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Explore national- and state-level data for hundreds of health, environmental and socioeconomic measures, including background information about each measure. Use features on this page to find measures; view subpopulations, trends and rankings; and download and share content.
California Value:
Index of state economic conditions based on crowded housing, dependency, education, income, poverty and unemployment; normalized values are 1 to 100, with a higher value indicating worse economic conditions
California Rank:
Index of state economic conditions based on crowded housing, dependency, education, income, poverty and unemployment; normalized values are 1 to 100, with a higher value indicating worse economic conditions
1 - 32
33 - 48
49 - 56
57 - 75
76 - 100
No Data
Top State(s): New Hampshire: 1
Bottom State(s): Louisiana: 100
Definition: Index of state economic conditions based on crowded housing, dependency, education, income, poverty and unemployment; normalized values are 1 to 100, with a higher value indicating worse economic conditions
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-Year Dataset, 2024
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-Year Dataset, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2026.
The economic hardship index compares economic conditions between communities by combining six population-level social and financial measures to build a more comprehensive picture of the difficulties faced in a community than a single measure could provide. The index incorporates:
Economic hardship and its indicators tend to cluster geographically, reflecting pockets of hardship and contrasting areas of concentrated wealth. Black and Hispanic adults are disproportionately affected by income variability and related economic hardship. Residential segregation can further contribute to areas of concentrated disadvantage.
The economic hardship index is sensitive to interventions that affect its underlying components. Unemployment, education, housing and poverty can all be improved through targeted interventions.
Employment and poverty are key social determinants of health in Healthy People 2030’s economic stability domain. Related objectives include:
Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2023. Report. Washington, D.C.: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, May 2024. https://doi.org/10.17016/8960.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.
