Because of its high cost of living, California has the nation's highest poverty level, according to the U.S. Census.
California has a higher level of poverty than any other state in the nation: "So says the U.S. Census Bureau in its 'supplemental measure' of poverty that is a far more accurate than the traditional measure because it takes into account not only income, but living costs," Dan Walters reports for CALmatters.
One factor in the high cost of living is housing, "It’s not unusual for a low-income family to pay more than 50 percent of its income for housing, if it can find it. California has very high automotive fuel prices and utility rates, which weigh heavily on the state’s poor, particularly the so-called “working poor” who don’t qualify for many public benefits," Walters writes.
FULL STORY: Why does California have the nation’s highest poverty level?
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