The Census Bureau may have given some good newsabout the economy recently, when it reported a 5.2 percent gain inmiddle-class median incomes — up to $56,500 in 2015 from $53,700 in2014 — but that doesn't mean blessings fall equally on allAmericans.

In fact, when 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the numbers to see whichstates were richest and which poorest, it found that 11 states werepretty much left out of income growth.

Cities saw the most income growth, while rural areas lagged. Andsouthern states didn't gain near as much as western ones.

The gap between male and female wage earners still exists. Andgains across the population did not reach evenly across race orethnicity, either. Black workers made the smallest gains, achievinga median income of $36,898, followed by Hispanics at $45,148, whileAsian-Americans made the largest and reached a median income of$77,166. White, non-Hispanic workers actually made lesser gainsthan Asian-Americans, reaching $62,950.

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And according to an Economic Policy Institutereport, black workers actually lost ground over the last 37 years.Male black workers made 22 percent less than white workers in 2015— but back in 1979, with newly minted civil rights laws on thebooks, the gap was 16.9 percent. And female black workers faredeven worse; in 1979, the pay gap between them and white females was4.5 percent, while in 2015 that gap more than doubled to 11.5percent. That's not progress.

Not only did 24/7 Wall St. use the latest Census Bureau data to determine how the statesranked, it also factored in that agency's American Community Survey from 2015,information on employment, food stamps, poverty and healthinsurance coverage.

When it was done, it came up with these 10 states that still lagdespite any progress the economy may have made:

North Carolina has high unemployment, contributing to itsnumber 10 ranking. (Photo: iStock)

10. North Carolina

Median household income: $47,830.

Population: 10,042,802 (9th highest).

2015 unemployment rate: 5.7 percent (15th highest).

Poverty rate: 16.4 percent (12th highest).

North Carolina has its problems. Even though it saw a decentincrease, percentagewise, in median household income from 2014($46,585) to 2015 ($47,830), the state still has money issues. Withhigh poverty and high unemployment, pay increases don't help if youdon't have a job.

One good thing is that homes are cheaper in the state — in fact,at a median of $160,100, they run more than $30,000 below thenational.

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Tenneesee has the third highest percentage of population onfood stamps. (Photo: iStock)

9. Tennessee

Median household income: $47,275.

Population: 6,600,299 (17th highest).

2015 unemployment rate: 5.8 percent (14th highest).

Poverty rate: 16.7 percent (10th highest).

Among Tennessee's problems are its high poverty rate, highunemployment, and one of the lowest median household incomes in thecountry — despite the fact that it's risen substantially from2014's level of $44,403.

Add to that the fact that it has the third highest percentage ofits population receiving food stamps — 17.6 percent — and it'sclear that Tennessee has a way to go to provide for itsresidents.

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South Carolina has a low cost of living but struggles with ahigh unemployment rate. (Photo: iStock)

8. South Carolina

Median household income: $47,238.

Population: 4,896,146 (23rd highest).

2015 unemployment rate: 6 percent (10th highest).

Poverty rate: 16.6 percent (11th highest).

South Carolina had no place to go but up in median householdincome, which rose significantly from 2014's $45,277 to hit$47,238. But that's not enough to solve all the state's moneyproblems.

The state also copes with a high unemployment rate and an evenhigher poverty rate. The one bright spot is the low cost of living,which on average is almost 10 percent lower than across thecountry. That's reflected in the lower cost of housing, too; homesrun more than $40,000 less than the national median.

Louisiana has the third highest poverty rate in the UnitedStates. (Photo: iStock)

7. Louisiana

Median household income: $45,727.

Population: 4,670,724 (25th highest).

2015 unemployment rate: 6.3 percent (6th highest).

Poverty rate: 19.6 percent (3rd highest).

Homes in Louisiana run a hefty $30,000 less than the nationalbenchmark, at $155,300. That's kind of a tipoff to the state withthe third highest poverty rate in the country and the fact that asmany as 10 percent of all households in the state earn $10,000 orless a year, the second highest such share of any state. Of course,high unemployment also factors into the state's poor standingeconomically.

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New Mexico has the third highest unemployment rate in theUnited States. (Photo: iStock)

6. New Mexico

Median household income: $45,382.

Population: 2,085,109 (15th lowest).

2015 unemployment rate: 6.6 percent (3rd highest).

Poverty rate: 20.4 percent (2nd highest).

New Mexico's median annual income didn't change, so residentsdidn't benefit from any of the good news in the Census Bureau'slatest report.

Instead, the state was coping with one of the highestunemployment rates in the country, coupled with the second highestpoverty rate anywhere in the United States.

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Kentucky has the fifth highest poverty rate in the UnitedStates. (Photo: iStock)

5. Kentucky

Median household income: $45,215.

Population: 4,425,092 (25th lowest).

2015 unemployment rate: 5.4 percent (20th highest).

Poverty rate: 18.5 percent (5th highest).

It can be tough to get ahead in Kentucky, despite the fact thatits median household income of $45,215 a year has increased since2014, when, adjusted for inflation, it was $43,014.

Part of the problem could be lack of a college degree amongresidents; just 23.3 percent of adults have a bachelor's degree,and that's considerably lower than the national college attainmentrate of 30.6 percent.

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Alabama's median income rose but its poverty rate is alsohigh. (Photo: iStock)

4. Alabama

Median household income: $44,765.

Population: 4,858,979 (24th highest).

2015 unemployment rate: 6.1 percent (8th highest).

Poverty rate: 18.5 percent (5th highest).

Alabama actually reaped some benefit from the increase in medianincomes; its own rose to $44,765 from 2014's, which, adjusted forinflation, was just $42,895.

But that doesn't mean the state is out of the woods. Not only isits poverty rate one of the highest in the country, the fact thathome prices are low here — the median home is worth $134,100, whichis more than $60,000 below the national benchmark of $194,500 —doesn't help enough with putting food on the table. A substantialportion of Alabama's population also relies on food stamps.

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This lovely state, West Virginia, has the highestunemployment rate. (Photo: iStock)

3. West Virginia

Median household income: $42,019.

Population: 1,844,128 (13th lowest).

2015 unemployment rate: 6.7 percent (the highest).

Poverty rate: 17.9 percent (7th highest).

Not only does West Virginia have the highest unemployment ratein the country, it also has one of the largest numbers ofrecipients of government assistance programs such as theSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In fact, 16.0 percent ofits households — the ninth highest percentage in the country — arereliant on food stamps.

Sure, it's on this list of 10 poorest states, but homes inArkansas are also low in cost. (Photo: iStock)

2. Arkansas

Median household income: $41,995.

Population: 2,978,204 (18th lowest).

2015 unemployment rate: 5.2 percent (24th highest).

Poverty rate: 19.1 percent (4th highest).

Arkansas may be the Natural State, but there's nothing naturalabout going hungry. Even though prices are low here, that doesn'thelp much if there's still no money to buy goods and services.

One small bright spot is the low cost of homes. At just$120,700, the typical home in Arkansas is valued at more than$70,000 below the national benchmark of $194,500.

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Mississippians understand poverty all too well; 11.5 percentearn $10,000 or less annually. (Photo: iStock)

1. Mississippi

Median household income: $40,593.

Population: 2,992,333 (19th lowest).

2015 unemployment rate: 6.5 percent (4th highest).

Poverty rate: 22 percent (the highest).

Mississippi finished at the bottom last year, and nothing'schanged about that. The national median income is $55,775, butMississippi lagged that number by more than $15,000.

And many Mississippians understand poverty all too well; 11.5percent earn $10,000 or less annually, the highest extreme povertyrate of any state. There aren't that many affluent households inthe state, either. Only 2.1 percent of Mississippi households earn$200,000 or more a year, the lowest such share.

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