Index

"Of 13 southern states, South Carolina is 8th in per capita personal income. When compared to our closest neighbors - Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia - South Carolina is dead last at 81 cents to the dollar. North Carolina is at 91 cents; Florida and Georgia are at 94 cents, and Virginia is at $1.05.

"South Carolina's rankings in terms of per capita income also show a disturbing trend. In 1969, we ranked 49 out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia; in 1979, we were 47th; by 1989, we were 38th. Today, we're 41st."

--The Palmetto Institute
November 06, 2002

1999 State Rankings

Per Capita Personal Income

National Average: $27250
Average of 50 states.
Source:
http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/rate/pers_inc.html
http://www.bea.doc.gov/

State Taxes

National Average: $ 684
Average of 43 states with income taxes in 1999.
Source:
http://www.ppinys.org/Reports/jtf/Table%2021.htm

1=Best, 50=Worst

Rank State Per Capita
Personal Income		 % of National Avg. State Income
Taxes Per Capita		 State Income Taxes
Per Capita Rank		 Cost of
Living Rank		  
1 Connecticut $39300 144% $1100 5 5 Free State
2 New Jersey $35551 130% $777 14 3 Free State
3 Massachusetts $35551 130% $1301 1 2 Free State
4 New York $33890 124% $1131 2 4 Free State
5 Maryland $32465 119% $808 13 23 Free State
6 Colorado $31546 116% $692 18 15 Free State
7 Illinois $31145 114% $598 30 19 Free State
8 New Hampshire $31114 114% $53 42 8 Free State
9 Nevada $31022 114% $0 46 16 Right To Work State
10 Minnesota $30793 113% $1111 4 30 Free State
11 Delaware $30778 113% $1023 6 13 Free State
12 Washington $30392 112% $0 49 11 Free State
13 California $29910 110% $927 8 14 Free State
14 Virginia $29789 109% $886 10 27 Right To Work State
15 Rhode Island $29377 108% $770 15 7 Free State
16 Pennsylvania $28605 105% $534 33 10 Free State
17 Alaska $28577 105% $0 44 6 Free State
18 Michigan $28113 103% $750 16 31 Free State
19 Florida $27780 102% $0 45 32 Right To Work State
20 Hawaii $27544 101% $902 9 1 Free State
21 Wisconsin $27390 101% $983 7 28 Free State
22 Georgia $27340 100% $731 17 46 Right To Work State
23 Ohio $27152 100% $639 26 21 Free State
24 Nebraska $27049 99% $643 23 33 Right To Work State
25 Oregon $27023 99% $1119 3 20 Free State
26 Texas $26858 99% $0 48 48 Right To Work State
27 Kansas $26824 98% $639 25 35 Right To Work State
28 Wyoming $26396 97% $0 50 25 Right To Work State
29 Missouri $26376 97% $663 21 37 Free State
30 Indiana $26143 96% $622 27 24 Free State
31 North Carolina $26003 95% $861 11 43 Right To Work State
32 Vermont $25889 95% $646 22 12 Free State
33 Iowa $25615 94% $598 29 34 Right To Work State
34 Tennessee $25574 94% $28 43 39 Right To Work State
35 Arizona $25189 92% $439 37 17 Right To Work State
36 South Dakota $25045 92% $0 47 44 Right To Work State
37 Maine $24603 90% $814 12 9 Free State
38 South Carolina $23545 86% $511 34 41 Right To Work State
39 North Dakota $23313 86% $287 41 36 Free State
40 Utah $23288 85% $686 19 18 Right To Work State
41 Kentucky $23237 85% $639 24 45 Free State
42 Alabama $22987 84% $437 38 40 Right To Work State
43 Oklahoma $22953 84% $617 28 42 Right To Work State
44 Louisiana $22847 84% $351 40 38 Right To Work State
45 Idaho $22835 84% $677 20 29 Right To Work State
46 Arkansas $22244 82% $562 31 47 Right To Work State
47 Montana $22019 81% $547 32 26 Free State
48 New Mexico $21853 80% $465 36 22 Free State
49 West Virginia $20966 77% $509 35 49 Free State
50 Mississippi $20688 76% $355 39 50 Right To Work State

"...studies indicate that roughly 70 percent of South Carolina heads of households live 'paycheck to paycheck'."
Ice storm also brought financial chill to many area families
Spartanburg Herald-Journal, December 12, 2002