Severe inflation continues to plague the U.S. economy, and higher prices have been particularly hard to bear on those with lower pay. While incomes have been generally rising, they have not matched inflation, eroding real wages.
According to census data released in September, the typical U.S. household income was $69,717 in 2021, about $4,000 higher compared to 2019, the last time the Census released an annual American Community Survey, having skipped a year due to data collection problems tied to the pandemic.
While the median income increased nationwide, in many states, wages did not rise to the same degree and remain far lower than average.
The latest census data shows that the typical household in Oklahoma earns $55,826 per year, the eighth lowest median household income among states, and $13,891 less than the national median.
Home values are often a reflection of what local populations can afford, and just as incomes are lower than average in Oklahoma, so, too, are home values. The typical home in the state is worth $168,500, below the national median home value of $281,400, according to the 2021 ACS.
RankStateMedian household income ($)Median home value ($)1Mississippi48,716145,6002West Virginia51,248143,2003Louisiana52,087192,8004Arkansas52,528162,3005Alabama53,913172,8006New Mexico53,992214,0007Kentucky55,573173,3008Oklahoma55,826168,5009South Carolina59,318213,50010Tennessee59,695235,20011Missouri61,847198,30012North Carolina61,972236,90013Ohio62,262180,20014Indiana62,743182,40015Florida63,062290,70016Montana63,249322,80017Michigan63,498199,10018Kansas64,124183,80019Maine64,767252,10020Wyoming65,204266,40021Iowa65,600174,40022South Dakota66,143219,90023Nevada66,274373,00024Idaho66,474369,30025North Dakota66,519224,40026Georgia66,559249,70027Nebraska66,817204,90028Texas66,963237,40029Wisconsin67,125230,70030Pennsylvania68,957222,30031Arizona69,056336,30032Delaware71,091300,50033Oregon71,562422,70034Illinois72,205231,50035Vermont72,431271,50036Rhode Island74,008348,10037New York74,314368,80038Minnesota77,720285,40039Alaska77,845304,90040Utah79,449421,70041Virginia80,963330,60042Colorado82,254466,20043Connecticut83,771311,50044Washington84,247485,70045Hawaii84,857722,50046California84,907648,10047New Hampshire88,465345,20048New Jersey89,296389,80049Massachusetts89,645480,60050Maryland90,203370,800
via Oklahoma's Center Square News