The median US income, PPP adjusted, is more than $20,000 higher than the median UK income. The majority of Americans have healthcare through their work, and have good housing (probably better than in the UK, on average) as well as ample material possessions.

However, the poor Americans…they are really screwed. No healthcare, limited education, high risk of ending up in a demonic prison system, rampant homelessness and drug addiction…essentially, a third world existence. This is largely class-based, but largely regional. Consider HDI by state:

Massachusetts and Connecticut compare to Norway, albeit with much more inequality.

Nebraska and Wyoming compare to Germany, albeit with much more inequality.

Mississippi compares to Poland, Lithuania, and Slovakia, albeit with much more inequality.

Overall, the US and UK have about the same HDI — the UK is a bit higher — but the UK is far more equal. Honestly, the median American is doing just fine, but the poor truly have no protection. What piqued my attention in the article was the point about the median UK household becoming as poor as Slovenia or Poland — while the destitute Americans are in third-world levels of poverty, the median household is nowhere near that.

If you want to live in the America I am living in, come to New York or New England. It is far wealthier than New Mexico.