Richest and poorest states in America

Travellaggio // Getty Images America’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has been complicated by inflation and climbing interest rates. Emergency federal aid helped ordinary citizens, businesses, and government agencies alike make it through the economic slowdown. But as that dries up, a darker picture is emerging. The poverty rate climbed in 2021, while income inequality grew from 2020 to 2021. And workers actually earned less, and watched the buying power of what they did earn drop. Stacker looked at the economies of the states and Washington D.C, with statistics from the Census Bureau’s most recent 1-Year American Community Survey, released in September 2022, to rank them according to 2021 median household income. The review also includes statistics on median earnings, unemployment rate, health insurance coverage, and poverty level. Note: The data point on median earnings is broken down to highlight the discrepancies between women and men. However, the Census collects data with a binary understanding of sex and gender, not considering other gender identities and potentially conflating sex and gender. You may also like: Marijuana violations are taking truck drivers off the road, adding more supply chain disruptions #51. Mississippi Canva – Median household income: $48,716 (30.1% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 105,133 (9.30%) – Households earning over $200,000: 40,061 (3.50%) – Median earnings for workers: $32,242 (men: $47,546; women: $37,056) – Unemployment rate: 6.40% – Families with income below poverty level: 14.40% – Households with health insurance: 88.10% #50. West Virginia Sean Pavone // Getty Images – Median household income: $51,248 (26.5% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 60,933 (8.40%) – Households earning over $200,000: 31,442 (4.40%) – Median earnings for workers: $33,739 (men: $51,981; women: $39,897) – Unemployment rate: 6.20% – Families with income below poverty level: 12.30% – Households with health insurance: 93.90% #49. Louisiana Pierre Jean Durieu // Getty Images – Median household income: $52,087 (25.3% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 164,981 (9.20%) – Households earning over $200,000: 101,388 (5.70%) – Median earnings for workers: $34,896 (men: $55,078; women: $40,136) – Unemployment rate: 7.60% – Families with income below poverty level: 15.20% – Households with health insurance: 92.40% #48. Arkansas Eduardo Medrano // Getty Images – Median household income: $52,528 (24.7% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 89,818 (7.60%) – Households earning over $200,000: 55,972 (4.70%) – Median earnings for workers: $33,869 (men: $47,329; women: $39,526) – Unemployment rate: 5.50% – Families with income below poverty level: 11.60% – Households with health insurance: 90.80% #47. Alabama Kevin Ruck // Getty Images – Median household income: $53,913 (22.7% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 152,450 (7.70%) – Households earning over $200,000: 101,831 (5.20%) – Median earnings for workers: $34,925 (men: $52,177; women: $39,338) – Unemployment rate: 5.30% – Families with income below poverty level: 11.70% – Households with health insurance: 90.10% You may also like: 50 car companies that no longer exist #46. New Mexico gmeland // Getty Images – Median household income: $53,992 (22.6% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 75,083 (9.00%) – Households earning over $200,000: 48,458 (5.80%) – Median earnings for workers: $34,133 (men: $51,149; women: $43,227) – Unemployment rate: 7.80% – Families with income below poverty level: 14.30% – Households with health insurance: 90.00% #45. Kentucky Alexey Stiop // Getty Images – Median household income: $55,573 (20.3% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 144,592 (8.10%) – Households earning over $200,000: 92,250 (5.20%) – Median earnings for workers: $34,928 (men: $51,842; women: $40,991) – Unemployment rate: 5.40% – Families with income below poverty level: 12.20% – Households with health insurance: 94.30% #44. Oklahoma Paul Brady Photography // Getty Images – Median household income: $55,826 (19.9% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 105,917 (6.80%) – Households earning over $200,000: 77,228 (5.00%) – Median earnings for workers: $34,460 (men: $51,289; women: $39,781) – Unemployment rate: 5.90% – Families with income below poverty level: 11.50% – Households with health insurance: 86.20% #43. South Carolina Sean Pavone // Getty Images – Median household income: $59,318 (14.9% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 144,668 (7.10%) – Households earning over $200,000: 122,320 (6.00%) – Median earnings for workers: $35,987 (men: $52,296; women: $40,739) – Unemployment rate: 5.60% – Families with income below poverty level: 10.80% – Households with health insurance: 90.00% #42. Tennessee Kevin Ruck // Getty Images – Median household income: $59,695 (14.4% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 181,576 (6.60%) – Households earning over $200,000: 175,898 (6.30%) – Median earnings for workers: $36,663 (men: $51,538; women: $41,863) – Unemployment rate: 5.30% – Families with income below poverty level: 9.70% – Households with health insurance: 90.00% You may also like: States with the largest unionized workforces #41. Missouri Sean Pavone // Getty Images – Median household income: $61,847 (11.3% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 146,475 (5.90%) – Households earning over $200,000: 157,589 (6.40%) – Median earnings for workers: $37,083 (men: $54,140; women: $43,065) – Unemployment rate: 4.60% – Families with income below poverty level: 8.40% – Households with health insurance: 90.60% #40. North Carolina Canva – Median household income: $61,972 (11.1% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 265,655 (6.40%) – Households earning over $200,000: 308,936 (7.40%) – Median earnings for workers: $37,218 (men: $52,421; women: $44,297) – Unemployment rate: 5.80% – Families with income below poverty level: 9.40% – Households with health insurance: 89.60% #39. Ohio Sean Pavone // Getty Images – Median household income: $62,262 (10.7% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 317,928 (6.60%) – Households earning over $200,000: 312,314 (6.50%) – Median earnings for workers: $38,214 (men: $57,177; women: $46,068) – Unemployment rate: 5.40% – Families with income below poverty level: 9.40% – Households with health insurance: 93.50% #38. Indiana Sean Pavone // Getty Images – Median household income: $62,743 (10.0% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 151,979 (5.70%) – Households earning over $200,000: 152,761 (5.70%) – Median earnings for workers: $37,998 (men: $55,191; women: $43,215) – Unemployment rate: 4.70% – Families with income below poverty level: 8.30% – Households with health insurance: 92.50% #37. Florida Noah Densmore // Getty Images – Median household income: $63,062 (9.5% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 542,819 (6.30%) – Households earning over $200,000: 663,997 (7.80%) – Median earnings for workers: $35,997 (men: $51,151; women: $42,228) – Unemployment rate: 5.60% – Families with income below poverty level: 9.40% – Households with health insurance: 87.90% You may also like: The industries where workers are quitting their jobs in droves #36. Montana Jacob Boomsma // Getty Images – Median household income: $63,249 (9.3% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 23,195 (5.20%) – Households earning over $200,000: 30,784 (6.90%) – Median earnings for workers: $35,272 (men: $55,496; women: $41,725) – Unemployment rate: 4.00% – Families with income below poverty level: 7.20% – Households with health insurance: 91.80% #35. Michigan Hanson L // Getty Images – Median household income: $63,498 (8.9% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 256,830 (6.30%) – Households earning over $200,000: 273,320 (6.70%) – Median earnings for workers: $37,258 (men: $60,293; women: $46,914) – Unemployment rate: 6.90% – Families with income below poverty level: 9.00% – Households with health insurance: 95.00% #34. Kansas Jacob Boomsma // Getty Images – Median household income: $64,124 (8.0% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 65,819 (5.70%) – Households earning over $200,000: 74,933 (6.50%) – Median earnings for workers: $38,071 (men: $54,902; women: $44,368) – Unemployment rate: 4.40% – Families with income below poverty level: 8.00% – Households with health insurance: 90.80% #33. Maine Sean Pavone // Getty Images – Median household income: $64,767 (7.1% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 32,174 (5.40%) – Households earning over $200,000: 39,832 (6.70%) – Median earnings for workers: $39,725 (men: $57,009; women: $47,018) – Unemployment rate: 4.90% – Families with income below poverty level: 7.20% – Households with health insurance: 94.30% #32. Wyoming haveseen // Getty Images – Median household income: $65,204 (6.5% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 14,659 (6.00%) – Households earning over $200,000: 14,179 (5.80%) – Median earnings for workers: $35,613 (men: $59,853; women: $40,976) – Unemployment rate: 3.70% – Families with income below poverty level: 7.80% – Households with health insurance: 87.80% You may also like: Richest women in America #31. Iowa f11photo // Getty Images – Median household income: $65,600 (5.9% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 64,244 (4.90%) – Households earning over $200,000: 81,020 (6.20%) – Median earnings for workers: $39,068 (men: $56,427; women: $44,801) – Unemployment rate: 3.60% – Families with income below poverty level: 6.90% – Households with health insurance: 95.20% #30. South Dakota Mendenhall Olga // Getty Images – Median household income: $66,143 (5.1% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 17,158 (4.80%) – Households earning over $200,000: 20,292 (5.70%) – Median earnings for workers: $37,149 (men: $52,405; women: $41,792) – Unemployment rate: 2.80% – Families with income below poverty level: 7.90% – Households with health insurance: 90.50% #29. Nevada Sean Pavone // Getty Images – Median household income: $66,274 (4.9% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 85,960 (7.20%) – Households earning over $200,000: 89,881 (7.50%) – Median earnings for workers: $37,052 (men: $52,398; women: $44,906) – Unemployment rate: 9.70% – Families with income below poverty level: 10.60% – Households with health insurance: 88.40% #28. Idaho Charles Knowles // Getty Images – Median household income: $66,474 (4.7% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 30,955 (4.50%) – Households earning over $200,000: 45,347 (6.50%) – Median earnings for workers: $34,941 (men: $51,941; women: $40,803) – Unemployment rate: 3.30% – Families with income below poverty level: 7.70% – Households with health insurance: 91.20% #27. North Dakota Jacob Boomsma // Getty Images – Median household income: $66,519 (4.6% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 18,213 (5.60%) – Households earning over $200,000: 19,407 (6.00%) – Median earnings for workers: $39,438 (men: $57,121; women: $45,182) – Unemployment rate: 2.90% – Families with income below poverty level: 6.30% – Households with health insurance: 92.10% You may also like: Famous consumer brands that no longer exist #26. Georgia Sean Pavone // Getty Images – Median household income: $66,559 (4.5% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 251,693 (6.30%) – Households earning over $200,000: 337,914 (8.40%) – Median earnings for workers: $37,512 (men: $54,422; women: $45,405) – Unemployment rate: 5.50% – Families with income below poverty level: 10.60% – Households with health insurance: 87.40% #25. Nebraska Jacob Boomsma // Getty Images – Median household income: $66,817 (4.2% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 40,806 (5.20%) – Households earning over $200,000: 53,061 (6.80%) – Median earnings for workers: $38,898 (men: $56,121; women: $44,037) – Unemployment rate: 2.70% – Families with income below poverty level: 6.70% – Households with health insurance: 92.90% #24. Texas Joe Belanger // Getty Images – Median household income: $66,963 (4.0% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 657,665 (6.10%) – Households earning over $200,000: 955,952 (8.90%) – Median earnings for workers: $38,059 (men: $56,100; women: $45,393) – Unemployment rate: 6.20% – Families with income below poverty level: 11.00% – Households with health insurance: 82.00% #23. Wisconsin f11photo // Getty Images – Median household income: $67,125 (3.7% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 117,547 (4.80%) – Households earning over $200,000: 160,477 (6.60%) – Median earnings for workers: $40,678 (men: $57,925; women: $46,762) – Unemployment rate: 3.50% – Families with income below poverty level: 6.80% – Households with health insurance: 94.60% #22. Pennsylvania Sean Pavone // Getty Images – Median household income: $68,957 (1.1% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 308,449 (5.90%) – Households earning over $200,000: 454,003 (8.70%) – Median earnings for workers: $40,983 (men: $62,096; women: $50,272) – Unemployment rate: 6.40% – Families with income below poverty level: 8.30% – Households with health insurance: 94.50% You may also like: Do you know the brands behind these famous slogans? #21. Arizona Sean Pavone // Getty Images – Median household income: $69,056 (0.9% less than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 158,400 (5.60%) – Households earning over $200,000: 228,651 (8.10%) – Median earnings for workers: $39,023 (men: $55,458; women: $46,309) – Unemployment rate: 5.80% – Families with income below poverty level: 9.10% – Households with health insurance: 89.30% #20. Delaware Real Window Creative // Getty Images – Median household income: $71,091 (2.0% more than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 20,504 (5.20%) – Households earning over $200,000: 33,025 (8.30%) – Median earnings for workers: $41,374 (men: $60,608; women: $51,827) – Unemployment rate: 5.60% – Families with income below poverty level: 8.60% – Households with health insurance: 94.30% #19. Oregon Josemaria Toscano // Getty Images – Median household income: $71,562 (2.6% more than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 90,749 (5.30%) – Households earning over $200,000: 153,152 (9.00%) – Median earnings for workers: $40,063 (men: $60,831; women: $51,057) – Unemployment rate: 6.40% – Families with income below poverty level: 7.60% – Households with health insurance: 93.90% #18. Illinois Sean Pavone // Getty Images – Median household income: $72,205 (3.6% more than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 321,928 (6.40%) – Households earning over $200,000: 504,727 (10.10%) – Median earnings for workers: $41,504 (men: $63,819; women: $51,131) – Unemployment rate: 7.40% – Families with income below poverty level: 8.60% – Households with health insurance: 93.00% #17. Vermont Sean Pavone // Getty Images – Median household income: $72,431 (3.9% more than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 10,992 (4.10%) – Households earning over $200,000: 23,553 (8.70%) – Median earnings for workers: $40,249 (men: $55,803; women: $51,931) – Unemployment rate: 4.20% – Families with income below poverty level: 6.30% – Households with health insurance: 96.30% You may also like: States where food stamps are used the most #16. Rhode Island ESB Professional // Getty Images – Median household income: $74,008 (6.2% more than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 25,735 (5.80%) – Households earning over $200,000: 45,324 (10.30%) – Median earnings for workers: $41,891 (men: $63,219; women: $54,188) – Unemployment rate: 7.70% – Families with income below poverty level: 7.00% – Households with health insurance: 95.70% #15. New York oneinchpunch // Getty Images – Median household income: $74,314 (6.6% more than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 535,006 (7.00%) – Households earning over $200,000: 987,887 (12.90%) – Median earnings for workers: $43,462 (men: $67,512; women: $59,869) – Unemployment rate: 8.70% – Families with income below poverty level: 10.10% – Households with health insurance: 94.80% #14. Minnesota f11photo // Getty Images – Median household income: $77,720 (11.5% more than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 96,651 (4.20%) – Households earning over $200,000: 226,903 (9.90%) – Median earnings for workers: $43,853 (men: $64,611; women: $52,535) – Unemployment rate: 4.90% – Families with income below poverty level: 5.50% – Households with health insurance: 95.50% #13. Alaska SCStock // Getty Images – Median household income: $77,845 (11.7% more than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 14,625 (5.40%) – Households earning over $200,000: 27,700 (10.20%) – Median earnings for workers: $41,962 (men: $62,134; women: $55,285) – Unemployment rate: 7.00% – Families with income below poverty level: 7.10% – Households with health insurance: 88.60% #12. Utah Sean Pavone // Getty Images – Median household income: $79,449 (14.0% more than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 47,612 (4.30%) – Households earning over $200,000: 108,131 (9.80%) – Median earnings for workers: $37,325 (men: $61,269; women: $44,707) – Unemployment rate: 3.50% – Families with income below poverty level: 5.90% – Households with health insurance: 91.00% You may also like: Most popular grocery stores in America #11. Virginia Sean Pavone // Getty Images – Median household income: $80,963 (16.1% more than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 167,157 (5.00%) – Households earning over $200,000: 445,751 (13.40%) – Median earnings for workers: $43,963 (men: $66,014; women: $53,414) – Unemployment rate: 4.80% – Families with income below poverty level: 6.90% – Households with health insurance: 93.20% #10. Colorado Andrew Zarivny // Getty Images – Median household income: $82,254 (18.0% more than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 110,592 (4.80%) – Households earning over $200,000: 277,905 (12.00%) – Median earnings for workers: $44,818 (men: $65,217; women: $54,635) – Unemployment rate: 5.30% – Families with income below poverty level: 6.20% – Households with health insurance: 92.00% #9. Connecticut Sean Pavone // Getty Images – Median household income: $83,771 (20.2% more than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 74,573 (5.20%) – Households earning over $200,000: 208,195 (14.60%) – Median earnings for workers: $45,511 (men: $73,022; women: $60,672) – Unemployment rate: 6.70% – Families with income below poverty level: 6.70% – Households with health insurance: 94.80% #8. Washington Agnieszka Gaul // Getty Images – Median household income: $84,247 (20.8% more than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 145,555 (4.80%) – Households earning over $200,000: 422,689 (14.00%) – Median earnings for workers: $46,951 (men: $74,068; women: $57,567) – Unemployment rate: 5.90% – Families with income below poverty level: 6.50% – Households with health insurance: 93.60% #7. Hawaii Izabela23 // Getty Images – Median household income: $84,857 (21.7% more than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 26,535 (5.40%) – Households earning over $200,000: 65,102 (13.30%) – Median earnings for workers: $40,595 (men: $61,812; women: $49,816) – Unemployment rate: 7.70% – Families with income below poverty level: 8.00% – Households with health insurance: 96.10% You may also like: Iconic car debuts from the year you were born #6. California Lucky-photographer // Getty Images – Median household income: $84,907 (21.8% more than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 715,644 (5.30%) – Households earning over $200,000: 2,082,043 (15.50%) – Median earnings for workers: $41,891 (men: $65,324; women: $57,373) – Unemployment rate: 8.30% – Families with income below poverty level: 9.00% – Households with health insurance: 93.00% #5. New Hampshire Winston Tan // Getty Images – Median household income: $88,465 (26.9% more than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 17,235 (3.10%) – Households earning over $200,000: 62,138 (11.30%) – Median earnings for workers: $45,677 (men: $68,566; women: $51,880) – Unemployment rate: 3.60% – Families with income below poverty level: 4.80% – Households with health insurance: 94.90% #4. New Jersey Mia2you // Getty Images – Median household income: $89,296 (28.1% more than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 171,737 (4.90%) – Households earning over $200,000: 584,370 (16.70%) – Median earnings for workers: $50,021 (men: $75,297; women: $61,802) – Unemployment rate: 8.10% – Families with income below poverty level: 7.40% – Households with health insurance: 92.80% #3. Massachusetts Travellaggio // Getty Images – Median household income: $89,645 (28.6% more than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 149,006 (5.40%) – Households earning over $200,000: 472,304 (17.10%) – Median earnings for workers: $50,683 (men: $77,636; women: $66,536) – Unemployment rate: 6.60% – Families with income below poverty level: 7.10% – Households with health insurance: 97.50% #2. Washington D.C. Sean Pavone // Getty Images – Median household income: $90,088 (29.2% more than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 30,677 (9.60%) – Households earning over $200,000: 68,951 (21.60%) – Median earnings for workers: $72,457 (men: $103,222; women: $87,244) – Unemployment rate: 8.20% – Families with income below poverty level: 12.80% – Households with health insurance: 96.30% You may also like: 25 richest families in America #1. Maryland Sean Pavone // Getty Images – Median household income: $90,203 (29.4% more than U.S. median income) – Households earning less than $10,000: 122,990 (5.20%) – Households earning over $200,000: 355,084 (15.10%) – Median earnings for workers: $50,548 (men: $71,995; women: $62,190) – Unemployment rate: 5.90% – Families with income below poverty level: 7.40% – Households with health insurance: 93.90%