The Average Income in Your State vs. the National Average—How Do You Compare?

 *According to the latest data from the Census Bureau.

What These Numbers Mean

The household income figures above come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey (ACS), published on September 12, 2024. They are the most current ones available. The 2024 survey results are scheduled to become available starting on Sept. 11, 2025.

According to the Census Bureau’s definition, household income “includes income of the householder and all other people 15 years and older in the household, whether or not they are related to the householder.”

While it’s too early to know for sure, the 2024 income numbers are likely to be somewhat higher than these for most states, according to other government data. For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that wages and salaries for civilian workers rose 3.5% the 12-month period ending in March 2025. The BLS defines civilian workers as those in private industry as well as state and local government.

What the Numbers Don’t Say 

While median income is useful for benchmarking, it doesn’t tell the whole story. It doesn’t reflect income disparities between the wealthiest and families living in deep poverty, nor does it capture geographic differences in living costs.

Income inequality remains a pressing issue in the U.S. and around the world, and alongside its income figures, the Census Bureau publishes an estimated Gini index, a common gauge of inequality, for the 50 states. The latest figures show the Gini index for the U.S. as a whole at 0.483 on a scale of 0 to 1, putting the country roughly in the middle between “perfect equality” and so-called “perfect inequality.”

On the 2023 list, Puerto Rico has the highest Gini index, at 0.548, and Utah the lowest, at 0.423. Others with Gini indexes exceeding the national average include New York state and the District of Columbia, both at 0.516.

Median income also doesn’t account for cost-of-living differences. In lower-income states where housing, healthcare, and other essentials are cheaper, residents may live as comfortably, or more comfortably, than those in higher-income states.

If you’d like to see how your state does on that measure, the “regional price parities” calculated by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis can be useful. They compare the difference in prices from one state to another and indicate whether they are higher or lower than the national average.

The Bottom Line

Median household income varies widely across the United States, and the numbers are only one piece of the puzzle. Cost of living, tax burdens, and local economic conditions also matter. Still, understanding how your income compares can be a useful starting point when planning your financial future.