Maryland's emergence as the nation's wealthiest state understandably generates pride, but large-scale economic success can also mask economic hardship. As some analysts note, the state's ranking is based on pockets of affluence, such as Howard County, which is the nation's third-wealthiest county. But, like much of the rest of America, there are still pockets of poverty that threaten the state's long-term future.
The newest data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American community survey show that a lot of people saw their economic status improve from 2005 to 2006. Median incomes rose by about $356, and poverty decreased somewhat among seniors, although it remained about the same among children and working-age adults.
But even amid relatively good news, there are reasons for continuing concern. The number of Americans without health insurance is now estimated at 47 million, or 15.8 percent of the population, up from 15.3 percent in 2005. In Maryland, there were 776,000 uninsured people last year.