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According to the 2010 American Community Survey 5-Year estimates, here is a list of all states ranked in order of highest to lowest median household income. Are you surprised?
Maryland 70,647
New Jersey 69,811
Connecticut 67,740
Alaska 66,521
Hawaii 66,420
Massachusetts 64,509
New Hampshire 63,277
Virginia 61,406
California 60,883
District of Columbia 58,526
Delaware 57,599
Washington 57,244
Minnesota 57,243
Colorado 56,456
Utah 56,330
Illinois 55,735
Nevada 55,726
New York 55,603
Rhode Island 54,902
Wyoming 53,802
Vermont 51,841
Wisconsin 51,598
Arizona 50,448
Pennsylvania 50,398
Texas 49,646
Kansas 49,424
Georgia 49,347
Nebraska 49,342
Oregon 49,260
Iowa 48,872
Michigan 48,432
Indiana 47,697
Florida 47,661
Ohio 47,358
Maine 46,933
North Dakota 46,781
Idaho 46,423
South Dakota 46,369
Missouri 46,262
North Carolina 45,570
South Carolina 43,939
Montana 43,872
New Mexico 43,820
Louisiana 43,445
Tennessee 43,314
Oklahoma 42,979
Alabama 42,081
Kentucky 41,576
Arkansas 39,267
West Virginia 38,380
Mississippi 37,881
Connecticut has not had the highest median income. Our claim to fame has been per capita. According to most reports that honor still remains with Connecticut. Our median income is lower since we do have such vast differences in wealth among our residents. We have some of the poorest cities in the nation as well as some of the richest ones.
Connecticut has not had the highest median income. Our claim to fame has been per capita. According to most reports that honor still remains with Connecticut. Our median income is lower since we do have such vast differences in wealth among our residents. We have some of the poorest cities in the nation as well as some of the richest ones.
Per capita is meaningless. If you have a low income neighborhood and then suddenly Bill Gates moves into the neighborhood, the per capita income will skyrocket, even though most people are dirt poor.
Actually bill gates would have minimal impact since his "income" is dry small relative to his wealth. Also since most of his wealth has been gifted away in an irrevocable trust it is a bit dishonest to label him as one of the richest people these days.
Also the acs is not very reliable since it caps income at 500,000 so the many high wage earners in ct are less impactful on mean data. Median shows better around dc due to the successful redistribution of wealth and upper middle class jobs the government provides on the taxpayers dime.
All I'm surprised by is that people who make $200,000+ a year dont think they are wealthy.
The rest is moot really. If you subtracted our average tax burden here we wouldnt likely be near the top anyway. It doesnt really matter what we make if we have to give half of it back.
Per capita is meaningless. If you have a low income neighborhood and then suddenly Bill Gates moves into the neighborhood, the per capita income will skyrocket, even though most people are dirt poor.
Technically if you have 10 poor and 1 rich, average will be affected, but median - the standard measure - will have little impact.
Per capita is meaningless. If you have a low income neighborhood and then suddenly Bill Gates moves into the neighborhood, the per capita income will skyrocket, even though most people are dirt poor.
Huh? Aren't you supposed to be the numbers guy?
It would have zero effect if going by median. If by average, it would have a profound effect.
Connecticut has always switched spots with New Jersey for 2 and 3. Maryland has been 1 for awhile. When it comes to per capita (which is not meaningless at all), it has always been Connecticut. It means there are more single professionals here; that's a great thing.
Another point that was brought up is our extreme wealth disparity. We have four of the poorest cities in the country with lots of minorities in poverty. We have lots of the wealthiest cities in the country as well. If you look at the top earning towns, or the most expensive towns, you'll see many in Fairfield County on that list. There will be usually only one or two from Maryland on the list - their wealth is more evenly distributed.
Also median is only telling of the 50th percentile. If you look at the top 25, 10, or 5% , there I a profound disparity between md and ct. Maryland has more even distribution of income (and fewer retirees) which lands them with the highest median income. But they are not the wealthiest state. Far fewer folks earning above 200,000- but many at "upper middle class" levels. They recently published the income cutoff for the top 5% of the wealthiest counties. Not one dc metro county made the list but Fairfield county and manhattan landed at #2 and #1 respectively. The cutoff for both was over 850000!!!!
Also median is only telling of the 50th percentile. If you look at the top 25, 10, or 5% , there I a profound disparity between md and ct. Maryland has more even distribution of income (and fewer retirees) which lands them with the highest median income. But they are not the wealthiest state. Far fewer folks earning above 200,000- but many at "upper middle class" levels. They recently published the income cutoff for the top 5% of the wealthiest counties. Not one dc metro county made the list but Fairfield county and manhattan landed at #2 and #1 respectively. The cutoff for both was over 850000!!!!
I'm not surprised at that. Lots of 100k HH income young couples in the DC suburbs in Maryland. Not rich, but not struggling.
Also I don't think MD has the old money that Connecticut and Westchester have. There are a TON of trust fund babies here.
It would have zero effect if going by median. If by average, it would have a profound effect.
Connecticut has always switched spots with New Jersey for 2 and 3. Maryland has been 1 for awhile. When it comes to per capita (which is not meaningless at all), it has always been Connecticut. It means there are more single professionals here; that's a great thing.
Another point that was brought up is our extreme wealth disparity. We have four of the poorest cities in the country with lots of minorities in poverty. We have lots of the wealthiest cities in the country as well. If you look at the top earning towns, or the most expensive towns, you'll see many in Fairfield County on that list. There will be usually only one or two from Maryland on the list - their wealth is more evenly distributed.
Yes I am the numbers guy; therefore you will listen to me. Median household income is by far, more representative of the typical person/household. Per capita income is subject to great skewing and therefore, is not as representative of the typical person in a particular place. Why do you think politicians and experts more often refer to median household income rather than per capita? Please.
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