California tied Louisiana for the nation’s highest poverty rate last year, with 7 million people—or 17.7 percent of the state’s population—living below adjusted income thresholds.
The numbers come from a report released by the California Budget and Policy Center, a left-leaning think tank based in Sacramento. The group analyzed U.S. Census Bureau data using a supplemental measure that accounts for local costs of living, family size, and medical expenses.
The state’s rate held steady from the previous year but remained well above the national average of around 13 percent. Louisiana posted the same 17.7 percent figure, though the two states face different economic pressures. California deals with high urban housing prices, while Louisiana contends with rural job shortages….