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Overview

Poverty in the US

Poverty on the West Coast

West Coast Inequality

Labor Markets | Demographics | Family | Ineqality | Policies & Programs

Social and Economic Inequality in the West Coast States

West Coast Racial and Ethnic Inequality

The pattern of lower annual income in households with black or Hispanic residents was replicated in each of the West Coast states in 2005, as shown in the figure below. There was more income parity between non Hispanic whites and Asians in the West Coast states than in the nation as a whole.

  • Link to data in Microsoft EXCEL format (income by race (states).xls)


As shown below, the association between minority race or ethnicity and poverty is evident in each West Coast state. In California, about one in five blacks and one in five Hispanics were living in poverty in 2005. Native Americans and Asians were also more likely than non Hispanic Whites to live below the poverty line.


More than one in four Native Americans (28.5%), Hispanics (27.2%) and blacks (25.9%) in Oregon were living below the poverty line in 2005.


Similarly in Washington State, one in five blacks (20.8%), one in four Hispanics (24.8%) and nearly one in three Native Americans (30.3%) were living below the poverty line in 2005. Asians in Washington State appear to be doing better than Asians in Oregon and California. Their poverty rate (10.5%) is comparable to that of non Hispanic whites (9.6%).

  • Link to data in Microsoft EXCEL format (poverty by race (states).xls)


Given the differences in the poverty rate by race and ethnicity shown in the figures above, it is not surprising to find that poverty was higher in 2005 within the foreign born population. When those that are marginally above the poverty line (between 100% and 149% of the poverty line) are added to those below poverty, about 30% of the foreign born population is either in poverty or perilously close to it in California, Washington and the nation as a whole. In Oregon, the situation for the foreign born is worse – 38.7% are either poor or almost poor.

  • Link to data in Microsoft EXCEL format (foreign born poverty (states).xls)

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