New York is home to the most expensive city in America, where one in every 24 people are millionaires. And yet, Maryland, Washington D.C., and Massachusetts have the highest median household income in the country.Thus, to be considered middle class in those states, your family needs to make an income of at least $90,000.
Of course, “middle class” is a broad term across the United States. That’s why Visual Capitalist broke down the median household income in each state—not only to reveal what qualifies as middle class by state, but also to highlight the significant differences in earning power across America.
For New York, families need to be make an income of $74,000 to be considered middle class. This places New York as the 15th highest median household income state in the country. Other states with a similar median income include Rhode Island ($74,000), Illinois ($72,000), Oregon ($72,000) and Vermont ($72,000).
Top earners in the East Coast besides Maryland, Washington D.C., and Massachusetts include surrounding states like New Jersey, Connecticut and New Hampshire, all of which have median household incomes ranging from the mid- to high-$80,000s.
Oppositely, Mississippi has the lowest median household income. Families in the southern state need to make $49,000 a year to be considered middle class. West Virginia and Arkansas follow behind at $51,000 and $53,000.
Top 10 states with the highest household median income
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- Massachisetts
- New Jersey
- New Hampshire
- California
- Hawaii
- Connecticut
- Washington
- Colorado
So what causes these East Coast states to all be among the top earners in the country? Visual Capitalist believes it has to do with the surplus of federal jobs, tech firms, and first class educational institutions in the area. They also offer strong access to health care and education, which reinforces higher cost-of-living dynamics, according to Pew Research Center.
In states with worse economic mobility, a lower investment in public education and infrastructure can be to blame. You can view the entire study online.
