Median Household Income by Race & State

[Adam Griffin]

Racial disparities in median household income remain enormous in most states

I'll try to get around to the other three in the next day or so (or maybe one of you guys can help make them, too?). Data is from 2009 and the maps below shows median household income by state and by race.

The lowest median household income for whites was in WV ($37,894) and the highest was in DC ($104,201); the second highest was MD ($77,187). On the white map, I stopped the gradient at $79k so as not to leave a huge portion of unused color and to illustrate smaller variances more clearly.

The lowest median household income for blacks was in ND ($20,275) and the highest was in MD ($54,096).

White:

Black:

Hispanic:

Asian:

[barfbag]

Higher income seems to reflect inflation.

[Adam Griffin]

Higher income seems to reflect inflation.

Can you elaborate?

[barfbag]

Higher income seems to reflect inflation.

Can you elaborate?

Yes with higher wages comes higher prices and the process continues. A dollar in New York or Maryland isn't worth as much as it would be in Alaska, Wyoming, or North Dakota. There is a higher cost of living in more attractive places too which in turn creates a demand for higher wages. It goes both ways.

[DINGO Joe]

Higher income seems to reflect inflation.

Can you elaborate?

Yes with higher wages comes higher prices and the process continues. A dollar in New York or Maryland isn't worth as much as it would be in Alaska, Wyoming, or North Dakota. There is a higher cost of living in more attractive places too which in turn creates a demand for higher wages. It goes both ways.

Higher income correlates to higher cost of living.  Alaska actually has a high cost of living, and if you're working the oil fields in ND, there's a much higher COLA than if you live in Fargo.  In VA, NoVa is like Maryland, SW Va is like WV.  Even in WV the East Panhandle has higher incomes and higher Cola than the rest of the state.

[opebo]

Higher income seems to reflect inflation.

Can you elaborate?

Yes with higher wages comes higher prices and the process continues. A dollar in New York or Maryland isn't worth as much as it would be in Alaska, Wyoming, or North Dakota. There is a higher cost of living in more attractive places too which in turn creates a demand for higher wages. It goes both ways.

No, the dollar is worth the same in either place, it is just that things (mainly the land/real estate/buildings) are worth more in a place where people want to be.  Basically most states are rather worthless.

[Adam Griffin]

Black:

[DINGO Joe]

I know we're dealing with very small populations here, but why is the black man in ND so poor and the black man in Montana making so much bank.

[muon2]

I know we're dealing with very small populations here, but why is the black man in ND so poor and the black man in Montana making so much bank.

The small black population in MT is concentrated in the uni towns, especially Bozeman, so the salaries probably reflect that connection. The ND population is twice as large and half is in Fargo, far more than would be connected with higher ed. I expect that the income reflects more service jobs and is much lower.

[Adam Griffin]

Here are Hispanic and Asian average household incomes maps as well. I promise to clean these maps up shortly and use a more uniform gradient between them to illustrate the differences between races as part of a multi-map image. I'm also working on correlating this data to states' costs of living to effectively show where each average household has the highest and lowest standards of living.

Hispanic:

Asian:

[Sbane]

It's interesting that the incomes for Asians on the eastern seaboard seem to be higher.

[Indy Texas]

I know we're dealing with very small populations here, but why is the black man in ND so poor and the black man in Montana making so much bank.

I'd imagine the sample sizes are so small that you can get sort of extreme outcomes like that.

I've also heard that the drilling outfits up in the Bakken can be extremely discriminatory in their hiring practices (not explicitly, of course). Basically, if you're a white guy, you can be sealing wells and whatnot and making income in the six figures. If you're a black guy and you go up there, they're going to hand you a vest and some reflective flags and have you direct the trucks in and out of the site for maybe $30K a year.

[DINGO Joe]

I know we're dealing with very small populations here, but why is the black man in ND so poor and the black man in Montana making so much bank.

I'd imagine the sample sizes are so small that you can get sort of extreme outcomes like that.

I've also heard that the drilling outfits up in the Bakken can be extremely discriminatory in their hiring practices (not explicitly, of course). Basically, if you're a white guy, you can be sealing wells and whatnot and making income in the six figures. If you're a black guy and you go up there, they're going to hand you a vest and some reflective flags and have you direct the trucks in and out of the site for maybe $30K a year.

Well, the data the maps above are  based on is 2009, before the Bakken got going.  A current map of county incomes in ND would probably look ridiculous. 

[ElectionsGuy]

Very interesting statistics, especially the income gap in DC.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I know that neither population is particularly numerous, but it appears that Vermont blacks make more than Vermont Asians. NJ Asians make a LOT more than Vermont Asians.

[Adam Griffin]

Updated:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[jaichind]

The Asian number is inflated relative to Blacks and Whites.  One, Asians tend to live in higher price level areas.  Two, Asian household size are larger than other races which in terms mean Asians households are more likley to be two income households relative to other races.