I live in Phonix

The question is how you define rich/poor. it is not simply something that can be used money alone to measure. In the first year I was in the States, my monthly expenses include $120 (shared one bedroom with another guy), and about $100 for food. I had pork and chicken everyday (they are really cheap even today!).I felt life was so easy in the States. my annual research assistantship of $15000 seemed to be way beyond I really needed. But the actual American life is obviouly defined that way -- so is poor or rich. of course, if you insist in using a simple number in terms of money, I agree, there might not be that many "poor".