World

The overlooked geography of American poverty

Data: U.S. Census ; Map: Erin Davis/Axios California and Louisiana have something surprising in common: Both have among the nation's highest poverty rates when the cost of living is factored in, according to Census Bureau data. Why it matters: Southern states dominate America's traditional poverty rankings. But that familiar geographic divide starts to disappear when more of a family's financial realities are taken into account. Axios analyzed 2023-2025 state poverty estimates from the Census Bu