality: Treasure County (Gini Index estimate: 0.35)
-听Number of counties: 56
Montana's听 at a faster rate than any other state from 2010 to 2016. Housing prices听 over the past seven years, but incomes have only risen by 10%.
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- Gini Index estimate: 0.46
-听County with highest inequality: Divide County (Gini Index estimate: 0.54)
-听County with lowest inequality: Mercer County (Gini Index estimate: 0.37)
-听Number of counties: 53
The minimum wage in North Dakota is currently $7.25, but there is a push to get a听 that would raise it to $15.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.46
-听County with highest inequality: Pitkin County (Gini Index estimate: 0.55)
-听County with lowest inequality: Lake County (Gini Index estimate: 0.38)
-听Number of counties: 64
Pitkin County, home to the ski resort town of Aspen,听shows the highest rate of income inequality in the state. Colorado is a popular place for vacation homes, and the state has some of the most highly visited ski resorts in the country, causing a crisis in the availability of听.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.46
-听County with highest inequality: Sherman County (Gini Index estimate: 0.49)
-听County with lowest inequality: Morrow County (Gini Index estimate: 0.38)
-听Number of counties: 36
In 2015, the听 in Oregon made more than the bottom half of all Oregonians combined. In 2016, Portland passed听 on corporations who had major gaps between CEO and worker compensation. The听 claims stronger unions would help reduce the state鈥檚 wealth gap.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.46
-听County with highest inequality: St. Louis city (Gini Index estimate: 0.51)
-听County with lowest inequality: Monroe County (Gini Index estimate: 0.37)
-听Number of counties: 115
The wealth gap among races听, where black households earned 49% of what white households did from 2011 to 2016.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.46
-听County with highest inequality: Wayne County (Gini Index estimate: 0.49)
-听County with lowest inequality: Livingston County (Gini Index estimate: 0.39)
-听Number of counties: 83
The richest households in Michigan听 from 2007 to 2016, a rate that was twice as much as those in the middle-income range and three times as much as the poorest households.
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- Gini Index estimate: 0.46
-听County with highest inequality: Monongalia County (Gini Index estimate: 0.52)
-听County with lowest inequality: Grant County (Gini Index estimate: 0.40)
-听Number of counties: 55
In a blow to unions in 2017, the West Virginia Supreme Court reversed their decision to block the state鈥檚 "right-to-work" law,听which means employees do not have to pay union dues as a condition of employment.听 shows that right-to-work laws lower wages and benefits, and do not have a positive impact on job growth.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.46
-听County with highest inequality: Athens County (Gini Index estimate: 0.51)
-听County with lowest inequality: Putnam County (Gini Index estimate: 0.37)
-听Number of counties: 88
While the cost of real estate in Ohio has stayed relatively stable over the past 10 years, income among middle-class earners听. Income disparities among听 also remain, with听 faring the worst.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.47
-听County with highest inequality: Apache County (Gini Index estimate: 0.48)
-听County with lowest inequality: Greenlee County (Gini Index estimate: 0.40)
-听Number of counties: 15
The richest households in Arizona are听 at a higher rate than the middle class and poor. It is one of four states where the poor became poorer over the past 10 years.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.47
-听County with highest inequality: Payne County (Gini Index estimate: 0.51)
-听County with lowest inequality: Canadian County (Gini Index estimate: 0.39)
-听Number of counties: 77
While income inequality in the state was at听 in 2015, Oklahoma saw a听 from 2015 to 2016.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.47
-听County with highest inequality: Richmond city (Gini Index estimate: 0.54)
-听County with lowest inequality: Prince George County (Gini Index estimate: 0.36)
-听Number of counties: 133
The wealth gap听, with more disparity seen in urban areas like Richmond and Williamsburg.
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- Gini Index estimate: 0.47
-听County with highest inequality: Philadelphia County (Gini Index estimate: 0.51)
-听County with lowest inequality: Perry County (Gini Index estimate: 0.38)
-听Number of counties: 67
Pennsylvania鈥檚 minimum wage听鈥攖he rate mandated by the federal government. In 2017, Gov. Tom Wolf unsuccessfully tried to raise the rate to $12.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.47
-听County with highest inequality: Williamsburg County (Gini Index estimate: 0.50)
-听County with lowest inequality: Jasper County (Gini Index estimate: 0.42)
-听Number of counties: 46
Charleston鈥檚 wealth gap is听, partly due to an increase in the cost of housing and a lack of transportation for those who can鈥檛 afford to live in the city. Income inequality between black and white households hasn鈥檛 seen a decrease in 50 years.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.47
-听County with highest inequality: Chicot County (Gini Index estimate: 0.54)
- County with lowest inequality: Saline County (Gini Index estimate: 0.38)
-听Number of counties: 75
The top 1% in Arkansas saw听incomes听 since 1979. The remaining 99% has only seen a 9% increase.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.47
-听County with highest inequality: Providence County (Gini Index estimate: 0.48)
-听County with lowest inequality: Washington County (Gini Index estimate: 0.43)
-听Number of counties: 5
Providence has the听 of any city in the country. The richest residents make 16.7 times more than the poorest.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.47
-听County with highest inequality: Mason County (Gini Index estimate: 0.52)
-听County with lowest inequality: Hickman County (Gini Index estimate: 0.35)
-听Number of counties: 120
In 2016, those in the top 1% had an average income that was听 than the remaining 99%. Kentucky teachers听 earlier this year to protest low pay and听, a symbol they say represents the state's inequality.
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- Gini Index estimate: 0.47
-听County with highest inequality: Watauga County (Gini Index estimate: 0.53)
-听County with lowest inequality: Hyde County (Gini Index estimate: 0.37)
-听Number of counties: 100
North Carolina听听in 2017 to cut the personal income tax rate and raise the standard deduction. It will also lower the corporate income tax rate. The rates go into effect in 2019. The North Carolina Democratic Party was disappointed with the budget, saying it will give more tax cuts to wealthy households and corporations.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.48
-听County with highest inequality: Lowndes County (Gini Index estimate: 0.55)
-听County with lowest inequality: Blount County (Gini Index estimate: 0.40)
-听Number of counties: 67
The United Nations reported surprise in 2017 that some places in听听not normally seen in the developed world.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.48
-听County with highest inequality: Essex County (Gini Index estimate: 0.54)
-听County with lowest inequality: Sussex County (Gini Index estimate: 0.41)
-听Number of counties: 21
Income inequality has听, but the state is just under the national average. The wealth gap is听, home to the state鈥檚 highest-median household incomes, and Newark, where incomes are lowest.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.48
-听County with highest inequality: Socorro County (Gini Index estimate: 0.54)
-听County with lowest inequality: Los Alamos County (Gini Index estimate: 0.39)
-听Number of counties: 33
The wealth gap has been听 in New Mexico, with the rich seeing increases in wealth, and the poor and middle class seeing declines in wealth.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.48
-听County with highest inequality: Jackson County (Gini Index estimate: 0.53)
-听County with lowest inequality: Kendall County (Gini Index estimate: 0.36)
-听Number of counties: 102
Illinois' 听throughout the state in 2016 but income inequality remained steady. Chicago's听, the divide between white and minority household incomes, remains higher than the national average.
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- Gini Index estimate: 0.48
-听County with highest inequality: Scott County (Gini Index estimate: 0.54)
-听County with lowest inequality: Lewis County (Gini Index estimate: 0.39)
-听Number of counties: 95
Tennessee opted in 2016 to phase out the income tax by 2021. Instead of听, the state depends on sales taxes from goods like food, gasoline, and clothing. Taxing these necessities means low- and middle-income people will give away a larger proportion of their income compared to their richer counterparts.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.48
-听County with highest inequality: Oktibbeha County (Gini Index estimate: 0.55)
-听County with lowest inequality: DeSoto County (Gini Index estimate: 0.39)
-听Number of counties: 82
As of 2016, Mississippi had the听 in the country. More than 20% of the population was in poverty鈥攖hat鈥檚 6% above the national rate.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.48
-听County with highest inequality: La Salle County (Gini Index estimate: 0.60)
-听County with lowest inequality: Foard County (Gini Index estimate: 0.37)
-听Number of counties: 254
Poverty rates declined and median household incomes听 in 2016, but economic disparities remained among whites and minorities, and between men and women. In La Salle County, an area rich with oil fields and income inequality,听the top 1% made 126 times more than everyone else.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.48
-听County with highest inequality: Randolph County (Gini Index estimate: 0.62)
-听County with lowest inequality: Chattahoochee County (Gini Index estimate: 0.35)
-听Number of counties: 159
Atlanta claimed the top spot in 2016听for the country鈥檚听. The top 5% earned at least 18 times as much as the bottom 20% of households. The state also has some of the听 in the country.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.48
-听County with highest inequality: Suffolk County (Gini Index estimate: 0.53)
-听County with lowest inequality: Franklin County (Gini Index estimate: 0.43)
-听Number of counties: 14
While听 in the country, Boston still ranks in the top 10 U.S. cities with the largest wealth gap. Massachusetts has a听 that would add a听 on those making more than $1 million. Revenue would go toward public transportation and education.
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- Gini Index estimate: 0.48
-听County with highest inequality: Collier County (Gini Index estimate: 0.53)
- County with lowest inequality: Wakulla County (Gini Index estimate: 0.40)
-听Number of counties: 67
Miami ranked in the top five in 2016 for cities with the highest income inequality. The Miami-Dade area has a small middle class, with only 15% of households making between $34,000 and $51,000. Most jobs are low-wage and many spend a large portion of their income on basic necessities. Florida also has no personal income tax听and relies on revenue from taxes in other forms, meaning low-wage earners give a larger percentage of their income to the government.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.49
-听County with highest inequality: Marin County (Gini Index estimate: 0.53)
-听County with lowest inequality: Mono County (Gini Index estimate: 0.36)
-听Number of counties: 58
Affordable housing is a major problem in California, where some residents are succumbing to听. Housing is so expensive in San Francisco that听 is now considered low-income. Metro areas like听 claim some of the highest levels of income inequality in the country. The top 5% of households in these areas make more than 10% as much as those in the bottom 20%. Nearly a third of households in Silicon Valley don鈥檛 make enough money to cover their basic needs without aid.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.49
- County with highest inequality: Orleans Parish (Gini Index estimate: 0.57)
-听County with lowest inequality: Ascension Parish (Gini Index estimate: 0.40)
-听Number of counties: 64
Louisiana joined Alabama in 2016 as the two states where poverty rates听. New Orleans and Baton Rouge were among the top 10 cities with a high disparity in income. A report released earlier this year shows the wage gap between men and women is听.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.49
-听County with highest inequality: Fairfield County (Gini Index estimate: 0.54)
-听County with lowest inequality: Windham County (Gini Index estimate: 0.41)
-听Number of counties: 8
The Bridgeport metropolitan area sits at the top of list for the highest rate of income inequality in the country. Since the recession, only the richest households have听. From 1970 to 2013, the top 1% claimed 30% of the income increases in Connecticut.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.51
- County with highest inequality: New York County (Gini Index estimate: 0.60)
- County with lowest inequality: Wyoming County (Gini Index estimate: 0.39)
-听Number of counties: 62
New York County, home to Wall Street and Manhattan, has the听 for a U.S. county. New York City听claims a spot in the top 10 for U.S. cities with the most wealth disparity. The top 5% of earners in the city make an average of 15 times more than those in the bottom 20%.
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- Gini Index estimate: 0.53
-听County with highest inequality: District of Columbia (Gini Index estimate: 0.53)
-听County with lowest inequality: N/A (Gini Index estimate: N/A)
-听Number of counties: 1
In 2016, income earners in the District of Columbia鈥檚 top 20%听 than those in the lower 20%, while the bottom fifth only took home 2% of the total income.
- Gini Index estimate: 0.54
-听County with highest inequality: San Juan Municipio (Gini Index estimate: 0.61)
- County with lowest inequality: Vieques Municipio (Gini Index estimate: 0.41)
-听Number of counties: 78
Puerto Rico鈥檚 poor, stagnant labor market and weak, private sector contributes to the听island鈥檚 income inequality. More than 40% of Puerto Rican residents听, and the aftermath of Hurricane Maria made things worse by preventing thousands of people from working.
