10 Counties With The Worst Income Inequality: Census

In the United States, even even the inequality is unequal.

Yes, the level of income inequality among American households rose 18 percent between 1967 and 2010, according to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau. But that growth has had a larger effect in certain areas, the report finds. Counties in the South, for example, have seen see especially high rates of disparity among income earners, while wages in the Midwest are more equitable.

It's often whether a county has a city inside it that make the difference, as cities often host both the very rich and very poor. To take an obvious example, New York county, which includes Manhattan, is the county with the third highest level of income inequality.

The larger effects of income inequality remain a matter of debate. Occupy Wall Street thrust the issue into the limelight last autumn, but that hasn't been enough to change the minds of those who argue U.S. income inequality has been overstated. Indeed, a recent report based on data from the Labor Department argued income inequality "is no greater today than in it was in the 1980s." What do you think?

See below to find out if you live in one of the top ten counties with the worst income inequality, according to the U.S. Census Bureau:

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Comments

[Bryan Boru]

03:15 AM on 03/13/2012

How did they come up with the gini index?

[aosborneh2o]

09:44 AM on 03/12/2012

So, aside from a few resort destinations and New York which is a given, these are predominantly "Right To Work" states that tout such status as creating better and more jobs... Funny, Massachusetts has been labelled "Taxachusetts" for 40+ years, yet I live in a state with relatively low inequality, low unemployment, high overall standard of living, good services, and overall is among the top 3 in public school academic performance. Interesting...

[Tulka2]

06:52 PM on 03/12/2012

I am proud to pay taxes too.  I strongly suspect the Tea-Party is made up of people who are so afraid of government because they are tax cheats.  If only we got more for our taxes other than a giant Republican hole blasted into the sad country of Iraq.

[aosborneh2o]

08:01 PM on 03/12/2012

Agreed. Thing is that there are things the government does well and things they don't do well. Much of what they presumably don't do well is due primarily to the requirements, restrictions, and unfunded mandates placed on them by the same congress (on both sides of the aisle) that decries them.

And, contrary to the dogma spouted by the Right, there are things the government does well and places where bureaucracy even makes sense. Over and over, it is pointed out that Medicare runs on a 3% overhead yet private insurance operates on over 20%; but somehow, they continue claiming that the private sector is more "efficient" somehow and that government workers are grossly overpaid...

[lightbreeze]

03:24 AM on 03/11/2012

Let's see, the story says:

"...the level of income inequality among American households rose 18 percent between 1967 and 2010, according to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau."

and

"Indeed, a recent report based on data from the Labor Department argued income inequality 'is no greater today than in it was in the 1980s.' What do you think?"

What do I think?
What do I think?

I think instead of just reporting that two government agencies issued differing reports, a real news organization actually investigates and finds out why the reports are different and then gives their readers/users THEIR opinion.

Have we really stooped to this?
That kind of reporting belongs in stories like, "Some surveys say Angelina is hot, and some surveys say she's not. What do you think?"

[Matt12]

12:27 PM on 03/10/2012

Given that all the kelptos have moved from the Rockaways/ Borough Park to Park Avenue, of course, the income level is in harmony to their super doper new norm. BTW, they all want the US to attack Iran and have the children of the unequal side die for them.

[Kevin Gunderson]

08:48 AM on 03/10/2012

Nobody wants to do it, but by the looks of this list... our conversation should be about the economics of racism too.

[MarconiDarwin]

07:06 PM on 03/09/2012

Anyone surprised that most of these counties turn out to be red counties?

Anyone surprised that they continue to be red counties?

Any baggers wonder why is it that these are red counties?

[Larry Motuz]

07:09 PM on 03/09/2012

Brings new meaning to that phrase, "Better Dead Than Red."

[Johnangry]

08:11 PM on 03/09/2012

Yes, but the redness is likely equal from the estate to the trailer park. Why someone would vote GOP and there's a hole dripping from the tin roof as they watch HBO coming from a satellite dish with a hanger.

[MarconiDarwin]

08:37 PM on 03/09/2012

[chuckle]

[MarconiDarwin]

08:38 PM on 03/09/2012

That hanger has multiple uses in S. Dakota BTW.

[Bonnie Klein]

04:35 PM on 03/09/2012

In 2001, Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Benham convened a committee to investigate indigent defense in the state of Georgia. An avalanche of complaints about the state of public defense in Greene County, along with a number of lawsuits filed by Stephen Bright and the Southern Center for Human Rights, contributed to the formation of this commission. The commission discovered during its investigation that indigent defendants in Greene County were routinely pled guilty by judges without the presence of counsel and sometimes without even being present in court to make their pleas, violations of the Sixth Amendment. Excessive bail, e.g. $50,000 for loitering, was often set as well, a violation of the Eight Amendment. After two years of investigation, the committee's recommendations led to the passage of the Georgia Indigent Defense Act.[5][6]

[Johnangry]

08:12 PM on 03/09/2012

They probably still violate the 13th as well. The south treats the constitution like they do the Bible. Only the parts they like are relevant.

[tnfit78]

04:29 PM on 03/09/2012

USA! USA! USA!