Income & Cost of Living

Earnings, income distribution, and affordability metrics across the U.S.

Real Per Capita Personal Income by State: 2024 Rankings Adjusted for Cost of Living

| Income & Cost of Living |

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released 2024 state-level real per capita personal income data on February 19, 2026, showing wide variation after adjusting for cost of living. The District of Columbia led at $81,872, while several states clustered near $52,000. Nationally, real personal income rose 2.9 percent, but state growth ranged from a 5.5 percent gain in California to a 2.2 percent decline in North Dakota.

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Poverty Rate by State: 2025 Rankings and Key Trends

| Income & Cost of Living |

The U.S. national official poverty rate was 10.6% in 2024, but state-level rates varied widely, from under 8% in several states to 19.6% in Louisiana. Southern states dominate the highest poverty rankings, while the Supplemental Poverty Measure was 12.9%, reflecting the end of pandemic-era benefits. These state rankings are critical for federal funding and economic policy.

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Average Hourly Earnings by State: 2026 Rankings and Trends

| Wages & Earnings |

Average hourly earnings vary widely across U.S. states, from about $30 in lower-wage Southern states to more than $50 in the District of Columbia. According to the latest BLS annual averages for 2025, states such as California, Connecticut, and Colorado report average hourly earnings above $39, while Alabama and Arkansas remain below $32. These differences reflect industry mix, cost of living, and state minimum wage policies.

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What Is the Gini Coefficient and How Does It Measure U.S. Income Inequality?

| Poverty & Inequality |

The Gini coefficient is a summary measure of income inequality that ranges from 0, perfect equality, to 1, perfect inequality. In the United States, the Census Bureau reported that income inequality increased in 2021 for the first time since 2011, driven by real income declines at the bottom. The Bureau of Economic Analysis now publishes state-level Gini coefficients, allowing geographic comparisons of income concentration.

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