Median Household Income by State: 2024 Rankings and Key Trends

Median household income is one of the most closely watched measures of economic well-being, and the state-level figures for 2024 show both progress and persistent geographic divides. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey data published in the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis’ FRED database, the national median household income reached $83,730 in 2024, up from $80,610 in the preceding period. Yet the gap between the highest- and lowest-income states remains wide: among the states shown in the release table, Massachusetts led with a median of $113,900, while Louisiana recorded $60,740.

Key Numbers

• U.S. median household income, 2024: $83,730
• Year-over-year increase: $3,120 (3.9%)
• Highest state median: Massachusetts, $113,900
• Second-highest state median: Maryland, $109,700
• Lowest among states shown: Louisiana, $60,740
• District of Columbia: $104,800, down from $111,000
• Largest dollar increase: Maine, +$14,990
• Largest dollar decline: Alaska, -$6,930

Explanation

The median household income is the midpoint of the income distribution: half of all households earn more, and half earn less. It is based on the total money income of all household members aged 15 and older before taxes and other deductions. Because it is not distorted by a small number of very high earners, the median is generally considered a better measure of the “typical” household’s economic resources than the average, or mean.

State medians vary widely because of differences in industry mix, educational attainment, cost of living, and demographic composition. States with large concentrations of high-paying technology, finance, and professional services jobs tend to have higher medians, while states with more employment in lower-wage service, agriculture, or manufacturing sectors often have lower medians. The 2024 figures are in current dollars, meaning they are not adjusted for inflation.

Definition

Median household income is the income level that divides the income distribution into two equal groups. It includes wages and salaries, self-employment income, interest, dividends, rental income, Social Security, public assistance, and other money income received by all household members aged 15 and older. The median is calculated by ranking all household incomes from lowest to highest and identifying the middle value. Unlike the mean, the median is not pulled upward by extremely high incomes, making it a more stable indicator of the typical household’s resources.

National Comparison

In 2024, the U.S. median household income was $83,730 in current dollars, an increase of $3,120, or about 3.9 percent, from the preceding period’s $80,610. The national figure, however, conceals substantial variation. Several states in the Northeast and West had medians above $100,000, while states in the South and parts of the Midwest remained below $70,000. The District of Columbia, which is not a state, had a median of $104,800, but that was down from $111,000 in the preceding period.

The table below shows the U.S. median and selected state medians for 2024, along with the preceding period and the dollar change.

State Comparison

Among the states shown in the 2024 release, Massachusetts had the highest median household income at $113,900, followed by Maryland ($109,700), Colorado ($106,500), California ($100,600), and Connecticut ($99,240). At the other end, Louisiana had the lowest median among the states shown at $60,740, with Kentucky ($64,790), Arkansas ($64,840), and Alabama ($65,560) also near the bottom. The spread between Massachusetts and Louisiana was $53,160, or roughly 87 percent of Louisiana’s median.

This pattern reflects long-standing regional differences. The Northeast and West Coast tend to have higher medians because of higher concentrations of high-wage industries and higher costs of living, while many Southern and Midwestern states have lower medians, partly reflecting lower costs of living and different industry structures.

Ranking Table

The table below ranks the states and the District of Columbia for which 2024 data are available in the FRED release table, from highest to lowest median household income. The full 50-state table is available from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

Year-over-Year Change

Most states saw median household income rise between the preceding period and 2024, but the gains were uneven. Maine recorded the largest dollar increase among the states shown, rising $14,990 to $90,730. California and Colorado also posted large gains of $10,730 and $9,860, respectively. In contrast, Alaska experienced the largest decline, falling $6,930 to $91,260, while the District of Columbia fell $6,200 and Illinois fell $3,610. Delaware and Indiana were essentially flat, with small declines of $480 and $200.

Year-to-year changes in state medians can be influenced by sampling variability, migration patterns, and local economic conditions. Large one-year changes should be interpreted with caution, especially for smaller states.

Historical Data

Historical comparisons require adjusting for inflation. The National Center for Education Statistics publishes median household income by state in constant 2021 dollars for selected years from 1990 through 2021. The table below shows the U.S. median in constant 2021 dollars for selected years.

In constant dollars, the national median was essentially flat for much of the 2000s and early 2010s, reflecting the effects of the 2001 and 2007–2009 recessions. It began to rise more consistently after 2015, reaching $69,700 in 2021. The 2024 current-dollar figure of $83,730 is not directly comparable to these constant-dollar values without adjusting for inflation.

Factors Behind the Trend

State median incomes reflect a combination of industry composition, educational attainment, cost of living, and demographic factors. States with large concentrations of high-paying technology, finance, and professional services jobs—such as Massachusetts, Maryland, and California—tend to have higher medians. States with more employment in lower-wage service, agriculture, or manufacturing sectors often have lower medians. Cost of living also plays a role: high-income states frequently have higher housing and other costs, which can offset some of the purchasing power advantage.

Migration and population change can also shift medians. For example, states that attract higher-income remote workers or lose lower-income residents may see medians rise, while states with rapid population growth from lower-income households may see slower median growth. Policy choices, such as minimum wage levels and tax structures, can also influence the distribution of income within a state.

Why It Matters

Median household income is a key indicator of economic well-being and is used to compare living standards across states, track progress over time, and inform policy decisions. It is closely watched by policymakers, businesses, and researchers because it reflects the resources available to typical households for housing, food, health care, education, and savings. Differences across states can influence decisions about where to live, work, and invest, and they help identify areas where economic opportunity may be lagging.

Methodology

The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) collects income data from a sample of households each year. The median household income is calculated by ranking all household incomes from lowest to highest and identifying the midpoint. The ACS asks about income from wages, self-employment, interest, dividends, Social Security, public assistance, and other sources for all household members aged 15 and older. The 2024 figures are in current dollars, meaning they are not adjusted for inflation. The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis publishes these state-level estimates in its FRED database.

Limitations of the Data

Median household income has several limitations. It does not account for household size or composition, so a state with more single-person households may have a lower median than a state with more multi-earner households even if individual earnings are similar. It also does not adjust for state and local taxes, noncash benefits, or differences in the cost of living. The ACS is a sample survey, so estimates have margins of error, especially for smaller states. Finally, year-to-year changes can be influenced by sampling variability and should be interpreted with caution.

Because the ACS is a sample survey, state-level medians are estimates with associated margins of error. Small year-to-year changes may not be statistically significant.

Source & Data Date

The primary source is the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates, as published in the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis’ FRED database (release table: Median Household Income by State, Annual). The data were retrieved on September 9, 2026. Historical constant-dollar figures are from the National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics 2022, Table 102.30, which presents median household income by state for selected years 1990 through 2021 in constant 2021 dollars. Additional context on the ACS methodology is available from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey Briefs, “Household Income in States and Metropolitan Areas: 2023.”