Across the United States, what qualifies as “middle class” varies widely depending on where you live.

This map, via Visual Capitalist's Bruno Venditti, 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.

RankStateMedian Household Income

1Maryland$90,203

2District Of Columbia$90,088

3Massachusetts$89,645

4New Jersey$89,296

5New Hampshire$88,465

6Washington$87,820

7California$85,388

8Utah$84,131

9Virginia$83,848

10Connecticut$83,771

11Colorado$82,067

12Alaska$81,818

13Minnesota$80,774

14Oregon$77,305

15Illinois$76,384

16Hawaii$76,285

17New York$74,314

18Georgia$74,063

19Rhode Island$74,008

20Wisconsin$73,014

21Nevada$72,618

22Pennsylvania$71,412

23Arizona$71,033

24Michigan$69,965

25North Dakota$69,478

26Texas$69,430

27North Carolina$67,671

28Delaware$67,016

29Iowa$66,122

30Missouri$65,795

31South Dakota$64,956

32Indiana$64,806

33Florida$64,666

34Nebraska$64,573

35Kansas$64,362

36South Carolina$63,718

37Ohio$61,891

38Maine$61,489

39Montana$59,955

40Tennessee$59,862

41Oklahoma$59,071

42Wyoming$58,845

43Louisiana$58,833

44Vermont$58,654

45Idaho$58,208

46Alabama$55,771

47Kentucky$54,942

48New Mexico$54,076

49Arkansas$52,664

50West Virginia$49,170

51Mississippi$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.