Families on the brink

Despite reports of a healthy economy, millions of families are facing economic uncertainty, according to the Prosperity Now Scorecard, a nonprofit data bank based in Washington, D.C. The scorecard ranks state financial vulnerability across policy categories, including housing, health care, education, business and jobs, and financial assets and income. More than 1 in 5 jobs (22.5 percent) are considered low-wage, paying below the poverty threshold for a family of four. And 40 percent of households that experience a loss of income don’t have enough savings to make ends meet at the poverty level for more than two months. Additionally, 13.2 percent of households fell behind on their bills last year—the rate is higher (22.1 percent) for households making less than $30,000. California ranked 18th out of 51 (Washington, D.C. is included). Here are the top financially stable states, by rank:

1. Vermont

2. Hawaii

3. New Hampshire

4. Washington

5. Utah

6. Virginia

7. Massachusetts and Wyoming (tied)

9. Iowa

10. Oregon