Household income after inflation, state by state, 2005 to 2025
After adjusting for inflation, the typical US household had $84,7801 of income in 2025, against $76,2282 in 2005. The median is significantly higher than in 2005 in every state and DC except three: Alaska, Connecticut and Michigan, where the 2025 figure is not statistically different from the 2005 one.
Published November 12, 2026. Data as of October 29, 2026.
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B19013; Census Bureau, 2024 Cartographic Boundary Files. Darker states are higher; DC is the dot. Period: 2025.
Show the numbers
| State | Median household income |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $109,505 |
| New Jersey | $107,797 |
| Maryland | $107,700 |
| New Hampshire | $106,759 |
| Massachusetts | $106,539 |
| Hawaii | $105,013 |
| California | $102,159 |
| Washington | $101,946 |
| Connecticut | $100,056 |
| Colorado | $99,729 |
| Virginia | $99,322 |
| Utah | $99,311 |
| Alaska | $95,220 |
| Delaware | $92,520 |
| Minnesota | $92,297 |
| Rhode Island | $91,039 |
| New York | $89,210 |
| Oregon | $86,953 |
| Illinois | $86,676 |
| Vermont | $86,018 |
| Nevada | $85,198 |
| Idaho | $84,234 |
| Arizona | $82,940 |
| Texas | $82,625 |
| Georgia | $81,847 |
| Maine | $81,760 |
| Nebraska | $81,614 |
| North Dakota | $81,545 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,473 |
| Wyoming | $80,894 |
| Florida | $80,846 |
| South Dakota | $80,506 |
| Wisconsin | $80,213 |
| Kansas | $77,824 |
| North Carolina | $77,638 |
| Montana | $77,099 |
| Iowa | $76,483 |
| Tennessee | $75,875 |
| Michigan | $75,832 |
| Missouri | $75,485 |
| Ohio | $74,804 |
| Indiana | $74,516 |
| South Carolina | $73,672 |
| New Mexico | $70,342 |
| Oklahoma | $68,441 |
| Alabama | $67,663 |
| Kentucky | $66,447 |
| Arkansas | $65,588 |
| Louisiana | $65,139 |
| West Virginia | $61,340 |
| Mississippi | $59,346 |
The American Community Survey (ACS) one-year estimates give a median household income for every state, and this site's series of them starts in 2005. Read in constant 2025 dollars, adjusted with the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), the picture is uneven: the typical household in Utah or Washington has far more income than its 2005 counterpart, while in Michigan it has about the same. This page compares each state's 2025 median with its own 2005 median after inflation, using the Census Bureau's margins of error to separate real changes from survey noise.
Every state, 2005 to 2025 in 2025 dollars
The table lists each state's 2025 median household income and the result of comparing it with 2005, both in 2025 dollars. Rows are ordered by the percentage change in the estimates, largest first. States next to each other in this order are usually within each other's margins of error, so the order is a guide, not a tested ranking.
| State | Median household income, 2025 (margin of error) | 2025 compared with 2005 |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $84,780 (±$215) | compared with $76,228 in 2005 |
| District of Columbia | $109,505 (±$7,573) | up from $77,842 in 2005 |
| Utah | $99,311 (±$2,056) | up from $79,017 in 2005 |
| Washington | $101,946 (±$719) | up from $81,206 in 2005 |
| Idaho | $84,234 (±$1,941) | up from $68,317 in 2005 |
| Oregon | $86,953 (±$1,920) | up from $70,791 in 2005 |
| South Dakota | $80,506 (±$1,946) | up from $66,449 in 2005 |
| North Dakota | $81,545 (±$2,073) | up from $67,636 in 2005 |
| Colorado | $99,729 (±$1,273) | up from $83,497 in 2005 |
| Montana | $77,099 (±$2,479) | up from $64,786 in 2005 |
| Texas | $82,625 (±$670) | up from $69,464 in 2005 |
| Tennessee | $75,875 (±$816) | up from $64,082 in 2005 |
| Maine | $81,760 (±$1,561) | up from $70,555 in 2005 |
| North Carolina | $77,638 (±$876) | up from $67,140 in 2005 |
| Florida | $80,846 (±$521) | up from $69,949 in 2005 |
| California | $102,159 (±$390) | up from $88,405 in 2005 |
| Vermont | $86,018 (±$2,458) | up from $75,311 in 2005 |
| New Hampshire | $106,759 (±$2,502) | up from $93,579 in 2005 |
| New Mexico | $70,342 (±$1,508) | up from $61,804 in 2005 |
| Arkansas | $65,588 (±$976) | up from $57,694 in 2005 |
| South Carolina | $73,672 (±$1,216) | up from $64,811 in 2005 |
| Arizona | $82,940 (±$1,117) | up from $72,997 in 2005 |
| Massachusetts | $106,539 (±$1,459) | up from $94,265 in 2005 |
| Nebraska | $81,614 (±$1,319) | up from $72,283 in 2005 |
| Oklahoma | $68,441 (±$911) | up from $61,097 in 2005 |
| Alabama | $67,663 (±$1,147) | up from $60,793 in 2005 |
| West Virginia | $61,340 (±$1,301) | up from $55,144 in 2005 |
| Virginia | $99,322 (±$1,105) | up from $89,412 in 2005 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,473 (±$603) | up from $73,417 in 2005 |
| Kansas | $77,824 (±$1,333) | up from $70,752 in 2005 |
| Hawaii | $105,013 (±$3,065) | up from $95,795 in 2005 |
| New York | $89,210 (±$934) | up from $81,565 in 2005 |
| Mississippi | $59,346 (±$1,510) | up from $54,297 in 2005 |
| Missouri | $75,485 (±$937) | up from $69,192 in 2005 |
| Georgia | $81,847 (±$761) | up from $75,176 in 2005 |
| Kentucky | $66,447 (±$962) | up from $61,601 in 2005 |
| Minnesota | $92,297 (±$1,085) | up from $85,759 in 2005 |
| Louisiana | $65,139 (±$1,183) | up from $60,546 in 2005 |
| Rhode Island | $91,039 (±$2,617) | up from $84,826 in 2005 |
| Delaware | $92,520 (±$3,776) | up from $86,542 in 2005 |
| Iowa | $76,483 (±$958) | up from $71,887 in 2005 |
| Wyoming | $80,894 (±$3,128) | up from $76,162 in 2005 |
| Maryland | $107,700 (±$1,661) | up from $101,532 in 2005 |
| New Jersey | $107,797 (±$1,374) | up from $101,663 in 2005 |
| Nevada | $85,198 (±$1,837) | up from $81,053 in 2005 |
| Illinois | $86,676 (±$814) | up from $82,851 in 2005 |
| Ohio | $74,804 (±$615) | up from $71,696 in 2005 |
| Wisconsin | $80,213 (±$703) | up from $77,650 in 2005 |
| Indiana | $74,516 (±$875) | up from $72,520 in 2005 |
| Alaska | $95,220 (±$4,301) | not statistically different from $92,699 in 2005 |
| Michigan | $75,832 (±$691) | not statistically different from $75,893 in 2005 |
| Connecticut | $100,056 (±$1,5701) | not statistically different from $100,458 in 20052 |
Three states where the typical household has no more than in 2005
In Connecticut, Michigan and Alaska, the 2025 median is not statistically different from the 2005 median once both are in 2025 dollars. They are very different states: two are among the higher-income states and one is below the national figure.
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2005-2019 and 2021-2025. ACS 1-year estimates; no standard 1-year release for 2020. Adjusted to 2025 dollars with the CPI-U annual average. Shaded band: 90% margin of error.
Show the numbers
| Year | Connecticut | Michigan | Alaska | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | $100,458 ±$1,339 | $75,893 ±$740 | $92,699 ±$2,979 | $76,228 ±$171 |
| 2006 | $101,281 ±$1,316 | $75,347 ±$508 | $94,847 ±$2,303 | $77,373 ±$131 |
| 2007 | $102,428 ±$1,265 | $74,453 ±$599 | $99,891 ±$2,475 | $78,785 ±$116 |
| 2008 | $102,570 ±$1,691 | $72,658 ±$630 | $102,368 ±$2,866 | $77,799 ±$109 |
| 2009 | $100,594 ±$1,490 | $67,912 ±$537 | $100,472 ±$3,498 | $75,364 ±$111 |
| 2010 | $94,538 ±$1,612 | $67,049 ±$452 | $95,342 ±$3,078 | $73,889 ±$94 |
| 2011 | $94,109 ±$1,222 | $65,810 ±$472 | $97,074 ±$2,788 | $72,281 ±$104 |
| 2012 | $94,336 ±$1,213 | $65,707 ±$464 | $94,948 ±$2,656 | $72,034 ±$74 |
| 2013 | $92,728 ±$1,462 | $66,713 ±$522 | $99,830 ±$2,615 | $72,209 ±$90 |
| 2014 | $95,260 ±$1,126 | $67,788 ±$524 | $97,347 ±$2,426 | $72,969 ±$126 |
| 2015 | $96,910 ±$1,064 | $69,388 ±$331 | $99,639 ±$3,146 | $75,760 ±$115 |
| 2016 | $98,502 ±$1,421 | $70,412 ±$539 | $102,536 ±$2,991 | $77,287 ±$154 |
| 2017 | $97,413 ±$1,767 | $72,118 ±$578 | $96,117 ±$3,452 | $79,246 ±$113 |
| 2018 | $97,885 ±$1,181 | $72,691 ±$521 | $95,319 ±$2,933 | $79,409 ±$121 |
| 2019 | $99,273 ±$1,710 | $75,033 ±$720 | $95,029 ±$3,392 | $82,750 ±$149 |
| 2021 | $99,529 ±$1,321 | $75,443 ±$625 | $92,489 ±$2,552 | $82,832 ±$159 |
| 2022 | $97,279 ±$1,857 | $73,690 ±$743 | $96,940 ±$3,085 | $82,236 ±$163 |
| 2023 | $96,852 ±$1,556 | $73,098 ±$733 | $91,533 ±$2,721 | $82,117 ±$197 |
| 2024 | $98,576 ±$1,872 | $74,294 ±$582 | $98,182 ±$3,364 | $83,751 ±$131 |
| 2025 | $100,056 ±$1,570 | $75,832 ±$691 | $95,220 ±$4,301 | $84,780 ±$215 |
Connecticut had a median of $100,4582 in 2005 and $100,056 (±$1,570) in 2025. Its households still have more income than the typical US household: the 2025 figure is $15,276 (18%) above the US figure ($84,780) and ranks 9th highest (between 9th and 12th1 once margins of error are considered). What changed is the distance. Other high-income states kept adding to their medians; Connecticut's stayed where it was.
Michigan started at $75,893 in 2005. The estimates for later years were $67,912 in 2009, $65,707 in 2012 and $75,0332 in 2019. In 2025 it was $75,832 (±$691), up from $74,294 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars), and $8,948 (11%) below the US figure ($84,780)1.
Alaska went from $92,6992 to $95,220 (±$4,301). Its 2025 margin of error is wide for a state, which makes a twenty-year change harder to detect. Over the two decades the survey shows no measurable gain; the 2025 figure is still $10,440 (12%) above the US figure ($84,780)1.
The largest gains: the Northwest and the Mountain West
Among the 50 states, the biggest increases in the estimates were in the West. Utah's median went from $79,017 to $99,311, Washington's from $81,206 to $101,946. Idaho ($68,317 to $84,234) and Oregon ($70,7912 to $86,9531) follow.
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2005-2019 and 2021-2025. ACS 1-year estimates; no standard 1-year release for 2020. Adjusted to 2025 dollars with the CPI-U annual average. Shaded band: 90% margin of error.
Show the numbers
| Year | Utah | Washington | Idaho | Oregon | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | $79,017 ±$1,559 | $81,206 ±$1,062 | $68,317 ±$1,386 | $70,791 ±$959 | $76,228 ±$171 |
| 2006 | $81,937 ±$915 | $83,972 ±$765 | $68,453 ±$1,401 | $73,827 ±$803 | $77,373 ±$131 |
| 2007 | $85,569 ±$1,183 | $86,317 ±$778 | $71,818 ±$1,172 | $75,664 ±$1,057 | $78,785 ±$116 |
| 2008 | $84,683 ±$1,054 | $86,844 ±$860 | $71,140 ±$1,437 | $75,018 ±$782 | $77,799 ±$109 |
| 2009 | $82,711 ±$1,205 | $84,858 ±$792 | $67,418 ±$1,430 | $72,717 ±$935 | $75,364 ±$111 |
| 2010 | $80,825 ±$923 | $82,135 ±$812 | $64,210 ±$1,484 | $68,742 ±$800 | $73,889 ±$94 |
| 2011 | $79,962 ±$1,152 | $81,345 ±$814 | $62,032 ±$1,889 | $67,005 ±$1,018 | $72,281 ±$104 |
| 2012 | $79,996 ±$1,033 | $80,730 ±$834 | $63,786 ±$1,303 | $68,935 ±$1,132 | $72,034 ±$74 |
| 2013 | $82,601 ±$1,053 | $80,715 ±$927 | $64,653 ±$1,285 | $69,446 ±$735 | $72,209 ±$90 |
| 2014 | $82,849 ±$895 | $83,453 ±$660 | $65,087 ±$1,734 | $69,458 ±$666 | $72,969 ±$126 |
| 2015 | $85,454 ±$1,661 | $87,107 ±$1,078 | $65,573 ±$1,485 | $73,550 ±$1,239 | $75,760 ±$115 |
| 2016 | $88,501 ±$1,281 | $90,015 ±$798 | $69,493 ±$1,292 | $77,173 ±$1,147 | $77,287 ±$154 |
| 2017 | $89,782 ±$1,614 | $93,225 ±$766 | $68,593 ±$1,144 | $79,083 ±$1,045 | $79,246 ±$113 |
| 2018 | $91,560 ±$950 | $94,969 ±$894 | $71,263 ±$1,173 | $81,318 ±$1,354 | $79,409 ±$121 |
| 2019 | $95,428 ±$1,376 | $99,089 ±$1,162 | $76,815 ±$1,347 | $84,445 ±$1,099 | $82,750 ±$149 |
| 2021 | $94,394 ±$1,480 | $100,095 ±$1,003 | $78,979 ±$2,082 | $85,024 ±$1,257 | $82,832 ±$159 |
| 2022 | $98,092 ±$1,988 | $100,444 ±$925 | $80,069 ±$1,247 | $83,229 ±$1,299 | $82,236 ±$163 |
| 2023 | $98,707 ±$1,461 | $99,958 ±$1,290 | $79,182 ±$1,190 | $84,696 ±$1,104 | $82,117 ±$197 |
| 2024 | $99,201 ±$1,210 | $102,004 ±$1,357 | $83,302 ±$1,375 | $87,462 ±$1,436 | $83,751 ±$131 |
| 2025 | $99,311 ±$2,056 | $101,946 ±$719 | $84,234 ±$1,941 | $86,953 ±$1,920 | $84,780 ±$215 |
The gains changed where these states stand. In 2025 Washington ranks 8th highest, $17,166 (20%) above the US figure ($84,780), and Utah 12th highest, $14,531 (17%) above the US figure ($84,780). Oregon is $2,173 (3%) above the US figure ($84,780). Idaho, whose 2005 median was $68,317 against $76,2282 nationally, is now not statistically different from the US figure ($84,780)1.
Behind them comes a group of Plains and Mountain states: South Dakota ($66,449 to $80,506), North Dakota ($67,636 to $81,545), Colorado ($83,497 to $99,729) and Montana ($64,786 to $77,099). Texas ($69,464 to $82,625) and Tennessee ($64,0822 to $75,8751) are the Southern states closest to that group.
The District of Columbia, a case of its own
The largest change in the estimates belongs to the District of Columbia. In 2005 its median was $77,842, against $76,2282 for the country. In 2025 it was $109,505, $24,725 (29%) above the US figure ($84,780) and highest1 among the states and DC.
Two cautions apply. DC is a single city, so it compares with whole states only loosely. And its survey sample is small: the 2025 margin of error is ±$7,573, and its rank could be anywhere between 1st and 8th. Its 2025 figure is not statistically different from $112,594 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars), and it is higher than Virginia; not statistically different from Maryland1.
The industrial Midwest: gains, but small ones
Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois all have medians significantly above their 2005 levels in 2025 dollars, but the gains are among the smallest in the country. Ohio went from $71,696 to $74,804, Indiana from $72,520 to $74,516, Wisconsin from $77,650 to $80,213 and Illinois from $82,8512 to $86,6761.
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2005-2019 and 2021-2025. ACS 1-year estimates; no standard 1-year release for 2020. Adjusted to 2025 dollars with the CPI-U annual average. Shaded band: 90% margin of error.
Show the numbers
| Year | Ohio | Indiana | Wisconsin | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | $71,696 ±$560 | $72,520 ±$829 | $77,650 ±$649 | $82,851 ±$557 | $76,228 ±$171 |
| 2006 | $71,115 ±$562 | $72,491 ±$672 | $77,886 ±$703 | $83,050 ±$438 | $77,373 ±$131 |
| 2007 | $72,352 ±$472 | $73,673 ±$587 | $78,533 ±$565 | $84,039 ±$575 | $78,785 ±$116 |
| 2008 | $71,757 ±$474 | $71,724 ±$806 | $77,896 ±$534 | $84,088 ±$543 | $77,799 ±$109 |
| 2009 | $68,122 ±$525 | $68,165 ±$683 | $75,022 ±$608 | $80,984 ±$606 | $75,364 ±$111 |
| 2010 | $66,572 ±$434 | $65,868 ±$667 | $72,346 ±$738 | $78,209 ±$648 | $73,889 ±$94 |
| 2011 | $65,478 ±$457 | $66,464 ±$651 | $72,128 ±$613 | $76,191 ±$731 | $72,281 ±$104 |
| 2012 | $65,665 ±$411 | $65,868 ±$590 | $71,596 ±$450 | $77,315 ±$572 | $72,034 ±$74 |
| 2013 | $66,447 ±$561 | $65,684 ±$713 | $71,127 ±$511 | $77,681 ±$557 | $72,209 ±$90 |
| 2014 | $67,055 ±$494 | $67,243 ±$662 | $71,562 ±$589 | $78,119 ±$583 | $72,969 ±$126 |
| 2015 | $69,376 ±$316 | $68,638 ±$526 | $75,574 ±$580 | $80,939 ±$694 | $75,760 ±$115 |
| 2016 | $70,200 ±$369 | $70,173 ±$498 | $76,206 ±$736 | $81,771 ±$522 | $77,287 ±$154 |
| 2017 | $70,952 ±$540 | $71,162 ±$864 | $77,892 ±$771 | $82,734 ±$714 | $79,246 ±$113 |
| 2018 | $71,940 ±$545 | $71,472 ±$669 | $77,917 ±$501 | $83,375 ±$641 | $79,409 ±$121 |
| 2019 | $73,847 ±$709 | $72,538 ±$856 | $80,805 ±$756 | $87,126 ±$737 | $82,750 ±$149 |
| 2021 | $73,974 ±$542 | $74,546 ±$851 | $79,752 ±$719 | $85,788 ±$682 | $82,832 ±$159 |
| 2022 | $72,297 ±$680 | $73,469 ±$725 | $78,101 ±$708 | $84,385 ±$642 | $82,236 ±$163 |
| 2023 | $71,604 ±$772 | $73,408 ±$854 | $78,854 ±$818 | $84,850 ±$671 | $82,117 ±$197 |
| 2024 | $74,112 ±$552 | $73,852 ±$647 | $79,527 ±$926 | $85,401 ±$922 | $83,751 ±$131 |
| 2025 | $74,804 ±$615 | $74,516 ±$875 | $80,213 ±$703 | $86,676 ±$814 | $84,780 ±$215 |
In 2025 Indiana ranks 10th lowest and is $10,264 (12%) below the US figure ($84,780); Ohio ranks 11th lowest, $9,976 (12%) below the US figure ($84,780). Wisconsin is $4,567 (5%) below the US figure ($84,780). Illinois, the highest of the four, is $1,896 (2%) above the US figure ($84,780)1.
Nevada and the years after 2007
In most states the estimates for the early 2010s are the lowest of the series, though the depth of the dip varied. Nationally, the median in 2025 dollars was $78,785 in 2007 and $72,034 in 2012, and it was $82,7502 in 2019, the last year before the pandemic.
Nevada's estimates show the widest swing between 2008 and 2012. Its median was $85,496 in 2007, $69,775 in 2012 and $79,682 in 2019. In 2025 it reached $85,198 (±$1,837), up from $81,053 in 20052, and is not statistically different from the US figure ($84,780)1. Over the full twenty years its gain is one of the smallest in the estimates.
Rent went up in every state
Income is one side of a household budget. The other side moved more uniformly. Median gross rent, the rent plus utilities paid by renting households, was $1,2002 a month nationally in 2005 in 2025 dollars and $1,557 (±$43) in 2025. In every state and DC, the 2025 median rent is significantly higher than the 2005 figure after inflation.
That includes the three states with no gain in income. Connecticut's median rent was $1,679 in 2025, up from $1,383 in 2005; Michigan's $1,220, up from $1,080 in 2005; Alaska's $1,5003, up from $1,372 in 20052. In those states, a renting household at the median pays more in real terms than in 2005, while the median household income is not measurably higher.
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2005-2019 and 2021-2025. ACS 1-year estimates; no standard 1-year release for 2020. Adjusted to 2025 dollars with the CPI-U annual average. Shaded band: 90% margin of error.
Show the numbers
| Year | Connecticut | Michigan | Alaska | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | $1,383 ±$21 | $1,080 ±$8 | $1,372 ±$41 | $1,200 ±$3 |
| 2006 | $1,415 ±$18 | $1,078 ±$10 | $1,410 ±$37 | $1,218 ±$3 |
| 2007 | $1,446 ±$20 | $1,061 ±$9 | $1,425 ±$45 | $1,225 ±$3 |
| 2008 | $1,450 ±$16 | $1,056 ±$10 | $1,419 ±$34 | $1,232 ±$3 |
| 2009 | $1,510 ±$21 | $1,074 ±$9 | $1,511 ±$59 | $1,264 ±$3 |
| 2010 | $1,465 ±$18 | $1,078 ±$7 | $1,448 ±$31 | $1,262 ±$3 |
| 2011 | $1,461 ±$17 | $1,058 ±$9 | $1,501 ±$53 | $1,247 ±$3 |
| 2012 | $1,429 ±$18 | $1,049 ±$7 | $1,570 ±$48 | $1,240 ±$3 |
| 2013 | $1,437 ±$19 | $1,061 ±$8 | $1,544 ±$35 | $1,251 ±$3 |
| 2014 | $1,463 ±$18 | $1,072 ±$8 | $1,609 ±$39 | $1,270 ±$3 |
| 2015 | $1,505 ±$16 | $1,091 ±$8 | $1,580 ±$34 | $1,303 ±$3 |
| 2016 | $1,496 ±$15 | $1,097 ±$8 | $1,620 ±$46 | $1,316 ±$3 |
| 2017 | $1,478 ±$17 | $1,097 ±$8 | $1,577 ±$54 | $1,329 ±$3 |
| 2018 | $1,501 ±$18 | $1,104 ±$6 | $1,509 ±$40 | $1,356 ±$3 |
| 2019 | $1,482 ±$16 | $1,118 ±$9 | $1,512 ±$47 | $1,381 ±$3 |
| 2021 | $1,517 ±$23 | $1,151 ±$8 | $1,496 ±$58 | $1,415 ±$2 |
| 2022 | $1,496 ±$23 | $1,157 ±$12 | $1,462 ±$34 | $1,430 ±$3 |
| 2023 | $1,546 ±$18 | $1,163 ±$10 | $1,451 ±$39 | $1,486 ±$3 |
| 2024 | $1,591 ±$25 | $1,199 ±$11 | $1,482 ±$49 | $1,526 ±$3 |
| 2025 | $1,679 ±$26 | $1,220 ±$11 | $1,500 ±$44 | $1,557 ±$4 |
The two medians describe different groups: rent is the median across renting households only, income the median across all households, owners included. The comparison shows the direction of each, not the budget of any one household.
The latest year: 2024 to 2025
Nationally, the median rose by $1,029 (1.2%) in one year after inflation: $84,780, up from $83,751 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars). In most states the one-year change was within the margin of error. The states with a significant increase were Arkansas (up from $63,740 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars)), Florida (up from $79,780 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars)), Illinois (up from $85,401 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars)), Louisiana (up from $62,591 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars)), Maine (up from $78,453 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars)), Michigan, Minnesota (up from $89,409 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars)), Missouri (up from $73,473 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars)), Nebraska (up from $78,386 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars)), New Hampshire (up from $102,408 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars)), North Carolina (up from $75,904 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars)), Pennsylvania (up from $79,585 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars)), Rhode Island (up from $85,701 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars)), Tennessee (up from $73,891 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars)) and Virginia (up from $94,513 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars)). California was the only state with a significant decrease: $102,159, down from $102,784 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars)1.
How these figures are built
- One inflation rate for the whole country. The CPI-U is a national price index. It removes inflation over time but not the difference in prices between states: in 2024, prices in Arkansas were 13% below the US figure (100.0) and prices in California 11% above the US figure (100.0)4. For income adjusted for each state's price level, see income adjusted for cost of living by state.
- No 2020 point. The Census Bureau did not release its standard 2020 one-year ACS estimates because the pandemic disrupted data collection, so the series has a gap between 2019 and 2021.
- A median, not an average. The median household is the one in the middle when all households are lined up by income. It is not moved by very high incomes, and it says nothing about how the top or bottom changed. Shares of households by income band are on the median household income ranking.
- Households change too. The number of people in a household, their ages and how many of them work all shift over twenty years. A higher median does not mean every household gained.
- Significance. "Up from" and "not statistically different from" in the table come from comparing the 2025 and 2005 estimates with their margins of error at 90% confidence. The order of the rows uses the point estimates only.
Questions about income growth since 2005
Has household income kept up with inflation since 2005?
Nationally, yes. Measured in 2025 dollars, the US median household income was $76,2282 in 2005 and $84,780 (±$2151) in 2025. In Alaska, Connecticut and Michigan, the 2025 median is not statistically different from 2005 after inflation.
Which state's income grew the most since 2005?
The District of Columbia, from $77,842 in 2005 to $109,505 in 2025, both in 2025 dollars. Among the 50 states, Utah ($79,017 to $99,311) and Washington ($81,2062 to $101,946) had the largest gains in the estimates, followed by Idaho and Oregon. DC's 2025 margin of error, ±$7,5731, is much wider than any state's.
What was the median household income in 2005?
In the dollars of that year, the US median household income in 2005 was $46,242. Converted to 2025 dollars with the CPI-U, that is $76,2282.
Did any state's real income go down in 2025?
California's was the only one with a significant drop: $102,159, down from $102,784 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars)1. In most states the change from 2024 was within the margin of error.
Sources
- Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B19013; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
- Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2005-2019 and 2021-2025; 2005-2025 (no standard 2020 1-year release); released October 29, 2026. api.census.gov
- Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B25064; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
- BEA, SARPP Regional Price Parities by state; 2024; released February 19, 2026. apps.bea.gov
- Census Bureau, 2024 Cartographic Boundary Files; table cb_2024_us_state_20m; 2024; released April 10, 2025. www2.census.gov
Margins of error (±) are at the 90% confidence level. A difference is called significant only when it passes the Census Bureau's test at that level. How every figure is built: methodology. Found an error? Write to [email protected]; corrections are listed on the updates page.