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.

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 Income1Maryland$90,2032District Of Columbia$90,0883Massachusetts$89,6454New Jersey$89,2965New Hampshire$88,4656Washington$87,8207California$85,3888Utah$84,1319Virginia$83,84810Connecticut$83,77111Colorado$82,06712Alaska$81,81813Minnesota$80,77414Oregon$77,30515Illinois$76,38416Hawaii$76,28517New York$74,31418Georgia$74,06319Rhode Island$74,00820Wisconsin$73,01421Nevada$72,61822Pennsylvania$71,41223Arizona$71,03324Michigan$69,96525North Dakota$69,47826Texas$69,43027North Carolina$67,67128Delaware$67,01629Iowa$66,12230Missouri$65,79531South Dakota$64,95632Indiana$64,80633Florida$64,66634Nebraska$64,57335Kansas$64,36236South Carolina$63,71837Ohio$61,89138Maine$61,48939Montana$59,95540Tennessee$59,86241Oklahoma$59,07142Wyoming$58,84543Louisiana$58,83344Vermont$58,65445Idaho$58,20846Alabama$55,77147Kentucky$54,94248New Mexico$54,07649Arkansas$52,66450West Virginia$49,17051Mississippi$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.

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.