The U.S. Census Bureau has released data showing that the real median household income in 2024 was $83,730, a figure not statistically different from the previous year’s estimate of $82,690. The official poverty rate declined by 0.4 percentage points to 10.6% in 2024. The Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) rate for the year stood at 12.9%, which also did not differ significantly from 2023.
These results are drawn from three reports: “Income in the United States: 2024,” “Poverty in the United States: 2024,” and “Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2024.” The official poverty measure is based on pretax money income and does not include tax credits, while the SPM accounts for post-tax income and government assistance programs, offering an alternative perspective on economic well-being.
The Census Bureau has provided annual SPM estimates since 2011, working with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Income estimates continue to be based on money income for consistency with prior reports, but Appendix B of the income report also includes post-tax figures and inequality metrics.
All findings are based on data from the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC), which collects information about job status, income, and health insurance coverage for the previous calendar year. The CPS is conducted monthly by both the Census Bureau and BLS.
Response rates for the survey remain lower than before the pandemic, with a weighted response rate of 62.0% for the 2025 CPS ASEC compared to 61.7% last year. Adjustments are made to survey weights to reduce nonresponse bias and ensure results represent the U.S. population.
For more information about how sample differences and nonresponse bias may affect these estimates, readers can refer to research such as “Using Administrative Data to Evaluate Nonresponse Bias in the 2025 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement,” which discusses ongoing efforts to address these challenges.
Income figures do not account for in-kind transfers unless otherwise noted. In detail:
– Median household income was $83,730 in 2024.
– Median incomes increased by over five percent for Asian (5.1%) and Hispanic (5.5%) households but declined by 3.3% for Black households; no significant change occurred among White or White non-Hispanic households.
– Income inequality measured by the Gini index remained stable.
– Household income at the top tenth percentile rose by 4.2%, while there was no significant change at lower percentiles.
– Among full-time, year-round workers, men’s median earnings increased by 3.7%, while women’s earnings showed no significant change.
– The female-to-male earnings ratio dropped to 80.9% from last year’s figure of 82.7%, marking a second consecutive annual decrease.
Post-tax household income increased by nearly two percent to $72,330 in 2024, while inequality measured using post-tax figures was almost nine percent lower than when using pretax figures.
The weighted average poverty threshold for a family of four was $32,130 in 2024; further details are available through historical tables provided by the Census Bureau (https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/income-poverty/historical-poverty-thresholds.html).
A total of approximately 35.9 million people were living in poverty last year according to official measures; this number decreased among White, Asian, and Hispanic groups but remained unchanged among other racial groups studied.
The SPM considers government programs like Social Security—which moved nearly 29 million people out of SPM-defined poverty—and adjusts thresholds based on geographic housing costs as well as taxes and work expenses.
SPM rates increased among those aged sixty-five or older and Black individuals between years but stayed stable elsewhere; most groups had higher SPM rates than official poverty rates except those under eighteen or living with cohabiting partners.
On health insurance coverage:
– Most Americans—92%, or roughly 310 million—had some form of health insurance during all or part of last year.
– Private health insurance remained more common than public coverage at rates of about two-thirds versus one-third respectively.
– Employment-based plans covered over half (53.8%) of people; Medicare covered about one-fifth; Medicaid covered just under one-fifth; direct-purchase plans covered just over ten percent; TRICARE covered under three percent; VA/CHAMPVA covered slightly above one percent.
– Private coverage increased mainly due to more direct-purchase policies; public coverage fell largely because Medicaid enrollment declined.
– Children’s private coverage rose while their public coverage fell slightly compared with last year’s figures.
Regional statistics on income, poverty, and health insurance can be found within each report along with state-level data tables based on three-year averages included in accompanying materials.
All reported comparisons have been tested for statistical significance at a ninety-percent confidence level unless otherwise indicated.
Further technical documentation regarding sources and accuracy is available at https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/cps/techdocs/cpsmar25.pdf.
