HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The Huntington area is once again at the center of a study, this time ranking as the most poverty-stricken area in the state.

According to a release from the Center on Budget & Policy, West Virginia is the second poorest state in the nation -- with the poverty rate at 18.6 percent. The information was gathered from the 2011 census.

The data includes statistics on poverty, income and health insurance. The Huntington Tri-State area had the highest poverty rate in the state -- nearly 20 percent.

The state's child poverty level was 25.8 percent, which is up from 2010.

The poverty rate for African Americans was 16.2 percentage points higher than the state average.

The median household income was $38,482. That’s down $962 from the previous year.

Nearly 15 percent of West Virginians between the ages of 18 and 64 were uninsured.

The report taps education as a shield against poverty. Only 4.1 percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher were at poverty level -- compared to 29.4 percent with less than a high school education.