Census ACS 5-Year · 51 states
Poorest States in America by Median Household Income
The poorest states in America are concentrated in the Deep South and parts of Appalachia, where median household income trails the national figure by $20,000 or more. Mississippi consistently ranks as the poorest state, with median household income roughly two-thirds of the national median. West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Alabama round out the bottom of the ranking. Poverty in these states reflects long-running structural factors: historical underinvestment in education, the decline of extractive industries (coal, timber, fishing), agricultural mechanization, and the loss of mid-skill manufacturing jobs. Income alone, however, doesn't capture the full picture. The poorest states also tend to have the lowest costs of living, meaning a household earning $50,000 in Mississippi has roughly the same purchasing power as one earning $65,000 in Massachusetts. Federal programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and the Earned Income Tax Credit disproportionately flow to lower-income states, partially offsetting the income gap. This ranking shows median household income for all 50 states plus DC, drawn from the most recent American Community Survey 5-Year estimates.
Key Findings
- 1Mississippi leads with a median household income of $54,915, followed by West Virginia ($57,917) and Arkansas ($58,773).
- 2District of Columbia ranks last at $106,287, while Mississippi leads at $54,915.
- 3The national median across all states is $75,561 (Nevada at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: Mississippi, West Virginia, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, New Mexico, Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee.
Full Ranking: Poorest States in America by Median Household Income
Source: Census ACS 5-Year Estimates
| # | State | Median Income | Poverty Rate | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $74,815 | 7.1% | 2.4% |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $75,670 | 6.6% | 2.2% |
| 3 | West Virginia | $57,917 | 11.9% | 3.1% |
| 4 | Washington | $94,952 | 6.4% | 3.2% |
| 5 | Virginia | $90,974 | 6.8% | 2.7% |
| 6 | Vermont | $78,024 | 5.7% | 2.4% |
| 7 | Utah | $91,750 | 5.7% | 2.4% |
| 8 | Texas | $76,292 | 10.5% | 3.3% |
| 9 | Tennessee | $67,097 | 9.9% | 2.9% |
| 10 | South Dakota | $72,421 | 7.4% | 2.0% |
| 11 | South Carolina | $66,818 | 10.1% | 3.0% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $86,372 | 7.0% | 3.7% |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $76,081 | 8.1% | 3.3% |
| 14 | Oregon | $80,426 | 7.3% | 3.3% |
| 15 | Oklahoma | $63,603 | 11.1% | 3.0% |
| 16 | Ohio | $69,680 | 9.2% | 3.1% |
| 17 | North Dakota | $75,949 | 6.2% | 1.9% |
| 18 | North Carolina | $69,904 | 9.4% | 3.0% |
| 19 | New York | $84,578 | 9.8% | 3.9% |
| 20 | New Mexico | $62,125 | 13.7% | 3.4% |
| 21 | New Jersey | $101,050 | 7.0% | 4.1% |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $95,628 | 4.4% | 2.2% |
| 23 | Nevada | $75,561 | 9.0% | 4.3% |
| 24 | Nebraska | $74,985 | 6.7% | 2.0% |
| 25 | Montana | $69,922 | 7.1% | 2.3% |
| 26 | Missouri | $68,920 | 8.4% | 2.6% |
| 27 | Mississippi | $54,915 | 14.3% | 3.4% |
| 28 | Minnesota | $87,556 | 5.5% | 2.7% |
| 29 | Michigan | $71,149 | 8.8% | 3.6% |
| 30 | Massachusetts | $101,341 | 6.6% | 3.5% |
| 31 | Maryland | $101,652 | 6.3% | 3.3% |
| 32 | Maine | $71,773 | 6.5% | 2.4% |
| 33 | Louisiana | $60,023 | 14.2% | 3.7% |
| 34 | Kentucky | $62,417 | 11.8% | 2.9% |
| 35 | Kansas | $72,639 | 7.7% | 2.6% |
| 36 | Iowa | $73,147 | 6.9% | 2.4% |
| 37 | Indiana | $70,051 | 8.4% | 2.7% |
| 38 | Illinois | $81,702 | 8.2% | 3.8% |
| 39 | Idaho | $74,636 | 7.0% | 2.3% |
| 40 | Hawaii | $98,317 | 6.9% | 3.0% |
| 41 | Georgia | $74,664 | 9.9% | 3.2% |
| 42 | Florida | $71,711 | 8.9% | 2.8% |
| 43 | District of Columbia | $106,287 | 10.7% | 4.6% |
| 44 | Delaware | $82,855 | 7.3% | 3.1% |
| 45 | Connecticut | $93,760 | 6.8% | 3.7% |
| 46 | Colorado | $92,470 | 5.9% | 3.0% |
| 47 | California | $96,334 | 8.4% | 4.1% |
| 48 | Arkansas | $58,773 | 11.5% | 3.0% |
| 49 | Arizona | $76,872 | 8.9% | 3.1% |
| 50 | Alaska | $89,336 | 6.8% | 3.6% |
| 51 | Alabama | $62,027 | 11.3% | 2.8% |
Methodology
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Mississippi has the highest median household income at $54,915, according to latest Census ACS data. West Virginia and Arkansas round out the top three.
District of Columbia has the lowest median household income at $106,287. Maryland is second-lowest at $101,652.
The median across all 51 states is $75,561. Note that the national median and the state-level median are calculated differently, the state median represents the midpoint when all states are ranked.
This data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates published by the US Census Bureau. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides the most comprehensive demographic data available between decennial censuses.
Rankings are based on the latest available Census ACS 5-Year estimates. The Census Bureau releases new ACS data annually. Our data was last updated on April 12, 2026.
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.