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New Census Bureau data reveals the gains in income made — particularly by middle-income Americans — and casts a ray of light on the economy. But how do states compare to each other?
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Financial news and opinion site 24/7 Wall St. looked at all 50 states and the District of Columbia to see which came out richest and which poorest.
According to the new data, the national median household income rose to $55,775 in 2015. No state reported income declines.
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While 39 states reported significant increases in household income, income levels in 11 states remained the same. Annual income levels range from $75,847 in Maryland to $40,593 in Mississippi.
In addition to those latest Census Bureau income figures, it also considered state data on income from the Census Bureau’s 2015 American Community Survey, with median household income for all years adjusted for inflation.
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Also factoring into the ranking were data on health insurance coverage, employment by industry, food stamp recipiency, poverty, and income inequality — all also from the 2015 ACS.
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Income inequality is measured by the Gini coefficient, which is scaled from 0 to 1, with 0 representing perfect equality and 1 representing total inequality. 24/7 Wall St. also reviewed annual average unemployment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2014 and 2015.
While high-income states also tend to have higher education levels — in 17 of the states reporting higher than average household incomes, college attainment rates also exceed the national attainment rate of 30.1 percent — low-income states have access to cheaper goods and services than residents of high-income states, as well as cheaper housing.
Here are 24/7 Wall St.’s 10 richest states:
Being rich in Washington state could mean attending gala dinners with Bill Gates or cruising Puget Sound in a yacht. (Photo: iStock)
10. Washington state
Median household income: $64,129.
Population: 7,170,351 (13th highest).
2015 unemployment rate: 5.7 percent (15th highest).
Poverty rate: 12.2 percent (17th lowest).
The state of Washington may have squeaked in at the bottom of the list of 10 richest states, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have economic woes as well as wealth.
Last year, 5.7 percent of workers in the state were unemployed; that’s the 15th highest jobless rate nationally. In addition, 14.5 percent of households rely on food stamps, a slightly larger share than the national rate of 12.8 percent.
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A home in Malibu with a beach view is not out of reach for wealthy Californians, but is difficult for those making the median household income of $64,500. (Photo: iStock)
9. California
Median household income: $64,500.
Population: 39,144,818 (the highest).
2015 unemployment rate: 6.2 percent (7th highest).
Poverty rate: 15.3 percent (19th highest).
California is actually a study in contrasts. Its high cost of living — 12.4 percent higher than the national median — well outstrips salaries for those not in the higher echelons of earning, yet the state does have a higher-than-median household income.
But a lot of that gets eaten up by housing prices, which, at $449,100, are more than double the national median. And the state also has a high percentage of those in poverty; income inequality as measured by the Gini coefficient is more pervasive in California than in all but three other states.
See also: 50 of the wealthiest people in America, by state: Part 1
Rowhouses in Alexandria, Virginia, fetch a pretty price, but with its educated population and a low unemployment rate, a buyer can be found. (Photo: iStock)
8. Virginia
Median household income: $66,262.
Population: 8,382,993 (12th highest).
2015 unemployment rate: 4.4 percent (17th lowest).
Poverty rate: 11.2 percent (11th lowest).
An educated population has made Virginia the home of high earners, with 37 percent of its adults boasting a college degree and a bigger proportion of its population making more than $200,000 a year. Not only that, it has a smaller-than-average percentage of its population making less than $10,000 than the country overall.
Of course, it also helps to have a low unemployment rate, and Virginia’s is almost a full percentage point below the national average.
See also: 50 of the wealthiest people in America, by state: Part 2
Winters in New Hampshire are easier with a pool and spa, although in this state, home prices are above the national median. (Photo:iStock)
7. New Hampshire
Median household income: $70,303.
Population: 1,330,608 (10th lowest).
2015 unemployment rate: 3.4 percent (4th lowest).
Poverty rate: 8.2 percent (the lowest).
With the lowest poverty rate in the country, New Hampshire does fairly well for itself. Its home prices and income levels are both well above the national median, too.
But this is a state that really values education — and not just college degrees. While more than 35.7 percent of state adults have at least a bachelor’s degree, compared to 30.6 percent of adults nationally, the state also is second in the country for the number of adults who made it through high school: 93.1 percent, compared with 87.1 percent nationally.
See also: 50 of the wealthiest people in America, by state: Part 3
The median home value in Massachusetts is $352,100, but a place on Acorn Street on Boston’s Beacon Hill is definitely more attainable for the wealthy. (Photo: iStock)
6. Massachusetts
Median household income: $70,628.
Population: 6,794,422 (15th highest).
2015 unemployment rate: 5.0 percent (24th lowest).
Poverty rate: 11.5 percent (14th lowest).
If it’s a college education that makes the difference, Massachusetts residents probably know it — at 41.5 percent, the state has the highest concentration of college degrees anywhere in the country.
In addition, 10 percent of the state’s households make at least $200,000 a year, which is good for them because the median home value of $352,100 in the state is among the highest nationwide.
See also: 50 of the wealthiest people in America, by state: Part 4
Connecticut offers expensive homes but many residents are big earners. (Photo: iStock)
5. Connecticut
Median household income: $71,346.
Population: 3,590,886 (22nd lowest).
2015 unemployment rate: 5.6 percent (18th highest).
Poverty rate: 10.5 percent (6th lowest).
Connecticut has a reputation for being expensive, and part of that is because of the median cost of homes in the state — $270,900, well above the national median. But residents are big earners, too, with more than 10 percent of households bringing in more than $200,000 annually.
While not all residents are so fortunate, many are well educated, too; more than 38.3 percent of adults have at least a bachelor’s degree compared to 30.6 percent nationally.
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Many people who aren’t familiar with New Jersey are pleasantly surprised at its rural beauty as well as its ranking as a wealthy state. (Photo: iStock)
4. New Jersey
Median household income: $72,222.
Population: 8,958,013 (11th highest).
2015 unemployment rate: 5.6 percent (18th highest).
Poverty rate: 10.8 percent (8th lowest).
New Jersey is expensive — goods and services here run 14.5 percent more than across the rest of the country — but the state has a high proportion of big earners, so they can afford it; 10.9 percent of New Jersey residents make $200,000 or more annually.
They spend it, too, and a lot of it on housing, with the median home value of $322,600 running quite a bit more than the national median home value of $194,500. And they probably think they’re smart, since more than 37.6 percent of adults have at least a bachelor’s degree, compared to 30.6 percent nationally.
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Luxury in Alaska can mean buying privacy — and a floatplane and boat for access. (Photo: iStock)
3. Alaska
Median household income: $73,355.
Population: 738,432 (3rd lowest).
2015 unemployment rate: 6.5 percent (4th highest).
Poverty rate: 10.3 percent (5th lowest).
One of the reasons Alaska has such a high median household income is its reliance on oil. Despite the fact that oil’s price has fallen of late, the industry contributes mightily to the state’s economy. As part of the agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and mining sector, the oil industry also helps to employ some of the 5.6 percent of the population that are employed within the sector.
But that doesn’t mean the state has no problems; it has the second largest population percentage (14.9 percent) in the country who have no health insurance. And that’s not a good thing.
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Not surprisingly, real estate is expensive in Hawaii, with its median home value of $566,900. (Photo: iStock)
2. Hawaii
Median household income: $73,486.
Population: 1,431,603 (11th lowest).
2015 unemployment rate: 3.6 percent (6th lowest).
Poverty rate: 10.6 percent (7th lowest).
Hawaii is an expensive place to live, with a median home value of $566,900 the highest of any state and several times greater than the national median home value of $194,500. But it also attracts wealth — its median income is the second highest in the country.
It also has a low unemployment rate and a low poverty rate.
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While some might find enough luxury living on this boat, it’s just a toy for some lucky Maryland resident, in this state with the highest median income of all 50 states. (Photo: iStock)
1. Maryland
Median household income: $75,847.
Population: 6,006,401 (19th highest).
2015 unemployment rate: 5.2 percent (24th highest).
Poverty rate: 9.7 percent (2nd lowest).
The prosperous state of Maryland took top spot in 24/7 Wall St.’s 10 richest states list, with the highest median income of $75,847. But the state also has the second lowest poverty rate, which could be thanks to its high level of education — more than 38 percent of its adult residents have college degrees.
Add to that the fact that more than 10 percent of Maryland’s workers work in public administration, which are among the highest-paying government jobs in the country.
See also: High achievers: Study ranks the success of each state’s residents
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Originally published on BenefitsPro. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
America's 10 richest states
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