Friday, January 24, 2014

The States of Our Union ... Are Not All Strong: Notes for a lecture, "E Puribus Unum? What Keeps the United States United."

The States of Our Union ... Are Not All Strong: We ranked all 50, from fabulous to failed - Margaret Slattery, Politico. Via CW on Facebook



Image from entry

Wealthiest per capita
Rank / State / Per capita income 
[JB note: Is the DC area the 21st century equivalent of imperial Rome?] 

1. District of Columbia: $45,004
2. Connecticut: $37,807
3. Maryland: $36,056
4. New Jersey: $35,928
5. Massachusetts: $35,485
6. Virginia: $33,326
7. New Hampshire: $32,758
8. Alaska: $32,537
9. New York: $32,104
10. Colorado: $31,039
11. Washington: $30,661
12. Minnesota: $30,656
13. Rhode Island: $30,005
14. Delaware: $29,733
15. California: $29,551
16. Illinois: $29,519
17. Hawaii: $29,227
18. Wyoming: $28,858
19. Vermont: $28,846
20. North Dakota: $28,700
21. Pennsylvania: $28,190
22. Wisconsin: $27,426
23. Nevada: $27,003
24. Kansas: $26,845
25. Oregon: $26,702
26. Iowa: $26,545
27. Nebraska: $26,523
28. Maine: $26,464
29. Florida: $26,451
30. Ohio: $25,857
31. Texas: $25,809
32. Arizona: $25,571
33. South Dakota: $25,570
34. Michigan: $25,547
35. Missouri: $25,546
36. Georgia: $25,309
37. North Carolina: $25,285
38. Montana: $25,002
39. Indiana: $24,558
40. Tennessee: $24,294
41. Louisiana: $24,264
42. Oklahoma: $24,046
43. South Carolina: $23,906
44. Utah: $23,794
45. New Mexico: $23,749
46. Alabama: $23,587
47. Kentucky: $23,210
48. Idaho: $22,581
49. West Virginia: $22,482
50. Arkansas: $22,007
51. Mississippi: $20,670
Source: U.S. Census

Lowest unemployment
Rank / State / Unemployment rate
1. North Dakota 2.6
2. South Dakota 3.6
3. Nebraska 3.7
4. Utah 4.3
5. Hawaii 4.4
5. Iowa 4.4
5. Vermont 4.4
5. Wyoming 4.4
9. Minnesota 4.6
10. Kansas 5.1
10. New Hampshire 5.1
12. Montana 5.2
13. Oklahoma 5.4
13. Virginia 5.4
15. Idaho 6.1
15. Missouri 6.1
15. Texas 6.1
15. West Virginia 6.1
19. Alabama 6.2
20. Louisiana 6.3
20. Wisconsin 6.3
22. Florida 6.4
22. Maine 6.4
24. Maryland 6.4
24. New Mexico 6.4
26. Alaska 6.5
26. Colorado 6.5
26. Delaware 6.5
29. Washington 6.8
30. Massachusetts 7.1
30. South Carolina 7.1
32. Indiana 7.3
32. Oregon 7.3
32. Pennsylvania 7.3
35. New York 7.4
35. North Carolina 7.4
35. Ohio 7.4
38. Arkansas 7.5
39. Connecticut 7.6
40. Georgia 7.7
41. Arizona 7.8
41. New Jersey 7.8
43. Tennessee 8.1
44. Kentucky 8.2
45. Mississippi 8.3
46. California 8.5
47. District of Columbia 8.6
48. Illinois 8.7
49. Michigan 8.8
50. Nevada 9
50. Rhode Island 9
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Lowest poverty rates
Rank / State / Population below poverty level
1. New Hampshire 8.4
2. Maryland 9.4
3. Alaska 9.6
4. New Jersey 9.9
5. Connecticut 10.0
6. Hawaii 10.8
7. Massachusetts 11.0
7. Wyoming 11.0
9. Virginia 11.1
10. Minnesota 11.2
11. Delaware 11.5
12. Vermont 11.6
13. North Dakota 12.1
13. Utah 12.1
15. Iowa 12.2
16. Nebraska 12.4
17. Wisconsin 12.5
18. Colorado 12.9
18. Washington 12.9
20. Pennsylvania 13.1
21. Kansas 13.2
21. Rhode Island 13.2
23. Maine 13.3
24. Illinois 13.7
25. South Dakota 13.8
26. Nevada 14.2
27. Indiana 14.7
28. Montana 14.8
29. New York 14.9
30. Missouri 15.0
31. Idaho 15.1
32. California 15.3
33. Ohio 15.4
34. Oregon 15.5
35. Florida 15.6
36. Michigan 16.3
37. Oklahoma 16.6
38. North Carolina 16.8
39. Arizona 17.2
40. Tennessee 17.3
41. Georgia 17.4
41. Texas 17.4
43. South Carolina 17.6
43. West Virginia 17.6
45. Alabama 18.1
46. District of Columbia 18.5
47. Kentucky 18.6
48. Arkansas 18.7
48. Louisiana 18.7
50. New Mexico 19.5
51. Mississippi 22.3
Source: U.S. Census

Highest home ownership
Rank / State / Home ownership rate
1. West Virginia 73.7
2. Minnesota 73.0
3. Michigan 72.8
4. Delaware 72.7
5. Iowa 72.6
6. Maine 72.1
7. New Hampshire 72.0
8. Vermont 71.2
9. Indiana 70.6
10. Utah 70.4
11. Wyoming 70.3
12. Alabama 70.2
13. Idaho 70.1
13. Pennsylvania 70.1
15. Mississippi 69.9
16. South Carolina 69.5
17. Missouri 69.0
18. New Mexico 68.9
19. Kentucky 68.7
20. South Dakota 68.6
20. Wisconsin 68.6
22. Montana 68.5
23. Tennessee 68.4
24. Connecticut 68.3
25. Kansas 68.2
26. Florida 68.1
27. Maryland 68.1
28. Illinois 68.0
28. Ohio 68.0
30. Virginia 67.8
31. Nebraska 67.6
32. Oklahoma 67.5
33. Louisiana 67.4
34. Arkansas 67.2
35. North Carolina 67.1
36. North Dakota 66.4
37. New Jersey 66.2
38. Georgia 66.0
39. Colorado 65.9
40. Arizona 65.5
41. Alaska 64.4
42. Texas 63.9
43. Washington 63.8
44. Oregon 62.5
45. Rhode Island 61.2
46. Hawaii 58.2
47. Nevada 57.8
48. California 56.0
49. New York 54.5
50. District of Columbia 42.4
51. Massachusetts 41.6
Source: U.S. Census

Highest percentage of high school graduates
Rank / State / High school graduate rate
1. Wyoming 92.1
2. Minnesota 91.9
2. Montana 91.9
4. Alaska 91.6
5. New Hampshire 91.4
6. Vermont 91.3
7. Iowa 90.7
8. Maine 90.6
8. Utah 90.6
10. North Dakota 90.5
11. Nebraska 90.4
12. Hawaii 90.3
13. Wisconsin 90.2
14. South Dakota 90.1
15. Washington 90.0
16. Colorado 89.9
17. Kansas 89.7
18. Oregon 89.2
19. Massachusetts 89.1
20. Connecticut 89.0
21. Michigan 88.7
22. Idaho 88.6
23. Maryland 88.5
24. Pennsylvania 88.3
25. Ohio 88.2
26. New Jersey 87.9
27. Delaware 87.7
28. District of Columbia 87.5
29. Missouri 87.2
30. Illinois 87.0
30. Indiana 87.0
32. Virginia 86.9
33. Oklahoma 86.2
34. Florida 85.8
35. Arizona 85.4
36. New York 84.9
37. Rhode Island 84.8
38. North Carolina 84.5
39. Georgia 84.4
39. Nevada 84.4
41. South Carolina 84.0
42. Tennessee 83.9
43. New Mexico 83.4
43. West Virginia 83.4
45. Arkansas 83.3
46. Alabama 82.6
47.Kentucky 82.4
48. Louisiana 82.2
49. California 81.0
49. Mississippi 81.0
51. Texas 80.8
Source: U.S. Census

Longest life expectancy
Rank / State / Life expectancy (years)
1. Hawaii 81.3
2. Minnesota 81.1
3. California 80.8
3. Connecticut 80.8
5. Massachusetts 80.5
5. New York 80.5
5. Vermont 80.5
8. New Hampshire 80.3
8. New Jersey 80.3
10. Utah 80.2
11. Colorado 80
11. Wisconsin 80
13. Rhode Island 79.9
13. Washington 79.9
15. Nebraska 79.8
16. Iowa 79.7
17. Arizona 79.6
18. Idaho 79.5
18. North Dakota 79.5
18. Oregon 79.5
18. South Dakota 79.5
22. Florida 79.4
23. Maine 79.2
24. Illinois 79
24. Virginia 79
26. Maryland 78.8
27. Kansas 78.7
28. Montana 78.5
28. Pennsylvania 78.5
28. Texas 78.5
31. Delaware 78.4
31. New Mexico 78.4
33. Alaska 78.3
33. Wyoming 78.3
35. Michigan 78.2
36. Nevada 78.1
37. North Carolina 77.8
37. Ohio 77.8
39. Indiana 77.6
40. Missouri 77.5
41. Georgia 77.2
42. South Carolina 77
43. District of Columbia 76.5
44. Tennessee 76.3
45. Arkansas 76
45. Kentucky 76
47. Oklahoma 75.9
48. Louisiana 75.7
49. Alabama 75.4
49. West Virginia 75.4
51. Mississippi 75
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation

Lowest infant mortality rate
Rank / State / Infant mortality rate
1. Massachusetts 4.9
1. Utah 4.9
3. Washington 5.0
4. California 5.1
4. New Hampshire 5.1
4. Vermont 5.1
7. New Jersey 5.3
8. Iowa 5.4
8. Oregon 5.4
10. Minnesota 5.6
10. New York 5.6
12. New Mexico 5.8
13. Nebraska 5.9
14. Colorado 6.0
14. Hawaii 6.0
14. Maine 6.0
17. Nevada 6.1
18. Texas 6.2
19. Connecticut 6.3
20. North Dakota 6.4
21. Alaska 6.5
21. Arizona 6.5
21. Idaho 6.5
21. Montana 6.5
21. Rhode Island 6.5
26. Wisconsin 6.6
27. Kentucky 7.0
27. Wyoming 7.0
29. Illinois 7.1
29. South Dakota 7.1
31. Florida 7.2
31. Virginia 7.2
33. Missouri 7.3
34. Indiana 7.4
34. West Virginia 7.4
36. Kansas 7.5
36. Pennsylvania 7.5
38. Michigan 7.6
39. Ohio 7.7
40. Arkansas 7.9
40. Oklahoma 7.9
42. Delaware 8.0
42. Georgia 8.0
42. Maryland 8.0
45. North Carolina 8.3
45. South Carolina 8.3
47. Tennessee 8.4
48. Louisiana 9.4
49. Alabama 9.5
50. Mississippi 10.2
51. District of Columbia 12.0
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Lowest obesity rate
Rank / State / Obesity rate
1. Colorado 18.7 [JB note: Does pot have something to do with this?]
2. Massachusetts 21.5
3. Montana 22
4. Connecticut 22.7
5. California 23.1
6. Utah 23.9
7. Arizona 24.1
8. Rhode Island 24.3
9. Idaho 24.4
9. New Jersey 24.4
9. Washington 24.4
12. New Mexico 24.6
13. Minnesota 24.7
13. Wyoming 24.7
15. Nevada 24.9
15. New York 24.9
17. Florida 25.1
17. New Hampshire 25.1
19. Oregon 25.4
20. Hawaii 25.7
20. Vermont 25.7
22. Illinois 26
23. Virginia 26.2
24. Delaware 26.3
24. Kansas 26.3
24. South Dakota 26.3
27. Alaska 26.4
28. Maryland 27
29. Wisconsin 27.1
30. Missouri 27.2
31. Maine 27.5
32. North Dakota 27.8
33. Nebraska 27.9
33. Pennsylvania 27.9
33. South Carolina 27.9
36. Michigan 28.5
37. Georgia 28.6
38. Indiana 28.8
39. North Carolina 28.9
39. Texas 28.9
41. Iowa 29
42. Oklahoma 29.2
43. Ohio 29.5
44. Tennessee 29.6
45. Kentucky 29.7
46. Alabama 30.4
47. Louisiana 30.9
48. Arkansas 31.4
49. Mississippi 32.2
50. West Virginia 33.5
NA District of Columbia NA
Source: Gallup “State of the States”

Highest reported wellbeing
Rank / State / Overall wellbeing (Gallup index score)
1. Hawaii 71.1
2. Colorado 69.7
3. Minnesota 68.9
4. Utah 68.8
5. Vermont 68.6
6. Montana 68.5
6. Nebraska 68.5
8. New Hampshire 68.4
9. Iowa 68.1
9. Massachusetts 68.1
11. Maryland 68
11. South Dakota 68
13. Wyoming 67.9
14. Virginia 67.7
14. Washington 67.7
16. Connecticut 67.6
16. Kansas 67.6
18. California 67.4
18. North Dakota 67.4
20. Maine 67.3
20. Wisconsin 67.3
22. Arizona 67.1
22. Idaho 67.1
22. Oregon 67.1
25. New Mexico 66.7
26. Delaware 66.6
26. Illinois 66.6
26. Texas 66.6
29. Pennsylvania 66.5
30. New York 66.2
31. Alaska 66.1
31. Georgia 66.1
31. New Jersey 66.1
34. Florida 65.8
35. North Carolina 65.7
36. Michigan 65.6
37. Missouri 65.5
37. Rhode Island 65.5
39. Nevada 65.2
39. Oklahoma 65.2
41. South Carolina 65.2
42. Indiana 65.1
43. Louisiana 64.7
44. Ohio 64.6
45. Alabama 64.2
46. Arkansas 64.1
47. Tennessee 64
48. Mississippi 63.6
49. Kentucky 62.7
50. West Virginia 61.3
NA District of Columbia NA
Source: Gallup “State of the States”

Highest math scores
Rank /State / Grade 8 math score
1. Massachusetts 299
2. Kansas 298
3. Minnesota 294
4. New Jersey 293
4. North Dakota 293
4. Vermont 293
7. Montana 292
7. New Hampshire 292
9. South Dakota 291
10. Connecticut 289
10. Washington 289
12. Maryland 288
12. Pennsylvania 288
12. Wisconsin 288
15. Colorado 287
15. Idaho 287
15. Indiana 287
15. Texas 287
19. Maine 286
19. Missouri 286
19. Ohio 286
19. Virginia 286
19. Wyoming 286
24. Oregon 285
25. Delaware 284
25. Iowa 284
25. Nebraska 284
25. North Carolina 284
25. Utah 284
30. Alaska 283
30. New York 283
32. Illinois 282
33. South Carolina 280
34. Florida 279
34. Kentucky 279
36. Georgia 278
36. Michigan 278
36. Rhode Island 278
39. Arizona 277
40. Arkansas 276
40. Oklahoma 276
42. Tennessee 275
43. Hawaii 274
43. Nevada 274
45. Louisiana 272
46. California 270
46. New Mexico 270
46. West Virginia 270
49. Alabama 269
50. Mississippi 265
51. District of Columbia 254
Source: National Center for Education Statistics

Highest reading scores
Rank / State / Grade 8 reading score
1. Massachusetts 273
1. Vermont 273
3. Montana 271
4. Maine 270
4. New Hampshire 270
4. New Jersey 270
4. South Dakota 270
8. Minnesota 268
8. North Dakota 268
8. Ohio 268
8. Pennsylvania 268
12. Connecticut 267
12. Iowa 267
12. Kansas 267
12. Nebraska 267
12. Virginia 267
17. Colorado 266
17. Oregon 266
17. Wyoming 266
20. Delaware 265
20. Idaho 265
20. Maryland 265
20. Washington 265
24. Indiana 264
24. New York 264
24. Wisconsin 264
27. Illinois 263
27. Missouri 263
29. Kentucky 262
29. Utah 262
31. Texas 261
32. Florida 260
32. Michigan 260
32. Oklahoma 260
35. Alaska 259
35. Georgia 259
35. North Carolina 259
35. Tennessee 259
39. Arkansas 258
39. Rhode Island 258
41. South Carolina 257
42. Arizona 255
42. West Virginia 255
44. Louisiana 253
45. Alabama 252
45. Nevada 252
47. California 251
47. Hawaii 251
47. New Mexico 251
50. Mississippi 250
51. District of Columbia 241
Source: National Center for Education Statistics

Least income inequality
Rank / State / GINI coefficient
1. Wyoming 0.4166 [JB note: Thank you Dick Cheney!]
2. Alaska 0.4232
3. Utah 0.4244
4. Hawaii 0.4257
5. New Hampshire 0.4298
6. Idaho 0.4302
7. Iowa 0.4328
8. South Dakota 0.4335
9. Nebraska 0.4339
10. Delaware 0.4356
11. Vermont 0.4392
12. Wisconsin 0.4401
13. Indiana 0.4417
14. Minnesota 0.4441
15. Maine 0.445
16. Maryland 0.4473
17. Kansas 0.4496
18. Washington 0.4498
19. Montana 0.4502
20. Nevada 0.4516
21. Oregon 0.4565
22. Colorado 0.4579
23. North Dakota 0.4597
24. Arizona 0.4608
24. Missouri 0.4608
26. Ohio 0.4615
27. Michigan 0.4624
28. Arkansas 0.4632
29. West Virginia 0.4638
30. Pennsylvania 0.4642
31. Oklahoma 0.4643
32. Rhode Island 0.4647
33. Virginia 0.4661
34. Kentucky 0.4667
35. South Carolina 0.4684
36. North Carolina 0.4691
37. New Mexico 0.4713
38. Illinois 0.4716
39. New Jersey 0.4718
40. Alabama 0.4726
41. Tennessee 0.4732
42. Texas 0.4767
43. Georgia 0.4809
44. Massachusetts 0.4813
45. California 0.4822
46. Florida 0.4828
47. Louisiana 0.4859
48. Mississippi 0.487
49. Connecticut 0.4915
50. New York 0.5009
51. District of Columbia 0.5343
Source: U.S. Census

Lowest crime rate
Rank / State / Crime rate
1. Maine 122.7
2. Vermont 142.6
3. New Hampshire 187.9
4. Virginia 190.1
5. Wyoming 201.4
6. Utah 205.8
7. Idaho 207.9
8. Kentucky 222.6
9. Minnesota 230.9
10. Hawaii 239.2
11. North Dakota 244.7
12. Oregon 247.6
13. Rhode Island 252.4
14. Nebraska 259.4
15. Mississippi 260.8
16. Iowa 263.9
17. Montana 272.2
18. Wisconsin 280.5
19. Connecticut 283
20. New Jersey 290.2
21. Washington 295.6
22. Ohio 299.7
23. Colorado 308.9
24. West Virginia 316.3
25. South Dakota 321.8
26. Indiana 345.7
27. Pennsylvania 348.7
28. North Carolina 353.4
29. Kansas 354.6
30. Georgia 378.9
31. Massachusetts 405.5
32. New York 406.8
33. Texas 408.6
34. Illinois 414.8
35. California 423.1
36. Arizona 428.9
37. Alabama 449.9
38. Missouri 450.9
39. Michigan 454.5
40. Arkansas 469.1
41. Oklahoma 469.3
42. Maryland 476.8
43. Florida 487.1
44. Louisiana 496.9
45. Delaware 547.4
46. South Carolina 558.8
47. New Mexico 559.1
48. Alaska 603.2
49. Nevada 607.6
50. Tennessee 643.6
51. District of Columbia 1,243.7
Source: FBI

Highest percentage employed in science, technology, engineering and mathematics jobs
Rank / State / Percent employed in STEM jobs
1. District of Columbia 9.7 [JB note: the NSA is looking for a few good men]
2. Maryland 9.1
3. Virginia 7.8
4. Washington 7.7
5. Massachusetts 7.4
6. Colorado 7.2
7. New Hampshire 6.9
8. California 6.2
9. New Jersey 6.1
9. Utah 6.1
11. Connecticut 6
11. Delaware 6
11. Minnesota 6
14. Oregon 5.8
15. Vermont 5.7
16. Alaska 5.6
16. Michigan 5.6
18. Arizona 5.5
19. New Mexico 5.4
20. Illinois 5.1
20. Pennsylvania 5.1
20. Texas 5.1
23. Wisconsin 5
24. North Carolina 4.9
25. Georgia 4.8
25. Idaho 4.8
27. Nebraska 4.7
27. Ohio 4.7
29. Alabama 4.6
30. Kansas 4.5
30. Missouri 4.5
32. Iowa 4.4
32. New York 4.4
32. Rhode Island 4.4
35. South Carolina 4.3
36. Hawaii 4.2
37. Maine 4.1
38. Montana 4
38. Oklahoma 4
38. Tennessee 4
41. Florida 3.9
41. Indiana 3.9
41. West Virginia 3.9
44. South Dakota 3.7
45. North Dakota 3.6
46. Kentucky 3.5
46. Louisiana 3.5
48. Wyoming 3.3
49. Arkansas 3.1
49. Nevada 3.1
51. Mississippi 2.7
Source: U.S. Census

H.L. Mencken and Charles Angoff’s 1931 rankings (before Alaska and Hawaii were states)
Rank / State
1. Massachusetts
2. Connecticut
3. New York
4. New Jersey
5. California
6. District of Columbia
7. Minnesota
8. Iowa
9. Illinois
10. Oregon
11. Rhode Island
12. Michigan
13. Maine
14. Washington
15. Wisconsin
16. New Hampshire
17. Ohio
18. Nebraska
19. Utah
20. Kansas
21. Pennsylvania
22. Vermont
23. Colorado
24. Indiana
25. Nevada
26. Delaware
27. Missouri
28. Maryland
29. North Dakota
30. Wyoming
31. Montana
32. Idaho
33. South Dakota
34. West Virginia
35. Arizona
36. Oklahoma
37. Florida
38. Virginia
39. Texas
40. New Mexico
41. Kentucky
42. Louisiana
43. North Carolina
44. Tennessee
45. Arkansas
46. Georgia
47. South Carolina
48. Alabama
49. Mississippi



Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/01/states-of-our-union-are-not-all-strong-102547_Page2.html#ixzz2rMCf37on


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