Tuesday, January 27, 2026

High Median Household Income States 1-28-26

Based on early 2026 projections, the 20 U.S. states (including DC) with the highest median household incomes are largely concentrated on the East Coast and in Western, technology-focused states. The District of Columbia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maryland consistently rank as the top earners, with incomes often exceeding $100,000.

Top 20 States in Median Household Income (Projected 2026)
Note: Ranking indicates high income, often led by DC or top-tier states like MA, NJ, and MD. 

District of Columbia (Highest overall, over $109,000)

$109k in early 2026 projections)

Massachusetts

New Jersey

Maryland

Hawaii

California

New Hampshire

Washington

Colorado

Utah

Connecticut

Alaska

Virginia

New York

Minnesota

Delaware

Rhode Island

Oregon

Vermont

Illinois

Key Trends 

Top Performers: The District of Columbia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maryland consistently exceed $100,000 in median household income.

Regional Concentration: High earners are primarily on the East Coast (NY, CT, RI, VA, DE) and in the West (WA, CO, UT, CA).

Drivers: High concentrations of federal jobs, technology firms, and healthcare industries drive these top rankings. 

As of January 2026, the rankings for median household income continue to be led by the District of Columbia and northeastern states like Massachusetts and New Jersey. Many of these top-tier states now exceed a median household income of $100,000. 

Based on data for 2024–2026, here are the 20 highest-ranking U.S. states and districts by median household income:

District of Columbia: $109,707

Massachusetts: $104,828

New Jersey: $104,294

Maryland: $102,905

Hawaii: $100,745

California: $100,149

New Hampshire: $99,782

Washington: $99,389

Colorado: $97,113

Utah: $96,658

Connecticut: $96,049

Alaska: $95,665

Virginia: $92,090

Delaware: $87,534

Minnesota: $87,117

Rhode Island: $86,372

New York: $84,578

Illinois: $81,702

Oregon: $80,426

Vermont: $78,024 

Key Trends for 2026

$100k Benchmark: For the first time in recent years, multiple states—including Hawaii and California have joined DC, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Maryland in exceeding the $100,000 median threshold.

Regional Dominance: The top of the list remains heavily concentrated in the Northeast and the West Coast, driven by high concentrations of technology, healthcare, and professional services.

Highest Growth: Alaska saw one of the most significant jumps in median income between 2023 and 2024, rising over 10% to move into the top 15. 

https://www.google.com/search?q=what+are+the+20+highest+states+in+Median+Household+Income+2026

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader

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