Wealthy PotAverage Household Income in the U.S.: Median and Mean for 2025
The U.S. median household income was $87,460 in 2025, according to the Census Bureau's report released September 15, 2026. That is the highest on record in data going back to 1967, and 2.6% more than in 2024 after inflation. The average (mean) household income was $126,700, about 45% higher than the median, because a small number of very high incomes pull the average up. This page breaks the numbers down by state, race, age, household type and region, and shows how to compare your own household fairly.
Household Income at a Glance
- Record high. The 2025 median is the highest the Census Bureau has recorded since 1967, in inflation-adjusted dollars.
- Real growth. The median rose 2.6% from $85,210 in 2024, a change larger than the survey's margin of error.
- After tax. Once taxes and tax credits are counted, the median was $76,060, which is 13.0% lower than the pretax figure.
- Wide spread. A household at the 90th percentile had $261,300, 13 times the $20,010 at the 10th percentile.
Median vs. Average Household Income
Most people search for "average household income," but the figure that describes a typical household is the median. The median is the middle point: half of all households had more than $87,460 in 2025 and half had less. The mean is total income divided by the number of households, $126,700.
| Measure, 2025 | Per year | Per month (our math) |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $87,460 | $7,288 |
| Average (mean) household income | $126,700 | $10,558 |
| Median after taxes and credits | $76,060 | $6,338 |
Why the gap? Income has no ceiling. A household earning $2 million raises the mean a lot but moves the median not at all. In 2025 the top 20% of households received 52.4% of all household income, and the top 5% alone received 23.5%. That pulls the average far above what most households have. The mean falls between the 60th and 70th percentiles, so well over half of all households had less than the mean.
Both numbers are correct. They answer different questions. Use the median to ask "Is my household typical?" Use the mean only when you need a total, such as total spending power divided across households.
Income Brackets and Percentiles
Of the 137.1 million U.S. households in 2025, here is how income was spread across brackets:
Households by income bracket, 2025
Percent of all households, 2025 dollars
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Income in the United States: 2025, Table 2 (all races). Shares may not add to 100% due to rounding.
Adding up the brackets (our math): 44.7% of households had $100,000 or more, and 12.9% had less than $25,000. More than one in six households (17.2%) had $200,000 or more.
Percentiles show where you stand. A household at the 80th percentile had more income than 80% of all households.
| Percentile | Household income, 2025 |
|---|---|
| 10th | $20,010 |
| 20th | $35,800 |
| 30th | $51,330 |
| 40th | $68,600 |
| 50th (median) | $87,460 |
| 60th | $110,300 |
| 70th | $140,900 |
| 80th | $182,400 |
| 90th | $261,300 |
| 95th | $354,000 |
So a household needed about $261,300 to reach the top 10% and about $354,000 to reach the top 5% in 2025.
The Census Bureau also splits households into five equal groups (quintiles). The average income in each group was:
| Group | Mean household income, 2025 | Share of all household income |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest fifth | $19,100 | 3.0% |
| Second fifth | $51,700 | 8.2% |
| Middle fifth | $88,250 | 13.9% |
| Fourth fifth | $142,500 | 22.5% |
| Highest fifth | $331,800 | 52.4% |
| Top 5% | $594,500 | 23.5% |
Median Household Income by State
The Census Bureau recommends its CPS survey (the source of the $87,460 figure) for national numbers and the American Community Survey (ACS) for states. The latest ACS state data is for 2024. The 2025 one-year ACS estimates are scheduled for release on October 29, 2026, and we will update this table when they come out.
Because the two surveys ask different questions, the ACS national median for 2024 was $81,604, lower than the CPS figure. Compare states with the ACS U.S. median, not with $87,460.
| Rank | State | Median household income, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $109,707 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $104,828 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $104,294 |
| 4 | Maryland | $102,905 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $100,745 |
| 6 | California | $100,149 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $99,782 |
| 8 | Washington | $99,389 |
| 9 | Colorado | $97,113 |
| 10 | Utah | $96,658 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $96,049 |
| 12 | Alaska | $95,665 |
| 13 | Virginia | $92,090 |
| 14 | Delaware | $87,534 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $87,117 |
| 16 | New York | $85,820 |
| 17 | Oregon | $85,220 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $83,504 |
| 19 | Illinois | $83,211 |
| 20 | Vermont | $82,730 |
| United States (ACS) | $81,604 | |
| 21 | Arizona | $81,486 |
| 22 | Idaho | $81,166 |
| 23 | Nevada | $81,134 |
| 24 | Georgia | $79,991 |
| 25 | Texas | $79,721 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $77,871 |
| 27 | Florida | $77,735 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $77,545 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $77,488 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $76,881 |
| 31 | Maine | $76,442 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $76,376 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $75,532 |
| 34 | Kansas | $75,514 |
| 35 | Iowa | $75,501 |
| 36 | Montana | $75,340 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $73,958 |
| 38 | Michigan | $72,389 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $72,350 |
| 40 | Ohio | $72,212 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $71,997 |
| 42 | Indiana | $71,959 |
| 43 | Missouri | $71,589 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $67,816 |
| 45 | Alabama | $66,659 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $66,148 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $64,526 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $62,106 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $60,986 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $60,798 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $59,127 |
Nineteen states plus DC were above the ACS national median. Massachusetts, the highest state, had a median about 1.77 times that of Mississippi, the lowest (our math). But a higher income does not always mean more money left over. Bureau of Economic Analysis price data also puts California, Hawaii and Massachusetts among the most expensive states. To see what an income is worth in another place, use our cost of living calculator, or see the cheapest states to live in.
By Race and Hispanic Origin
| Race or Hispanic origin of householder | Median, 2025 | Mean, 2025 | Median change from 2024 (after inflation) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian | $126,300 | $173,700 | +1.6% |
| White, not Hispanic | $96,710 | $136,800 | +2.9%* |
| White | $91,930 | $130,500 | +3.0%* |
| Hispanic (any race) | $73,260 | $101,100 | +1.1% |
| Black | $59,980 | $89,260 | +4.8%* |
| All households | $87,460 | $126,700 | +2.6%* |
Black households had the largest real gain in 2025, 4.8%. White and non-Hispanic White households also rose by more than the margin of error. The Census Bureau found no significant change for Asian or Hispanic households. Large gaps remain: the Black median was less than half the Asian median (0.47 times, our math).
By Age of Householder
| Age of householder | Median household income, 2025 |
|---|---|
| 15 to 24 | $60,870 |
| 25 to 34 | $94,880 |
| 35 to 44 | $114,100 |
| 45 to 54 | $120,100 |
| 55 to 64 | $99,320 |
| 65 and older | $59,680 |
| Under 65 (all) | $101,900 |
Household income peaks when the householder is 45 to 54 and drops sharply after 65, when paychecks give way to Social Security, pensions and savings. Taxes take a smaller bite at 65 and older: the post-tax median was 4.9% below the pretax figure, the smallest gap of any age group. For younger working ages the gap was about 12% to 18%. For full detail, including individual earnings by age, see average income by age.
By Household Type
| Household type | Median, 2025 | Change from 2024 (after inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| Married-couple households | $132,400 | +0.9% |
| All family households | $112,900 | +2.0%* |
| Male householder, no spouse (family) | $86,000 | +0.9% |
| Female householder, no spouse (family) | $63,530 | +2.7% |
| All nonfamily households | $52,200 | +0.5% |
| Men living alone or with nonrelatives | $60,970 | +3.3% |
| Women living alone or with nonrelatives | $45,430 | -0.1% |
A married couple often has two paychecks, which helps explain the gap. The married-couple median was about 2.5 times that of nonfamily households (our math). If you live alone, the $52,200 nonfamily median is a better yardstick than $87,460. Married couples should look at $132,400.
By Region and Education
| Region | Median household income, 2025 |
|---|---|
| West | $97,440 |
| Northeast | $95,110 |
| Midwest | $85,820 |
| South | $80,690 |
Education of the householder (aged 25 and older) shows an even wider spread. Households headed by someone with a bachelor's degree or more had a median of $138,300. With a high school diploma and no college, it was $60,790. Without a high school diploma, it was $37,090.
Median Household Income Over Time
| Year | Median household income (2025 dollars) |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $85,320 |
| 2020 | $83,590 |
| 2021 | $83,270 |
| 2022 | $81,460 |
| 2023 | $84,730 |
| 2024 | $85,210 |
| 2025 | $87,460 |
Real median income fell for three years in a row after 2019. It recovered in 2023 and 2024, and 2025 is the first year the median topped the 2019 level. The mean rose too, from $123,600 in 2024 to $126,700 in 2025.
How to Compare Your Household
- Add up everyone's income. Census household income is the combined pretax money income of every person aged 15 and older in the home. It counts wages, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, interest, dividends, rent, public assistance and other cash sources.
- Use the pretax number. Compare your gross income, not your take-home pay. If you want an after-tax comparison, use the $76,060 post-tax median.
- Leave out what Census leaves out. Capital gains are not counted. Neither are noncash benefits such as food assistance, employer health coverage or housing subsidies.
- Pick the right benchmark. A single person should compare with nonfamily households ($52,200). A married couple should compare with married-couple households ($132,400). A retiree should compare with householders 65 and older ($59,680).
- Find your percentile. Use the percentile table above. For example, $150,000 falls between the 70th percentile ($140,900) and the 80th ($182,400).
- Adjust for where you live. The same income buys far more in some places than others. Our cost of living calculator converts an income between states and metro areas.
Household income is not the same as one person's pay. To compare a single paycheck, see average salary in the U.S. And income is only half of the picture. What you keep matters more, so check average net worth by age as well.
Sources & Methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau, Income in the United States: 2025 (P60-289, released September 15, 2026): Table 1 (medians by household type, race, age, region, education), Table 2 (income brackets, means, historical medians), Table 4 (income after taxes), Table 6 (percentiles, quintiles, Gini index). Based on the 2026 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC).
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, Table B19013 (median household income by state, 2024 dollars). The 2025 1-year release is scheduled for October 29, 2026.
- Pew Research Center, "Are you in the American middle class?" (September 16, 2024): middle-income definition and 2022 range.
CPS figures are in 2025 dollars, adjusted with the chained CPI (C-CPI-U). We call a change from 2024 meaningful only where it is larger than the Census Bureau's published 90% margin of error. Monthly figures, bracket totals and ratios are our own arithmetic on the published numbers and are labelled as such. State figures come from a different survey (ACS) and year, so they are not directly comparable with the national CPS median.
FAQ
What is the median household income in the U.S.?
$87,460 in 2025, according to the Census Bureau. It is the highest on record since 1967 after inflation and 2.6% above 2024.
What is the average household income in the U.S.?
The mean was $126,700 in 2025. It is about 45% higher than the median because very high incomes raise the average.
What is the U.S. median income per month?
About $7,288 a month before taxes ($87,460 divided by 12), or about $6,338 a month after taxes and credits.
What household income puts you in the top 10%?
About $261,300 in 2025. The top 5% started at about $354,000.
Which state has the highest median household income?
Massachusetts ($104,828) among states in the 2024 ACS, with DC higher at $109,707. Mississippi was lowest at $59,127.
Is $100,000 a good household income?
It is above the national median of $87,460 and a bit under the 60th percentile ($110,300). Whether it feels comfortable depends on household size and local prices.
This article is for general information and is not financial advice. Figures come from Census Bureau and Pew Research Center publications checked on 2026-10-20. Monthly amounts, bracket totals and ratios are our own calculations from published figures.
