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El Capitolio de Connecticut Credit: Shahrzad Rasekh / CT Mirror

No.

Connecticut does not have the biggest income inequality in the nation, but it ranks among the highest.

The state consistently appears near the top of national rankings for income inequality, often in the top five. According to 2023 U.S. Census data, Connecticut’s Gini coefficient is 0.4989, placing it fourth in the country behind Puerto Rico (0.5338), the District of Columbia (0.5244), and New York (0.5186). The Gini coefficient measures income inequality on a scale from 0 to 1, where higher numbers reflect greater disparity.

The state’s sharp divide stems largely from Fairfield County’s concentration of wealth, contrasted with struggling urban centers like Bridgeport, Hartford and New Haven. While Connecticut’s poverty rate is lower than many states, its top earners make more than 37 times what the bottom 99% earn. This gap fuels deep disparities in housing, education and opportunity, making inequality a defining issue across the state.

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Reginald David is the Community Engagement Reporter for CT Mirror. He builds relationships across Connecticut to elevate community voices and deepen public dialogue around local issues. Previously, he was a producer at KCUR 89.3, Kansas City’s NPR station, where he created community-centered programming, led live event coverage for major events like the NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Parade, and Royals Opening Day, and launched KC Soundcheck, a music series spotlighting local and national artists. Reginald has also hosted special segments, including an in-depth interview with civil rights leader Alvin Brooks and live community coverage on issues like racial segregation and neighborhood development. He began his public media career as an ‘Integrity in News’ intern at WNPR in Hartford.