In 2023, just over 50 percent of Americans had an annual household income that was less than 75,000 U.S. dollars. The median household income was 80,610 U.S. dollars in 2023. Income and wealth in the United States After the economic recession in 2009, income inequality in the U.S. is more prominent across many metropolitan areas. The Northeast region is regarded as one of the wealthiest in the country. Maryland, New Jersey, and Massachusetts were among the states with the highest median household income in 2020. In terms of income by race and ethnicity, the average income of Asian households was 94,903 U.S. dollars in 2020, while the median income for Black households was around half of that figure. What is the U.S. poverty threshold? The U.S. Census Bureau annually updates its list of poverty levels. Preliminary estimates show that the average poverty threshold for a family of four people was 26,500 U.S. dollars in 2021, which is around 100 U.S. dollars less than the previous year. There were an estimated 37.9 million people in poverty across the United States in 2021, which was around 11.6 percent of the population. Approximately 19.5 percent of those in poverty were Black, while 8.2 percent were white.

In 2023, around 10.3 percent of U.S. private households had an annual income between 35,000 and 49,999 U.S. dollars in the United States. Income levels between 100,000 to 149,999 U.S. dollars made up the largest share of the population at 16.5 percent in 2023.

American Community Survey data provided by the Urban Institute. To identify income percentiles, all households are ranked by income from lowest to highest. The income level at the threshold between the poorest 20 percent of households and the richest 80 percent is the 20th percentile. Similarly, the threshold between the poorest and richest halves is the 50th percentile (or median), and threshold between the poorest 80 percent and richest 20 percent is the 80th percentile.

Graph and download economic data for Income After Taxes: Income After Taxes by Deciles of Income Before Taxes: Ninth 10 Percent (81st to 90th Percentile) (CXUINCAFTTXLB1510M) from 2014 to 2023 about percentile, tax, income, and USA.

In 2022, the median annual tech wage corresponding to the 50th percentile in the United States was reported as 100,615 U.S. dollars. The 90th percentile for tech wages in the U.S. was 161,427 U.S. dollars for that same year.

Graph and download economic data for Income Before Taxes: Income Before Taxes by Quintiles of Income Before Taxes: Fourth 20 Percent (61st to 80th Percentile) (CXUINCBEFTXLB0105M) from 1984 to 2023 about percentile, tax, income, and USA.

In 2023, about 26.9 percent of Asian private households in the U.S. had an annual income of 200,000 U.S. dollars and more. Comparatively, around 13.9 percent of Black households had an annual income under 15,000 U.S. dollars.

Graph and download economic data for Expenditures: Total Average Annual Expenditures by Quintiles of Income Before Taxes: Second 20 Percent (21st to 40th Percentile) (CXUTOTALEXPLB0103M) from 1984 to 2023 about percentile, tax, average, expenditures, income, and USA.

Approximately 8.8 percent of U.S. families had an annual income of between 35,000 and 49,999 U.S. dollars in 2023. A further 19.7 percent of families in the United States had an annual income between 100,000 and 149,999 U.S. dollars.

Graph and download economic data for Other Financial Information: Estimated Market Value of Owned Home by Deciles of Income Before Taxes: Highest 10 Percent (91st to 100th Percentile) (CXU800721LB1511M) from 2014 to 2023 about owned, market value, information, percentile, tax, financial, income, housing, estimate, and USA.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset presents the mean household income for each of the five quintiles in China, Maine, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. The dataset highlights the variation in mean household income across quintiles, offering valuable insights into income distribution and inequality.

Key observations

• Income disparities: The mean income of the lowest quintile (20% of households with the lowest income) is 21,283, while the mean income for the highest quintile (20% of households with the highest income) is 236,557. This indicates that the top earners earn 11 times compared to the lowest earners.
• *Top 5%: * The mean household income for the wealthiest population (top 5%) is 401,757, which is 169.84% higher compared to the highest quintile, and 1887.69% higher compared to the lowest quintile.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Income Levels:

• Lowest Quintile
• Second Quintile
• Third Quintile
• Fourth Quintile
• Highest Quintile
• Top 5 Percent

Variables / Data Columns

• Income Level: This column showcases the income levels (As mentioned above).
• Mean Household Income: Mean household income, in 2023 inflation-adjusted dollars for the specific income level.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for China town median household income. You can refer the same here

Graph and download economic data for 12-Month Moving Average of Unweighted Median Hourly Wage Growth: Wage Distribution: 1st to 25th Wage Percentile (FRBATLWGT12MMUMHWGWD1WP) from Dec 1997 to Apr 2025 about growth, moving average, 1-year, percentile, average, wages, median, and USA.

In the third quarter of 2024, the top ten percent of earners in the United States held over 67 percent of total wealth. This is fairly consistent with the second quarter of 2024. Comparatively, the wealth of the bottom 50 percent of earners has been slowly increasing since the start of the 2010s, though remains low. Wealth distribution in the United States by generation can be found here.

United States SCE: Household Income Growth Expectation: 1 Year Ahead: 25th Percentile Point Prediction data was reported at 0.045 % in Apr 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.094 % for Mar 2025. United States SCE: Household Income Growth Expectation: 1 Year Ahead: 25th Percentile Point Prediction data is updated monthly, averaging 0.857 % from Jun 2013 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 143 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.767 % in Dec 2024 and a record low of -0.495 % in Apr 2020. United States SCE: Household Income Growth Expectation: 1 Year Ahead: 25th Percentile Point Prediction data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.H083: Survey of Consumer Expectations: Household Income and Spending.

Graph and download economic data for Expenditures: Other Household Expenses by Deciles of Income Before Taxes: Second 10 Percent (11st to 20th Percentile) (CXUHHOTHXPNLB1503M) from 2014 to 2023 about percentile, tax, expenditures, households, income, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Income Before Taxes: Wages and Salaries by Deciles of Income Before Taxes: Eighth 10 Percent (71st to 80th Percentile) (CXU900000LB1509M) from 2014 to 2023 about percentile, salaries, tax, wages, income, and USA.

In Mexico, as of 2022, the bottom 50 percent, which represents the population whose income lied below the median, earned on average 2,076 euros at purchasing power parity (PPP) before income taxes. Meanwhile, the top ten percent had an average earning of 111,484 euros, 53 times over than the average earning of the bottom half. Further, the bottom 50 percent accounted for -0.3 percent of the overall national wealth in Mexico, that is, they have on average more debts than assets.

In 2020, the top 50 percent of earners in the United States accounted for about 89.82 percent of the total AGI of the United States. In the same year, the top one percent of earners accounted for 22.19 percent of the total AGI of the U.S.

Graph and download economic data for Personal Taxes: Federal Income Taxes by Quintiles of Income Before Taxes: Highest 20 Percent (81st to 100th Percentile) (CXUFEDTAXESLB0106M) from 1984 to 2023 about percentile, tax, federal, personal, income, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Expenditures: Total Average Annual Expenditures by Deciles of Income Before Taxes: Third 10 Percent (21st to 30th Percentile) (CXUTOTALEXPLB1504M) from 2014 to 2023 about percentile, tax, average, expenditures, income, and USA.