Benchmark
The Water Crisis is Just the Latest Blow to Flint's Economy
Wealth, higher education rates trail far behind national averages
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The lead-poisoned water scandal in Flint, Michigan is the latest challenge for a city that's suffered disproportionately from U.S. manufacturing job losses and poverty.
Census data paint a bleak picture of the once industrial hub and birthplace of General Motors Co. Median household income was $26,179 in 2014. That's down 7 percent from 2008 and compares to a median income of $49,847 for the state of Michigan and $53,657 for the U.S. overall. About 42 percent of residents live below the poverty line, almost triple the national rate of close to 16 percent. In a recent WalletHub ranking of top real estate markets for prospective home buyers, Flint placed last out of 300 U.S. cities.