U.S. history chart assignment

Chart 1 of 1 · Income and poverty

What is the typical household income in each state?

In the Census Bureau's 5-year survey ending in 2024, the typical household in District of Columbia earned $109,870 a year, the most, followed by Massachusetts ($103,960) and Maryland ($103,678). Mississippi was lowest at $56,447, and the U.S. median was $80,734. These are 5-year estimates in 2024 dollars, each with a margin of error.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (Public domain (U.S. government work). This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.) · Data as of Dec 31, 2024

How to read this chart

Each bar is the median household income in a state: half of households earn more and half earn less. The dashed line is the whole U.S., for comparison. These are survey estimates, and each has a margin of error: the true value is likely within that range, so states with overlapping ranges may not really differ.

Questions

1. Find your state. Is it above or below the U.S. median, and by about how much?
2. Why do statisticians often use the median instead of the average (mean) for income?
3. Housing and groceries cost more in some states. What would you need to know to compare what these incomes can buy?

Chart and numbers: chart.ly/charts/median-household-income-by-state · More free charts at chart.ly