Earnings, income distribution, and affordability metrics across the U.S.
Mississippi has the lowest median household income among U.S. states at $54,203, followed by West Virginia ($55,948) and Louisiana ($58,229). These states are concentrated in the Deep South and Appalachia, where incomes trail the national median by $20,000 or more, though lower living costs partly offset the gap.
Per capita personal income varies widely across U.S. states, from $54,531 in Mississippi to $116,121 in the District of Columbia in 2025. Connecticut leads states at $98,879, while the national average is $76,393. This article breaks down the latest BEA data, rankings, and factors behind the differences.
The most recent official data show that U.S. median household income was $83,730 in 2024, a modest 1.3 percent real increase from 2023 that was not statistically significant. Gains were uneven, with higher-income households seeing healthier inflation-adjusted increases while middle- and lower-income households saw little change.
The highest-income states in 2026 are concentrated in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and West Coast. Massachusetts leads all states with a median household income of $103,960, while the District of Columbia tops the list at $109,870. The national median household income is $80,734, but only 19 states exceed that figure, reflecting deep regional income divides.