It only looks confusing to those who don't understand economics, politics and American society. If you are that ignorant, I'm glad to help you learn reality.
The cost of living is cheaper down south, housing, food, cigarettes everything. The more liberal states have higher taxes and government fees, so it's equal. Take mass, one of the most liberal states, my dad makes 70-110K a year yet pays more the average salary of the average person. So really he makes, 80-40K. So he has less spending money than someone down south. Also, in states like Mississippi and Missouri, they have a dropout rate of close to 50%, so people make less money.