Household Income by State in Blue, Red and Swing States

Key points

• The map shows 2023 median annual household income for all 50 states, coloured by whether each state is a blue, red or swing state.
• Massachusetts is highest at $107K, followed by Maryland ($102K), Utah ($101K) and New Hampshire ($99K).
• Mississippi is lowest at $55K, followed by Louisiana ($58K) and West Virginia ($60K).
• The seven swing states range from $69K in North Carolina to $83K in Arizona, around the US figure of $81K shown on the legend.
• The graphic notes exceptions both ways: Utah and Alaska are red states above the US figure, and New Mexico is a blue state below it.

Household income by state, in text

Title: Household Income in Blue, Red & Swing States. Each state is labelled with its abbreviation and income. Three colour scales (blue, orange red and grey) run from $55K to $110K, with a dashed line at “US Avg. $81K”. The party mascots are drawn as piggy banks: a blue donkey, a red elephant and a grey pig for swing states.

Callout boxes printed on the map: “Red states tend to have lower incomes, with economies relying more on agriculture, manufacturing, and natural resources.” and “Blue states generally have higher household incomes, driven by urbanized, diversified, and service-oriented economies.”

Footnote: Blue and red states are based on the 2020 election results. Swing states are determined by states likely to be closely contested in the November 2024 election. 2023 median annual household income. Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Wikipedia, POLITICO, New York Post. Logo: Visual Capitalist.

How the groups compare

Visual Capitalist published the map on 30 October 2024, shortly before that year’s presidential election, written by Bruno Venditti and designed by Anna Diederichs [1]. Its article says many blue states exceed the national median of $81,000, with Massachusetts and Maryland above $100,000, while several red states fall below it, with Mississippi ($55,000) and Louisiana ($58,000) under $60,000 [1]. It describes seven states as truly competitive [1].

Counting the map’s own labels, 17 of the 19 blue states are at or above $81K; the two below are New Mexico ($61K) and Maine ($76K). Of the 24 red states, 6 are at or above $81K: Utah, Alaska, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota and Iowa. Two of the 7 swing states, Arizona and Nevada, reach $81K (our counts). Utah and Alaska are the only red states among the ten highest values.

The national figure

The US Census Bureau puts real median household income at $80,610 in 2023, a 4.0% rise from $77,540 in 2022 and the first statistically significant annual increase since 2019 [2]. The map’s “US Avg. $81K” is in line with that figure, although the legend calls it an average rather than a median.

Notes on this infographic

• Average or median. The legend says “US Avg. $81K”, but the values are medians. The Census Bureau’s 2023 national median is $80,610 [2].
• Party labels. Colours describe 2020 election results and expected 2024 swing states, as the footnote says. They do not describe the politics of every resident, and the chart does not show that party control causes income levels.
• Callout statements. The two callouts are the graphic’s own explanations and are quoted as printed.
• Washington, DC. DC is not labelled on the map.
• Rounding. Values are rounded to the nearest thousand dollars.

Questions about household income by US state

Which state has the highest median household income?

Massachusetts has the highest 2023 median household income on the map, at $107K. It is followed by Maryland ($102K), Utah ($101K) and New Hampshire ($99K). Visual Capitalist's article notes that Massachusetts and Maryland are both above $100,000 [1]. Utah and Alaska ($98K) are the only red states among the ten highest values.

Which state has the lowest median household income?

Mississippi has the lowest 2023 median household income on the map, at $55K. Louisiana ($58K) and West Virginia ($60K) come next, and all three are red states. Visual Capitalist's article points out that Mississippi ($55,000) and Louisiana ($58,000) are both under $60,000 [1]. Values on the map are rounded to the nearest thousand dollars.

Do blue states have higher household incomes than red states?

Mostly, on this map: 17 of the 19 blue states are at or above the US figure of $81K, against 6 of the 24 red states. The exceptions include Utah and Alaska, red states above the line, and New Mexico ($61K) and Maine ($76K), blue states below it. The seven swing states range from $69K in North Carolina to $83K in Arizona. The chart does not show that party control causes income levels.

What is the median household income in the US?

The US Census Bureau puts real median household income at $80,610 in 2023 [2]. That was a 4.0% rise from $77,540 in 2022 and the first statistically significant annual increase since 2019 [2]. The map rounds the national figure to $81K and labels it "US Avg.", although the values it shows are medians rather than averages.

Sources

1. Visual Capitalist (Bruno Venditti, design Anna Diederichs), Mapped: U.S. Median Income in Blue, Red, and Swing States, 30 October 2024.
2. US Census Bureau, Income in the United States: 2023, September 2024.

Last reviewed 30 October 2026