U.S. Census data released this week showed that national median household income held strong in 2024. However, income growth was uneven and regional poverty disparities persisted.

Today, the Census Bureau released 2024 state-level income and poverty data from the American Community Survey (ACS). Although these data come from a different survey than the national income and poverty data, the overall trends are similar, with a range of outcomes across states.

Importantly, these data describe trends for 2024 and tell us nothing about economic conditions this year, in which Trump administration actions—chaotic tariffs, mass deportations, attacks on federal employees—have weakened the labor market, put upward pressure on prices, and threatened to undo recent progress of historically high wage growth and declining inequality.

State-level changes in household income

Between 2023 and 2024, U.S. median household income rose 2.0% to $81,604.1 Median household income varied significantly by state, from a low of $59,127 in Mississippi to $109,707 in the District of Columbia in 2024. Compared with 2023, median household incomes saw the largest decline in Rhode Island (–4.5%) and the largest increase in Alaska (7.3%). Twenty-nine states had a statistically significant increase in median income while the remaining 21 states and D.C. had no measurable year-over-year change in household income, positive or negative.

Because single-year changes can be volatile, it’s useful to look over a longer timeframe to identify trends. Specifically, we compare 2024 data with 2019—the year before the COVID-19 pandemic began—to understand the change in median household income between two recent years in which the economy was relatively strong. Between 2019 and 2024, ACS-measured median household income nationally increased only 1.1% after adjusting for inflation. Idaho (8.3%) and Montana (7.3%) experienced the largest increases in median household income since 2019, while Wyoming (–5.4%) and Minnesota (–4.9%) saw the largest declines. Overall, 30 states experienced an increase in median incomes from 2019 to 2024 and 20 states plus D.C. experienced a decline (see Figure A).

Figure A State-level changes in poverty

The Census reported that poverty rates measurably fell in 13 states from 2023 to 2024. The share of people with incomes below the poverty line ranged from a low of 7.2% in New Hampshire to a high of 18.7% in Louisiana in 2024, compared with the U.S. average of 12.1% as measured by the ACS. Regionally, poverty rates were higher in the South and lower in the Northeast and West. Since 2023, poverty declined nationwide by 0.4% but declined much faster in Montana (–1.5%), New Mexico (–1.4%), and South Dakota (–1.4%). Poverty increased by more than one percentage point in DC (3.3%) and North Dakota (1.3%).

Poverty rates declined slightly less over the past year compared with 2019, but most states made progress nonetheless. Twenty-nine states had lower poverty rates in 2024 than in 2019, while 18 states and D.C. had poverty rates above their 2019 rates, and there was no change in California, New Jersey, and Wyoming (see Figure A). Since 2019, the poverty rate increased the most in D.C. (3.8%)—from 13.5% to 17.3%.

Trump administration actions will harm working families and deepen inequality

The Biden administration’s fiscal response to the COVID-19 pandemic prevented prolonged economic pain, particularly in comparison to the Great Recession. Though inflation was pronounced in 2022, inflationary pressures declined in 2023 and 2024 while wages continued to rise, outpacing inflation and bolstering household income.

Unfortunately, Trump administration policies will undermine recent progress and exacerbate economic precarity for low-income households. In the years ahead, the Republican “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” will decimate access to health care and nutrition assistance for the poorest households while providing a massive tax cut for the wealthy—a giveaway that will cause pain for millions of U.S. households. And Trump’s chaotic trade policies and mass deportation agenda will harm U.S.-born and immigrant workers alike. In fact, some of these harms are already being felt. This month’s jobs report showed slowed growth and rising unemployment.

The Trump administration has also taken actions to undermine the work of civil servants who collect and analyze the data summarized here. The Bureau of Labor Statistic and U.S. Census Bureau provide high-quality, nonpartisan economic data that allow policymakers at all levels of government—as well as business leaders—to plan and make decisions that keep our economy functioning. But the Trump administration has implemented deep staffing cuts at federal agencies and politicized the work of economists and statisticians, eroding trust in government and threatening the credibility of future data collection and analysis efforts.

Amid federal attacks on working families, state lawmakers can advance economic justice

While recently released household income and poverty data showed some improvement in 2024, much more progress is needed to address income inequality and disparities by race and gender in every state. For example, policymakers need to raise the minimum wage, increase workers’ access to a union, implement pro-family policies like affordable child care and paid leave, and make our tax system fairer. In the face of anti-worker policies at the federal level, state lawmakers have an opportunity and responsibility to champion policies that enable workers and families to thrive.

Note

1. According to the data released on Tuesday from the Current Population Survey (CPS), U.S. median household income in 2024 was $83,730—a small (1.3%) but not statistically significant change from 2023. The 2024 value was also essentially the same as that from 2019 ($83,260). The ACS data released Thursday show that median household income rose 2.0% nationally from 2023 to 2024. The differences between these values reflect differences in the methodologies of the two surveys that make them not directly comparable; however, the fact that the ACS change was a statistically measurable increase validates the direction of the change reported by the CPS.

Below, EPI economists offer their insights on today’s release of U.S. Census Bureau data for 2024 on annual earnings, income, poverty, and health insurance.

From EPI senior economist Elise Gould:

The latest data out from #Census today show median earnings and median household incomes kept pace with inflation in 2024. Men’s earnings rose 3.7% increasing the gender wage gap back to 2019 levels. Income grew at the top, but not the middle or bottom, reversing recent trends.
#EconSky #NumbersDay

— Elise Gould (@elisegould.bsky.social) Sep 9, 2025 at 9:43 AM

While median earnings and incomes held strong in 2024, it’s important to remember that these data do not say anything about 2025. Trump policies—chaotic and high tariffs, mass deportations, attacks on the federal workforce—have already led to a softening labor market and more inflationary pressures.

— Elise Gould (@elisegould.bsky.social) Sep 9, 2025 at 10:01 AM

While changes at the median or 10th percentile were not statistically significant between 2023 and 2024, income grew 1.3% and 2.2% in real terms at the middle and bottom, respectively. However, inequality did rise because the top grew even faster (4.2% at the 90th percentile).
#EconSky #NumbersDay

— Elise Gould (@elisegould.bsky.social) Sep 9, 2025 at 10:33 AM

 

From EPI senior economist Ben Zipperer:

About 8% of people lacked any form of health insurance in 2024. Unfortunately that rate will dramatically increase in the coming years, from 27 million to more than 40 million thanks to Republicans who cut Medicaid and ACA marketplace subsidies

[image or embed]

— Ben Zipperer (@benzipperer.org) Sep 9, 2025 at 9:33 AM

 

From EPI economist Ismael Cid-Martinez: 

New Census 2024 income data show a mixed picture for families of color. Asian & Hispanic families saw their median income rise. But Black families experienced a fall. Typical Black & Hispanic households continue to earn just a fraction of their white peers’ income. #EconSky #NumbersDay

[image or embed]

— Ismael Cid Martínez (@icidmartinez.bsky.social) Sep 9, 2025 at 10:19 AM

Disparities in income continue to leave families of color with children disproportionately vulnerable to poverty. Black & Hispanic children remain 3 times as likely as their white peers to suffer poverty. #EconSky #NumbersDay

[image or embed]

— Ismael Cid Martínez (@icidmartinez.bsky.social) Sep 9, 2025 at 10:19 AM

As we point out in a new report, Trump and Congressional Republicans’ attacks on basic needs programs that keep millions of children out of poverty will continue to expand these inequities – forcing children of color to inherit poverty for generations.
www.epi.org/publication/…

[image or embed]

— Ismael Cid Martínez (@icidmartinez.bsky.social) Sep 9, 2025 at 10:19 AM

 

From EPI economist Hilary Wething: 

Some big #NumbersDay releases today—Just a reminder that the Census data are incredibly valuable. We get transparent and non-politicized data to make informed decisions about what policies are delivering economic security for working people.

— Hilary Wething (@hilwething.bsky.social) Sep 9, 2025 at 9:25 AM

Today’s preliminary benchmark announcement from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveals weaker job growth between March 2024 and March 2025 than when it was first reported based on survey data. These numbers are likely to anger President Trump and the White House who incorrectly view revised data as political manipulation. Trump has already lashed out at BLS, including firing the agency’s commissioner because a jobs report showed a rapidly weakening labor market. But these BLS data revisions are not corrections of mistakes. Revisions are part of the regular, transparent process to update employment counts with the most comprehensive data possible.

In today’s release, BLS provided preliminary estimates—during which no data will actually be revised—as a window into its eventual benchmark revisions that will be implemented in the beginning of 2026. According to the data, average monthly job growth between March 2024 and March 2025 may have been only half the pace that was initially estimated, about 70,600 jobs per month rather than 146,500. These preliminary estimates are consistent with other signs of slowing job growth in late 2024 and the beginning of 2025. The bulk of these revisions reflect 2024 data—in fact, despite the predictable angst they will generate from the White House, today’s revisions tell us very little about the state of Trump’s economy since he wasn’t president in 2024.

Instead, the preliminary benchmark revisions released this morning are simply part of regular BLS communication regarding the best available employment data. Monthly payroll employment estimates are based on a large sample with a fast turnaround; data are regularly updated for two subsequent months as new survey results come in, and then the data are revised again annually in February to reflect administrative records, which are comprehensive but less timely.

Any political retaliation due to today’s release will harm the ability for BLS to provide timely and unbiased statistics, either because the Trump administration is intending to undermine data integrity, or because political attacks on the dedicated public servants at BLS limit their ability to collect, process, and release these statistics. The latest economic data—which are wholly unaffected by today’s preliminary revisions—suggest the labor market is weakening for all workers. Job growth has been especially weak since May. Household survey rates also point to falling prime-age Black employment and higher unemployment for U.S.-born workers. Punishing the messenger will only further damage the federal data infrastructure and cloud our ability to understand the state of the economy.

Why does BLS revise employment estimates?

Every month, the BLS reports two critical sources of employment data: monthly employment levels and changes from the Current Employment Statistics (CES), also known as the establishment survey or payroll survey; and unemployment rates and employment-to-population ratios from the Current Population Survey, also known as the household survey. To update CES-based employment estimates with the most accurate data, BLS implements a well-documented and regular set of revisions.

The preliminary benchmark revisions are a preview of possible revisions to the employment counts and monthly job growth estimates from the CES. In February 2026, BLS will release final benchmark revisions to ensure that its data are as accurate and comprehensive as possible and, only at that point, will they revise historical CES data. The CES is only a sample of total employment in the United States, and as part of its regular benchmarking since 1949, the BLS incorporates much more comprehensive data based on unemployment insurance tax filings by employers. These near-universal payroll records from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) are more accurate than the CES, but not as timely.

Today, BLS reports that more comprehensive tax records suggest March 2025 employment levels may have been 911,000 lower than the current published value, but it will provide the final benchmark estimate in February 2026 when there are more available data. At that point, the benchmark will be implemented and historical data on payroll employment as well as wages and hours will be updated. If the benchmark adjustments follow recent patterns, the final benchmark revision for payroll employment will be slightly less negative than the preliminary revisions.

The reason for the overestimated job growth by the CES, and hence the negative revisions, is because the CES survey sample is becoming less representative—perhaps because of slower net immigration and slower net business creation in 2024. Through the benchmarking process, BLS corrects the CES sample frame and the survey’s underlying assumptions about business creation and destruction.

These regular and transparent steps by BLS to ensure that its data are as accurate and informative as possible are one of the hallmarks of the federal statistics infrastructure. Any effort to undermine them should be soundly rejected.