At first glance, Gov. Chris Sununu was right to point out that New Hampshire has the lowest poverty rate in the nation.

We do not believe this, alone, paints a proper a picture of New Hampshire’s economic conditions, however.

Thursday, Sununu issued a press statement highlighting U.S. Census Bureau data that indicate New Hampshire’s poverty rate for the last three years is 6.4%.

By comparison, the national average is 12.3%, while the next lowest rate for any other New England state is Vermont’s 9.6%.

“Today’s news reaffirms that our pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda is getting the job done for the people of New Hampshire,” Sununu stated. “With the lowest poverty rate in the nation over the last three years, combined with the fact that more people working than ever before, the New Hampshire economy is roaring.”

The fact is that many in New Hampshire are well above the poverty line. A person taking a walk down Nashua’s Main Street in the heart of downtown on a given day will likely pass more automobiles featuring Acura, BMW and Lexus badges than those with Chevy, Ford or even Honda emblems.

“We have opened up doors of opportunity here in the Granite State like never before,” Sununu added in his statement.

However, the gap between the affluent and the poor in New Hampshire seems to be widening. As evidence of this, we cite the fact that the Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter plans to transform the former Sacred Heart School at 35 Spring St. into a new refuge to accommodate Nashua’s growing homeless population.

“It is true that New Hampshire as a state has a very low rate of people living below the poverty level,” shelter Executive Director Michael Reinke told The Telegraph. “At the same time, the governor’s statement, fails to mention and even obfuscates the fact that New Hampshire is doing far less than surrounding states to support those people who are working full-time and still can’t make ends meet.”

United Way of Greater Nashua President Mike Apfelberg added that many continue to struggle due to, in his words: “wage stagnation,” an “extreme shortage of affordable housing,” and an “extreme lack of affordable child care for working families.”

It is fair and accurate for Sununu to point out New Hampshire’s low poverty rate. However, this does not tell the whole story.

Another example of this is the Meals Matter program that began at Nashua High School South last year before expanding to other schools. Many students at the school did not qualify for free lunch because their parents officially had too much income, but the children still were often going hungry because they usually did not have money to buy lunch.

With the help of thoughtful and generous students, and eventually the United Way, this problem has been addressed.