AUGUSTA (AP) — New figures from the U.S. Census Bureau suggest the number of Mainers living in poverty has dropped from 2012 to 2013. But the figures also suggest income dropped, as well.
Figures released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau indicate the number of Mainers living in poverty declined 0.7 percent, from 189,786 to 180,639. Census Bureau estimates also indicated Maine’s mean family income dropped 0.8 percent, from $47,330 to $46,974. Both figures were within the survey margin of error.
The figures put Maine last in New England for income, and second-to-last behind Rhode Island for the poverty rate.
Overall, Maine’s poverty rate of 14.7 percent was lower than the national rate of 15.8 percent. It was the second consecutive year without a statistically significant change in national poverty rate.
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