Racial/Ethnic Income Equity
In 2018-2022, the average incomes of BIPOC* and Latino or Hispanic Mainers rose 4% but remained 27% below White, non-Hispanic Mainers, dramatically short of full equity.
Favorable movement since the last available data
Benchmark: The average per-capita income of Mainers of color will improve to the state average by 2030.
Overview
The Council strongly believes that Maine needs the contributions of every resident to achieve a vibrant, sustainable economy. Increasing prosperity is not true progress unless it is equitably shared. This will require broad, deep, and long-term systemic change.
From 2018 to 2022, the average per capita income of BIPOC* and Latino or Hispanic Maine residents (about 9% of the population) was $29,588. This is 73% of the $40,669 average for White, non-Hispanic Mainers. This represents an increase from 69% in 2017-2021, and is high by national standards, but it means that for every $10 made by White households, all other racial and ethnic groups made about $7.
This stark racial/ethnic income disparity is seen across New England and the United States. To counter it, Maine must improve access to training and education for residents of color, better support their communities and businesses, and address cultural biases and systemic disadvantages. No U.S. state has eliminated the racial income gap yet. Households of color earn over 75% as much as white households in New Hampshire and West Virginia, the highest-ranked states.
*Black, Indigenous, People of Color
Fig. A
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Average Per-Capita Income, 2018-2022
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Fig. B
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Maine Poverty Rate by Race/Ethnicity 2018-2022
Source: U.S. Census Bureau