Varying Impact of Gas Prices

From "Varying Impact of Gas Prices" in the NYT:

 

In this interactive feature it is pretty obvious that rural areas have the lowest median incomes and the greatest distances to drive, therefore high gas prices are a double-whammy. Fortunately, gas prices are slightly lower in these areas than the rest of the country. But that doesn't matter very much if wages do not keep pace with the inflation of gas (and food) prices.