Median Household Income
Definition
The income level at which half of all households earn more and half earn less. It includes wages, salaries, Social Security, pensions, interest, dividends, and other income for all members of the household aged 15 and older.
Why It Matters
Median income is the gold standard measure of economic well-being because it is not skewed by extremely high earners the way average (mean) income is. It directly affects quality of life, housing affordability, and access to services.
How It's Measured
The Census Bureau asks survey respondents to report total household income from all sources over the past 12 months. The median is calculated from all reported values.
Current Value
US median: approximately $75,000
Related Ranking
View ranking →Related Terms
Related Glossary Terms
Total personal income divided by total population. It represents the average income earned per person, incl...
The percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold, which varies by household size...
A measure of income inequality on a scale of 0 to 100. A score of 0 represents perfect equality (everyone e...
The American Community Survey is an ongoing annual survey conducted by the US Census Bureau that collects d...
The age at which exactly half the population is older and half is younger. It provides a single number that...
The midpoint value of owner-occupied housing units. Half of homes are worth more and half are worth less. T...
Frequently Asked Questions
The income level at which half of all households earn more and half earn less. It includes wages, salaries, Social Security, pensions, interest, dividends, and other income for all members of the household aged 15 and older.
Median income is the gold standard measure of economic well-being because it is not skewed by extremely high earners the way average (mean) income is. It directly affects quality of life, housing affordability, and access to services.
The Census Bureau asks survey respondents to report total household income from all sources over the past 12 months. The median is calculated from all reported values.
Median Household Income is one of the U.S. population demographics concepts that recurs across this site. The definition above is the technical answer; the paragraphs below add the practical context for how the concept connects to the the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files data behind every per-entity page on the site.
In the the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files data, this concept shapes one or more of the fields that drive the per-entity grades and rankings on this site. The methodology page describes which fields feed into which output; this glossary entry documents the underlying term.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.