American Community Survey Briefs

U.S. Department of Commerce

Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

census.gov

Household Income for States: 2010 

and 2011

INTRODUCTION

Estimates from the 2010 American Community Survey 

(ACS) and the 2011 ACS show household income continues to decline. This report presents data on median 

household income at the national and state levels 

based on the 2010 and 2011 ACS.1 The ACS provides 

detailed estimates of demographic, social, economic, 

and housing characteristics for states, congressional 

districts, counties, places, and other localities every 

year. A description of the ACS is provided in the text 

box “What Is the American Community Survey?”

In the 2011 ACS, information on income was collected 

between January and December 2011 and people were 

asked about income for the previous 12 months (the 

income reference period). This yielded a total income 

time span covering 23 months (January 2010 to 

November 2011). Therefore, adjacent ACS years have 

income reference months in common and comparisons 

of 2011 economic conditions with those in 2010 will 

not be precise. 2

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME

Real median household income in the United States fell 

between the 2010 ACS and the 2011 ACS, decreasing 

by 1.3 percent from $51,144 to $50,502 (see Appendix 

Table 1).3

1 The text of this report discusses data for the United States, 

including the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Data for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, collected with the Puerto Rico Community 

Survey, are shown in Appendix Table 1, Figure 1, and Figure 2. 2 For a discussion of this and related issues, see Howard Hogan, 

“Measuring Population Change Using the American Community Survey,” 

in Steven H. Murdock and David A. Swanson (eds.), Applied Demography in the 21st Century, Springer, Netherlands, 2008. 3 All income data from 2010 are inflation-adjusted to 2011 dollars. 

“Real” refers to income after adjusting for inflation.

State estimates from the 2011 ACS ranged from 

$70,004 in Maryland to $36,919 in Mississippi (see 

Figure 1). Median household incomes were lower 

than the U.S. median in 27 states and higher in 

19 states and the District of Columbia. Nebraska, 

North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin had 

median household incomes which were not significantly different from the U.S. median.

Between the 2010 ACS and the 2011 ACS, Vermont 

was the only state that showed an increase in real 

median household income. The median household 

income in Vermont rose from $50,707 in the 2010 ACS 

to $52,776 in the 2011 ACS. No state had an increase 

Issued September 2012

ACSBR/11-02

By Amanda Noss

Household income: Includes income of 

the householder and all other people 15 

years and older in the household, whether 

or not they are related to the householder. 

Median: The point that divides the household income distribution into halves, one half 

with income above the median and the other 

with income below the median. The median 

is based on the income distribution of all 

households, including those with no income. 

Gini Index: Summary measure of income 

inequality. The Gini Index varies from 0 to 1, 

with a 0 indicating perfect equality, where 

there is a proportional distribution of income. 

A 1 indicates perfect inequality, where one 

household has all the income and all others 

have no income.
2 U.S. Census Bureau

between the 2009 ACS and 2010 

ACS. Looking back to the 2008 and 

2009 ACS, North Dakota was the 

only state to experience an increase 

in median household income (5.1 

percent). Five states (Kansas, 

Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, 

and Texas) had increases between 

the 2007 ACS and the 2008 ACS, 

and between the 2006 ACS and 

2007 ACS, 33 states had increases 

in median household income.

Real median household income 

decreased between the 2010 and 

2011 ACS in 18 states. These 

decreases range from 1.1 percent 

(Ohio) to 6.0 percent (Nevada). 

Fewer states showed decreases 

between the 2010 ACS and 2011 

ACS when compared with changes 

between the 2009 ACS and the 

2010 ACS where 35 states showed 

decreases in median household 

income. Between the 2008 ACS and 

the 2009 ACS, 34 states experienced decreases and between 

the 2007 ACS and the 2008 ACS, 

five states had decreases.

For 31 states and the District of 

Columbia, real median household income in the 2011 ACS 

was not statistically different 

from that in the 2010 ACS. 

INCOME INEQUALITY

The Gini Index for the United 

States in the 2011 ACS (0.475) was 

significantly higher than in the 

2010 ACS (0.469). This increase 

suggests more income inequality across the country. The Gini 

Index for the 2011 ACS increased 

in 20 states. The remaining 30 

states and the District of Columbia 

showed no statistically significant change between the 2010 

ACS and the 2011 ACS. No state 

had a decrease in the Gini Index 

between the 2010 ACS and 2011 

ACS. This increase in 20 states 

between 2010 ACS and 2011 ACS 

can be compared with the change 

between the 2009 ACS and 2010 

ACS when there was an increase 

in Gini Indexes in nine states.

Gini Indexes from the 2011 

ACS ranged from 0.534 in the 

District of Columbia to 0.408 in 

Wyoming (Figure 2).4 Five states 

4 The Gini Indexes for the District of 

Columbia and Puerto Rico are not statistically 

different. The Gini Index for Wyoming was 

not statistically different from the Gini Index 

for Alaska.

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

(

TX

CA

MT

AZ

ID

NV

KS

CO

NM

OR

UT

SD

IL

WY

(

NE

IA

FL

MN

OK

(

ND

(

WI

WA

AL GA

MO

(PA

AR

LA

NC

MS

NY

IN

MI

VA

TN

KY

SC

OH

ME

WV

VT

NH

NJ

MD

MA

CT

DE

RI

DC

AK

PR HI

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 American Community

Survey, 2011 Puerto Rico Community Survey.

0 500 Miles

0 100 Miles

0 100 Miles 0 50 Miles

Income by state in 2011

inflation-adjusted dollars

$60,000 or more

$50,000 to $59,999

$45,000 to $49,999

Less than $45,000

Median Household Income

for the United States and Puerto Rico: 2011

U.S. Median Household 

Income = $50,502

Figure 1.

United States median does not

include data for Puerto Rico. Note: A state abbreviation surrounded by 

the " " symbol denotes the value for the

state is not statistically different from the

U.S. median.
U.S. Census Bureau 3

and the District of Columbia had 

a Gini Index higher than that for 

the United States—California, 

Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, 

and New York. There were 33 

states with Gini Indexes lower 

than the U.S. Index. The remaining 12 states had a Gini Index 

which was not statistically different from the U.S. Index.

SOURCE AND ACCURACY

The data presented in this report 

are based on the ACS sample 

interviewed in 2011. The estimates 

based on this sample approximate 

the actual values and represent the 

entire household and group quarter 

population. Sampling error is the 

difference between an estimate 

based in a sample and the corresponding value that would be 

obtained if the estimate were based 

on the entire population (as from a 

census). Measures of the sampling 

errors are provided in the form of 

margins of error for all estimates 

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

(

(TX

CA

MT

AZ

ID

NV

KS

CO

(

NM

OR

UT

SD

(IL

WY

NE IA

FL

MN

OK

ND

WI

WA

(

AL (

GA

MO

PA

AR

LA

(

NC

(

MS

NY

IN

MI

VA

(TN

(

KY

SC

OH

ME

(

WV

VT

NH

NJ

MD

(

MA

CT

DE

(

RI

DC

AK

PR HI

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 American Community

Survey, 2011 Puerto Rico Community Survey.

0 500 Miles

0 100 Miles

0 100 Miles 0 50 Miles

Gini Index

0.471 or more

0.455 to 0.470

0.440 to 0.454

Less than 0.440

Gini Index of Income Inequality 

for the United States and Puerto Rico: 2011

2011 U.S. Gini Index = 0.475

Figure 2.

United States Gini Index

does not include data for 

Note Puerto Rico. : A state abbreviation surrounded by 

the " " symbol denotes the value for the

state is not statistically different from the

U.S. Gini Index.

What Is the American Community Survey?

The American Community Survey (ACS) is a nationwide survey 

designed to provide communities with reliable and timely 

demographic, social, economic, and housing data for the nation, 

states, congressional districts, counties, places, and other localities 

every year. It has an annual sample size of about 3.3 million 

addresses across the United States and Puerto Rico and includes 

both housing units and group quarters (e.g., nursing facilities and 

prisons). The ACS is conducted in every county throughout the 

nation, and every municipio in Puerto Rico, where it is called the 

Puerto Rico Community Survey. Beginning in 2006, ACS data for 2005 

were released for geographic areas with populations of 65,000 and 

greater. For information on the ACS sample design and other topics, 

visit <www.census.gov/acs/www>.
4 U.S. Census Bureau

included in this report. All comparative statements in this report 

have undergone statistical testing, 

and comparisons are significant at 

the 90 percent level unless otherwise noted. In addition to sampling 

error, nonsampling error may be 

introduced during any of the operations used to collect and process 

survey data such as editing, reviewing, or keying data from questionnaires. For more information on 

sampling and estimation methods, 

confidentiality protection, and 

sampling and nonsampling errors, 

please see the 2011 ACS Accuracy 

of the Data document located at 

<www.census.gov/acs/www

/Downloads/data_documentation

/Accuracy/ACS_Accuracy_of_Data

_2011.pdf>.
U.S. Census Bureau 5

Appendix Table 1. 

Median Household Income and Gini Index in the Past 12 Months by State and 

Puerto Rico: 2010 and 2011

(In 2011 inflation-adjusted dollars. Data are limited to the household population and exclude the population living in institutions, college 

dormitories, and other group quarters. For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, 

see www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/data_documentation/Accuracy/ACS_Accuracy_of_Data_2011.pdf)

Area

2010 ACS median 

household income 

(dollars)

2011 ACS median 

household income 

(dollars)

Change in median 

income 

2010 ACS Gini 

coefficients

2011 ACS Gini 

coefficients

Change in Gini 

coefficients 

Estimate

Margin 

of 

error 

(±)1 Estimate

Margin 

of 

error 

(±)1

Percent 

Estimate

Margin 

of 

error 

(±)1 Estimate

Margin 

of 

error 

(±)1 Estimate

Margin 

of 

error 

(±) Estimate 1

Margin of 

error (±)1

 United States . . 51,144 65 50,502 73 *–1.3 0.2 0.469 0.001 0.475 0.001 *0.006 0.001

Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . 41,459 518 41,415 550 –0.1 1.8 0.472 0.004 0.474 0.004 0.002 0.006

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66,311 1952 67,825 1,948 2.3 4.2 0.422 0.010 0.410 0.012 –0.012 0.015

Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . 48,108 635 46,709 554 *–2.9 1.7 0.455 0.004 0.460 0.005 0.005 0.006

Arkansas . . . . . . . . . . . 39,375 576 38,758 761 –1.6 2.4 0.458 0.007 0.468 0.006 *0.010 0.009

California . . . . . . . . . . . 59,540 328 57,287 279 *–3.8 0.7 0.471 0.002 0.481 0.002 *0.010 0.003

Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . 55,580 703 55,387 605 –0.3 1.7 0.457 0.005 0.459 0.005 0.002 0.007

Connecticut . . . . . . . . . 65,883 942 65,753 854 –0.2 1.9 0.486 0.006 0.486 0.005 – 0.008

Delaware . . . . . . . . . . . 57,289 1592 58,814 1,586 2.7 4.0 0.440 0.010 0.440 0.011 0.001 0.015

District of Columbia . . . 62,009 1713 63,124 2,407 1.8 4.8 0.532 0.011 0.534 0.015 0.002 0.019

Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45,609 285 44,299 406 *–2.9 1.1 0.474 0.003 0.481 0.004 *0.007 0.005

Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . 47,659 563 46,007 454 *–3.5 1.5 0.468 0.003 0.477 0.005 *0.009 0.006

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65,191 1514 61,821 1,035 *–5.2 2.7 0.433 0.008 0.430 0.008 –0.003 0.011

Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44,867 997 43,341 1,320 –3.4 3.6 0.433 0.009 0.432 0.009 –0.001 0.012

Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54,644 414 53,234 511 *–2.6 1.2 0.465 0.003 0.472 0.004 *0.007 0.004

Indiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45,898 435 46,438 455 1.2 1.4 0.440 0.004 0.446 0.005 0.006 0.007

Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49,401 577 49,427 693 0.1 1.8 0.427 0.005 0.434 0.005 0.007 0.007

Kansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49,687 797 48,964 756 –1.5 2.2 0.445 0.004 0.444 0.006 –0.001 0.007

Kentucky . . . . . . . . . . . 40,948 504 41,141 464 0.5 1.7 0.466 0.004 0.471 0.007 0.005 0.008

Louisiana . . . . . . . . . . . 43,804 813 41,734 528 *–4.7 2.1 0.475 0.006 0.484 0.006 *0.009 0.008

Maine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47,069 1008 46,033 802 –2.2 2.7 0.437 0.007 0.451 0.009 *0.014 0.011

Maryland . . . . . . . . . . . 70,976 934 70,004 804 –1.4 1.7 0.443 0.004 0.447 0.004 0.004 0.006

Massachusetts . . . . . . . 63,967 550 62,859 902 *–1.7 1.6 0.475 0.004 0.477 0.003 0.002 0.005

Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . 46,692 347 45,981 330 *–1.5 1.0 0.451 0.003 0.461 0.003 *0.010 0.004

Minnesota . . . . . . . . . . 56,936 512 56,954 488 – 1.2 0.440 0.005 0.444 0.004 0.004 0.006

Mississippi . . . . . . . . . . 37,838 824 36,919 583 –2.4 2.6 0.468 0.006 0.474 0.006 0.006 0.009

Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . 45,600 489 45,247 529 –0.8 1.6 0.455 0.005 0.461 0.005 0.006 0.007

Montana . . . . . . . . . . . . 44,145 1131 44,222 1,078 0.2 3.5 0.435 0.008 0.435 0.009 – 0.013

Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . 49,770 755 50,296 687 1.1 2.1 0.432 0.007 0.447 0.009 *0.015 0.012

Nevada . . . . . . . . . . . . 52,045 901 48,927 1,020 *–6.0 2.5 0.448 0.007 0.453 0.009 0.005 0.012

New Hampshire . . . . . . 62,770 1360 62,647 1,415 –0.2 3.1 0.425 0.007 0.435 0.009 0.010 0.012

New Jersey . . . . . . . . . 69,829 755 67,458 721 *–3.4 1.5 0.464 0.003 0.469 0.003 *0.005 0.005

New Mexico . . . . . . . . . 43,326 1011 41,963 803 *–3.1 2.9 0.464 0.007 0.482 0.009 *0.018 0.012

New York . . . . . . . . . . . 55,712 349 55,246 398 –0.8 0.9 0.499 0.003 0.503 0.003 *0.004 0.004

North Carolina . . . . . . . 44,726 347 43,916 519 *–1.8 1.4 0.464 0.003 0.472 0.004 *0.008 0.005

North Dakota . . . . . . . . 50,026 1361 51,704 1,260 3.4 3.8 0.433 0.011 0.445 0.010 0.012 0.015

Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46,275 301 45,749 319 *–1.1 0.9 0.452 0.003 0.459 0.003 *0.007 0.004

Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . 43,239 541 43,225 607 – 1.9 0.454 0.005 0.461 0.004 *0.007 0.006

Oregon . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47,989 621 46,816 711 *–2.4 1.9 0.449 0.005 0.459 0.007 *0.010 0.008

Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . 50,548 340 50,228 292 –0.6 0.9 0.461 0.003 0.461 0.002 – 0.004

Rhode Island . . . . . . . . 53,879 1441 53,636 1,699 –0.5 4.1 0.467 0.007 0.467 0.011 – 0.014

South Carolina . . . . . . . 43,311 526 42,367 559 *–2.2 1.8 0.461 0.009 0.465 0.005 0.004 0.007

South Dakota . . . . . . . . 46,993 1261 48,321 1,598 2.8 4.4 0.442 0.005 0.432 0.010 –0.010 0.015

Tennessee . . . . . . . . . . 42,453 499 41,693 423 *–1.8 1.5 0.468 0.012 0.476 0.005 *0.008 0.006

Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50,010 281 49,392 391 *–1.2 1.0 0.469 0.004 0.477 0.003 *0.008 0.004

Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56,227 610 55,869 805 –0.6 1.2 0.419 0.002 0.425 0.007 0.006 0.010

Vermont . . . . . . . . . . . . 50,707 1405 52,776 1,420 *4.0 4.0 0.444 0.007 0.431 0.010 –0.013 0.013

Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62,173 552 61,882 507 –0.5 1.2 0.459 0.009 0.463 0.004 0.004 0.005

Washington . . . . . . . . . 57,201 542 56,835 569 –0.6 1.4 0.441 0.003 0.445 0.004 0.004 0.005

West Virginia . . . . . . . . 39,444 971 38,482 875 –2.4 3.3 0.451 0.004 0.472 0.009 *0.021 0.011

Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . . 50,293 394 50,395 428 0.2 1.2 0.430 0.007 0.437 0.004 *0.007 0.005

Wyoming . . . . . . . . . . . 55,213 1785 56,322 1,890 2.0 4.7 0.423 0.004 0.408 0.012 –0.015 0.021

Puerto Rico . . . . . . . . . 19,370 306 18,660 358 *–3.7 2.4 0.537 0.017 0.531 0.006 –0.006 0.009

– Represents or rounds to zero.

* Statistically different from zero at the 90 percent confidence level.

 1 Data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. A margin of error is a measure of an estimate’s variability. The larger the margin of error 

in relation to the size of the estimate, the less reliable the estimate. This number when added to and subtracted from the estimate forms the 90 percent confidence 

interval.

 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 and 2011 American Community Surveys, 2010 and 2011 Puerto Rico Community Surveys.