Connecticut Leads the Nation in Multiple Measures of Income Inequality (October 2007)

Douglas Hall, Ph.D., Joachim Hero, M.P.H., and Taby Ali

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Connecticut and New York lead the nation in household income inequality, followed by Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, and Mississippi. This fact sheet categorizes states by their degree of income inequality, based on a well-accepted index known as the Gini Coefficient.

Using this measure, in 2006 Connecticut had the second most unequal income distribution in the nation and the greatest growth in income inequality in the country over the past few decades. Out of 250 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) throughout the nation, Connecticut MSAs occupied four out of the top five spots for increased income inequality. Stamford-Norwalk, Bridgeport, Waterbury, and Danbury ranked 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th, respectively for the highest growth of income inequality. (October 2007)

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