RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Lowest median household income, US states · 1990

US states with the lowest median household income in the 1990 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Mississippi leads at $20,136. 51 states qualify in total.

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SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPMEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOMEVS –

USUnited States248,709,873$30,130–

01Mississippi, MSMS2,946,779$20,136–

02West Virginia, WVWV1,778,373$20,795–

03Arkansas, ARAR3,049,391$21,147–

04Louisiana, LALA4,611,961$21,949–

05South Dakota, SDSD907,428$22,503–

06Kentucky, KYKY4,534,824$22,534–

07Montana, MTMT1,116,875$22,988–

08North Dakota, NDND784,841$23,213–

09Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,634$23,577–

10Alabama, ALAL5,086,768$23,597–

11New Mexico, NMNM2,120,246$24,087–

12Tennessee, TNTN7,066,383$24,807–

13Idaho, IDID1,934,262$25,257–

14Nebraska, NENE1,978,707$26,016–

15Iowa, IAIA3,210,507$26,229–

16South Carolina, SCSC5,296,225$26,256–

17Missouri, MOMO6,191,814$26,362–

18North Carolina, NCNC10,730,404$26,647–

19Texas, TXTX30,188,424$27,016–

20Wyoming, WYWY582,397$27,096–

21Oregon, OROR4,254,293$27,250–

22Kansas, KSKS2,947,197$27,291–

23Florida, FLFL22,416,077$27,483–

24Arizona, AZAZ7,378,838$27,540–

25Maine, MEME1,387,817$27,854–

26Ohio, OHOH11,810,293$28,706–

27Indiana, ININ6,851,073$28,797–

28Georgia, GAGA10,940,407$29,021–

29Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,639$29,069–

30Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,872$29,442–

31Utah, UTUT3,392,331$29,470–

32Vermont, VTVT647,106$29,792–

33Colorado, COCO5,862,189$30,140–

34District of Columbia, DCDC681,294$30,727–

35Minnesota, MNMN5,739,445$30,909–

36Nevada, NVNV3,184,612$31,011–

37Michigan, MIMI10,077,761$31,020–

38Washington, WAWA7,816,116$31,183–

39Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,801$32,181–

40Illinois, ILIL12,694,798$32,252–

41New York, NYNY19,852,366$32,965–

42Virginia, VAVA8,705,170$33,328–

43Delaware, DEDE1,021,191$34,875–

44California, CACA39,287,377$35,798–

45New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,868$36,329–

46Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,056$36,952–

47Hawaii, HIHI1,445,235$38,829–

48Maryland, MDMD6,206,011$39,386–

49New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,809$40,927–

50Alaska, AKAK735,706$41,408–

51Connecticut, CTCT3,624,508$41,721–

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS

Frequently asked

Which state has the lowest median household income?

Mississippi ranks #1 with $20,136 (1990 Decennial Census).

What are the top 5 states by median household income?

Mississippi, West Virginia, Arkansas, Louisiana, South Dakota.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 1990 Decennial Census data.

How is median household income measured?

Median income of all households, as reported each year (nominal dollars, not inflation adjusted). Source: US Census Bureau, 1990 Decennial Census.