Mapped: The Income a Family Needs to Be Middle Class, by State

Bruno Venditti
2025-07-02 08:09:00
www.visualcapitalist.com

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app.

The Income a Family Needs to Be Middle Class, by U.S. State

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

Key Takeaways

Maryland, Washington D.C., and Massachusetts have the highest median household income, all above $90,000 annually.
Mississippi, West Virginia, and Alabama have the lowest median income, all below $54,000 a year.

Across the United States, what qualifies as “middle class” varies widely depending on where you live. This map breaks down the median household income for each U.S. state, revealing sharp contrasts in earning power. It provides a snapshot of where families may feel more or less financially secure based on local income benchmarks.

The data for this visualization comes from SmartAsset.

Editor’s note: This map uses median household income as a simple indicator of the middle class in each state. True middle class status typically spans a range of incomes.

Top Earners Cluster in the Northeast

Maryland, Washington D.C., and Massachusetts lead the nation with household incomes at or above $90,000. High concentrations of federal jobs, tech firms, and elite educational institutions contribute to these numbers. According to Pew Research Center, these regions also report strong access to health care and education, reinforcing higher cost-of-living dynamics.

Rank	State	Median Household Income
1	Maryland	$90,203
2	District Of Columbia	$90,088
3	Massachusetts	$89,645
4	New Jersey	$89,296
5	New Hampshire	$88,465
6	Washington	$87,820
7	California	$85,388
8	Utah	$84,131
9	Virginia	$83,848
10	Connecticut	$83,771
11	Colorado	$82,067
12	Alaska	$81,818
13	Minnesota	$80,774
14	Oregon	$77,305
15	Illinois	$76,384
16	Hawaii	$76,285
17	New York	$74,314
18	Georgia	$74,063
19	Rhode Island	$74,008
20	Wisconsin	$73,014
21	Nevada	$72,618
22	Pennsylvania	$71,412
23	Arizona	$71,033
24	Michigan	$69,965
25	North Dakota	$69,478
26	Texas	$69,430
27	North Carolina	$67,671
28	Delaware	$67,016
29	Iowa	$66,122
30	Missouri	$65,795
31	South Dakota	$64,956
32	Indiana	$64,806
33	Florida	$64,666
34	Nebraska	$64,573
35	Kansas	$64,362
36	South Carolina	$63,718
37	Ohio	$61,891
38	Maine	$61,489
39	Montana	$59,955
40	Tennessee	$59,862
41	Oklahoma	$59,071
42	Wyoming	$58,845
43	Louisiana	$58,833
44	Vermont	$58,654
45	Idaho	$58,208
46	Alabama	$55,771
47	Kentucky	$54,942
48	New Mexico	$54,076
49	Arkansas	$52,664
50	West Virginia	$49,170
51	Mississippi	$47,519

The South Continues to Lag Behind

Southern states like Mississippi, and Alabama have the lowest median household incomes, under $54,000. Economic mobility in these regions is often hindered by lower investment in public infrastructure and education. As Brookings notes, many Southern states also experience higher poverty rates and limited access to high-paying industries.

States with Growing Incomes

Several states in the West and Midwest—including Oregon, and Utah—are emerging with stronger income levels, typically in the $70,000-$80,000 range.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out U.S. Workers Earning Under $17/Hour by State on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

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