Median Household Income 2023-2026 — CPS ASEC Census State + Metro Real vs Nominal
Census CPS ASEC 2024 reports US median household income at $83,730. The report was released September 9, 2025 and says the estimate was not statistically different from 2023 or the pre-pandemic 2019 level after inflation adjustment.
For state and metro comparisons, use the 2024 American Community Survey. ACS gives a slightly different national estimate ($81,604) because it uses a different survey design and covers geography in more detail.
Median Household Income by State 2024 (CPS ASEC)
| State | 2024 Median | 2023 Median | Real Change | Top Metro | Metro Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $102,100 | $98,461 | +0.7% | DC-MD-VA Metro | $117,432 |
| Massachusetts | $99,858 | $96,505 | +0.5% | Boston-Cambridge | $113,562 |
| New Jersey | $96,346 | $92,340 | +1.4% | NYC-Newark Metro | $105,820 |
| New Hampshire | $95,628 | $91,062 | +1.9% | Manchester-Nashua | $98,520 |
| California | $95,521 | $92,175 | +0.6% | San Francisco-Oakland | $132,845 |
| Connecticut | $90,730 | $88,429 | -0.4% | Stamford-Norwalk | $122,470 |
| Washington | $90,325 | $88,068 | -0.5% | Seattle-Bellevue | $113,580 |
| Virginia | $89,931 | $87,249 | +0.1% | Northern Virginia (DC) | $132,456 |
| Texas | $75,780 | $73,035 | +0.8% | Austin-Round Rock | $92,421 |
| Florida | $71,711 | $67,917 | +2.6% | Naples-Marco Island | $89,834 |
| Georgia | $73,591 | $71,355 | +0.1% | Atlanta | $86,420 |
| Mississippi | $54,915 | $52,985 | +0.5% | Gulfport-Biloxi | $56,234 |
Income Distribution Percentiles (Census 2024)
| Percentile | Income Threshold | % of Total Income | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top 1% | $591,550 | 22.4% | Income above this = top 1% nationally |
| Top 5% | $280,790 | 38.1% | Top 5% household entry threshold |
| Top 10% | $211,256 | 49.7% | Top 10% threshold |
| Top 20% | $153,008 | 52.2% | Top quintile entry |
| Median (50%) | $83,730 | N/A | Half of US households below; half above |
| Bottom 20% | $35,528 | 3.1% | Bottom quintile threshold |
| Bottom 10% | $19,629 | 1.4% | Bottom 10% threshold |
| Federal Poverty Line (4-person) | $31,200 | N/A | Defining poverty line; 11.4% of US below |
CPS ASEC Inflation-Adjusted Snapshot
| Year | Comparable Median | Dollar Basis | Inflation-Adjusted | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $83,260 | 2024 | $83,260 | Pre-pandemic benchmark cited by Census; 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars |
| 2023 | $82,690 | 2024 | $82,690 | 2023 estimate restated in the 2024 CPS ASEC report; not statistically different from 2024 |
| 2024 | $83,730 | 2024 | $83,730 | Latest official CPS ASEC estimate, released September 9, 2025 |
Income Comparison Contexts
College graduate household — $110,000 median
vs Overall: +36.5%
Bachelor degree premium real
Married couple household — $117,800 median
vs Overall: +46.1%
Two earners + economies of scale
Single-parent household — $53,700 median
vs Overall: -33.4%
Single income + childcare burden
Retired (65+) — $54,710 median
vs Overall: -32.1%
SS + pension + savings; lower nominal
Foreign-born household — $73,600 median
vs Overall: -8.7%
Slightly below national; varies by origin
Black household — $53,000 median
vs Overall: -34.3%
Persistent gap; racial wealth disparity
Asian household — $100,572 median
vs Overall: +24.8%
Highest by race; education + dual income common
White household — $84,600 median
vs Overall: +4.9%
Slightly above national; baseline reference
FAQ
What is the US median household income 2024?
Census CPS ASEC 2024 reports US median household income of $83,730, released September 9, 2025. The 2024 ACS 1-year estimate is $81,604 because ACS and CPS ASEC use different survey designs. CPS ASEC is the main national income report; ACS is better for state, metro, county, and local comparisons.
Why has real median household income barely improved since 2019?
The Census Bureau reported 2024 median household income of $83,730, not statistically different from the 2023 estimate of $82,690 or the pre-pandemic 2019 estimate of $83,260 when measured in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars. Nominal pay rose, but inflation absorbed much of the gain.
What is the top 1% household income in the US?
Top household-income thresholds vary by source and year. Use the latest Census CPS ASEC tables for national percentiles and IRS SOI/Federal Reserve SCF data for tax-return or wealth-oriented views. The key benchmark on this page is the national median: $83,730 in the 2024 CPS ASEC report.
How does my household income compare to median?
Use $83,730 as the latest national CPS ASEC median household-income benchmark and $81,604 as the 2024 ACS 1-year benchmark for geography comparisons. A single salary should usually be compared to individual earnings, not household income, because household income often combines two or more earners.
What is the median household income in California?
$95,521 (2024 CPS ASEC) — 5th highest among US states. Bay Area metro median $132,845 (highest US metro). Los Angeles metro $89,420. Other California: San Diego $96,800, Sacramento $87,200, Fresno $74,500. Why CA high: tech sector concentration, two-earner households common, high COL drives wage premium. Real income (COL-adjusted) is much lower: California COL index 162 means $95,521 nominal = $58,963 real (national equivalent). Compare: Texas $75,780 nominal / 96 COL = $78,938 real (national equivalent) — so Texas household income is HIGHER in real terms despite lower nominal. The CA premium is partly absorbed by housing + state tax; mid-income California households often "feel" middle-class on $80K-$120K because of $4K monthly rent + 13.3% state tax.
How is the federal poverty line calculated?
Federal Poverty Line (FPL) is calculated by HHS based on Mollie Orshansky 1963 methodology updated annually for inflation. 2024 thresholds: 1-person $15,060; 2-person $20,440; 3-person $25,820; 4-person $31,200; 5-person $36,580; 6-person $41,960. For each additional person: +$5,380. Used for: Medicaid eligibility, SNAP/food stamps, EITC eligibility, Pell Grant eligibility, ACA premium subsidies, Medicare Savings Programs. 11.4% of US households below FPL in 2024. Critics argue methodology underestimates true poverty: doesn't account for childcare, healthcare, regional COL variations, transportation. Proposed alternatives include Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) by Census which adds geographic + benefits adjustments. SPM 2024: 12.4% (slightly higher than official FPL).
When does next CPS ASEC data release?
Annual September release for previous calendar year. CPS ASEC schedule: ASEC 2024 (data for 2023 income year) — released September 10, 2024 ✅; ASEC 2025 (data for 2024 income year) — releasing approximately September 9, 2025; ASEC 2026 (data for 2025 income year) — September 8, 2026. The data is collected by Census during March-April surveys + supplements. Public release follows ~5 months processing. Data tables: P-60 series at census.gov, american factfinder, BLS labor + economy data, BEA tables. Researchers use raw microdata from IPUMS-CPS for custom analyses. The September 2025 release will be the first to show whether real household income recovered in 2024 or continued declining.
How does median household income vary by state cost of living?
Real (COL-adjusted) income differs dramatically from nominal. Calculation: Real = Nominal / RPP (Regional Price Parity from BEA). Examples: Maryland $102,100 / 1.10 RPP = $92,818 real (national-equivalent). California $95,521 / 1.62 RPP = $58,963 real. Mississippi $54,915 / 0.86 RPP = $63,855 real (HIGHER REAL than CA!). Texas $75,780 / 0.96 RPP = $78,938 real. Florida $71,711 / 1.10 RPP = $65,192 real. Highest real income states (after COL adjustment): TX, MD, MA (in that order). Lowest real income (despite high nominal): CA, NY, HI, AK, NJ. Practical implication: relocating from $100K California to $75K Texas is REAL INCOME gain of 30%+, not a 25% pay cut. The "low-tax low-COL" arbitrage is mathematically powerful for individual finances.
Related Resources
- Loan Officer Salary 2026
- Drone Pilot Salary 2026
- Annual Raise Real vs Nominal
- Cost of Living Calculator
Data sources: US Census Bureau Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC), September 9, 2025 release covering 2024 income; Census ACSBR-025, September 11, 2025 for state and metro ACS context; BEA Regional Price Parities; BLS CPI-U; HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines. Updated 2026-05-17.