Views about government aid to the poor by state (2014) Switch to: State by views about government aid to the poor
% of adults who say government aid to the poor…
| State | Does more harm than good | Does more good than harm | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 53% | 40% | 5% | 2% | 511 |
| Alaska | 45% | 47% | 6% | 2% | 310 |
| Arizona | 49% | 43% | 4% | 4% | 653 |
| Arkansas | 48% | 47% | 2% | 2% | 311 |
| California | 38% | 56% | 4% | 2% | 3,697 |
| Colorado | 44% | 50% | 3% | 2% | 504 |
| Connecticut | 41% | 54% | 4% | 1% | 377 |
| Delaware | 43% | 51% | 4% | 2% | 301 |
| District of Columbia | 21% | 74% | 3% | 2% | 303 |
| Florida | 46% | 49% | 4% | 2% | 2,020 |
| Georgia | 46% | 47% | 5% | 2% | 968 |
| Hawaii | 43% | 50% | 6% | 1% | 312 |
| Idaho | 48% | 45% | 5% | 2% | 320 |
| Illinois | 42% | 52% | 3% | 2% | 1,326 |
| Indiana | 56% | 38% | 5% | 2% | 654 |
| Iowa | 45% | 51% | 4% | < 1% | 330 |
| Kansas | 48% | 45% | 6% | 1% | 307 |
| Kentucky | 49% | 41% | 8% | 3% | 439 |
| Louisiana | 48% | 44% | 4% | 4% | 465 |
| Maine | 41% | 52% | 4% | 3% | 303 |
| Maryland | 40% | 54% | 4% | 2% | 644 |
| Massachusetts | 39% | 56% | 3% | 2% | 704 |
| Michigan | 44% | 50% | 4% | 2% | 982 |
| Minnesota | 43% | 52% | 4% | 1% | 563 |
| Mississippi | 51% | 43% | 4% | 3% | 309 |
| Missouri | 48% | 47% | 4% | 2% | 642 |
| Montana | 55% | 42% | 1% | 2% | 312 |
| Nebraska | 55% | 42% | 2% | 1% | 312 |
| Nevada | 45% | 50% | 4% | 1% | 314 |
| New Hampshire | 40% | 54% | 3% | 3% | 303 |
| New Jersey | 39% | 55% | 3% | 3% | 886 |
| New Mexico | 41% | 51% | 3% | 4% | 312 |
| New York | 38% | 55% | 5% | 2% | 1,966 |
| North Carolina | 44% | 50% | 4% | 2% | 1,022 |
| North Dakota | 55% | 39% | 4% | 2% | 338 |
| Ohio | 47% | 47% | 4% | 2% | 1,132 |
| Oklahoma | 49% | 45% | 3% | 3% | 391 |
| Oregon | 39% | 56% | 5% | 1% | 419 |
| Pennsylvania | 48% | 46% | 4% | 2% | 1,366 |
| Rhode Island | 39% | 56% | 1% | 4% | 305 |
| South Carolina | 42% | 50% | 5% | 2% | 495 |
| South Dakota | 52% | 45% | 2% | 1% | 305 |
| Tennessee | 47% | 47% | 4% | 3% | 661 |
| Texas | 47% | 46% | 4% | 3% | 2,535 |
| Utah | 53% | 45% | 1% | 1% | 315 |
| Vermont | 34% | 61% | 3% | 2% | 306 |
| Virginia | 49% | 44% | 4% | 3% | 882 |
| Washington | 40% | 56% | 3% | 2% | 714 |
| West Virginia | 47% | 47% | 5% | 1% | 309 |
| Wisconsin | 49% | 47% | 2% | 2% | 600 |
| Wyoming | 61% | 32% | 5% | 2% | 316 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Learn More: Does more harm than good, Does more good than harm
