These Are America’s Poorest States, Ranked
#19: Maine
Median income per household: $57, 918
Rate of poverty: 10.9%
Maine, renowned as the Pine Tree State, leads globally in pulp-paper production due to its extensive forests. However, the digital age and foreign competition are cutting into this. Tourism has overtaken as Maine’s prime industry, yet COVID-19 had a devastating $2.3 billion impact in 2020.
Portland, Maine’s largest metropolis, saw homelessness surge to near-record levels in November, as many people lost temporary housing during the pandemic. The city grapples with high housing costs, with median home values surpassing $377,000.
