The U.S. Census Bureau has reported that real median household income in the United States reached $83,730 in 2024, which is 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% for the year. These figures are based on data collected through the 2025 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC).
The Census Bureau’s findings are detailed in 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 calculated using pretax money income and does not include tax credits, while the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) takes into account post-tax income and government assistance programs. The SPM rate for 2024 was recorded at 12.9%, showing no significant change from the previous year.
Median household income estimates remain based on money income, following consistency with prior reports. Additional details regarding post-tax income and inequality metrics can be found in Appendix B of the “Income in the United States: 2024” report.
The CPS ASEC survey, which provides annual national estimates of income, poverty, and health insurance coverage, was conducted between February and April of this year. The survey had a weighted response rate of 62.0%, slightly higher than last year’s rate of 61.7%. Despite this increase, response rates have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, raising concerns about potential bias due to nonresponse.
To address these issues, adjustments were made to survey weights for nonresponse and controls were set to population totals to maintain representativeness. Ongoing research is focused on evaluating nonresponse bias and exploring new methods for improving data accuracy.
Key findings indicate that median household income rose by 5.1% for Asian households and by 5.5% for Hispanic households between 2023 and 2024 but declined by 3.3% for Black households; there was no significant change among White or White non-Hispanic households.
Among full-time, year-round workers, men’s median earnings increased by 3.7%, while women’s earnings did not show a significant change over the same period. The female-to-male earnings ratio dropped to 80.9% in 2024 from 82.7% in the previous year—marking a second consecutive annual decrease.
Post-tax median household income increased by 1.8%, reaching $72,330 compared to $71,040 last year; when measured with post-tax figures rather than pretax ones, inequality as represented by the Gini index was found to be lower by approximately 8.7%.
For families of four in 2024, the weighted average poverty threshold stood at $32,130 according to inflation-adjusted standards set by federal guidelines (see https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/income-poverty/historical-poverty-thresholds.html). There were an estimated 35.9 million people living below this threshold during the year.
Between last year and this one, decreases in official poverty rates were observed among White, Asian, and Hispanic populations but remained largely unchanged for other racial groups analyzed.
Social Security continued as a major factor reducing poverty under SPM calculations; it moved an estimated 28.7 million individuals out of SPM-defined poverty during the reporting period.
Most groups analyzed had higher SPM rates compared with official poverty rates using consistent universes except those under age eighteen or living with cohabiting partners.
In terms of health insurance coverage during calendar year 2024:
– An estimated 92% (310 million people) had health insurance at some point.
– Private health insurance remained more common than public coverage (66.1% vs. 35.5%). Employment-based plans covered more than half of all people surveyed.
– Direct-purchase private coverage rose slightly from last year.
– Public coverage rates fell primarily due to reduced Medicaid participation.
– Medicare enrollment increased along with VA/CHAMPVA programs.
– Private coverage rates grew among both children under nineteen years old and adults aged nineteen through sixty-four; public coverage rates decreased across these age groups.
Regional statistics are available within each report alongside tables presenting state-level poverty information based on three-year averages.
All statistical comparisons provided have been tested at a confidence level of ninety percent unless otherwise noted.
Further details about data sources or methodology can be accessed at https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/cps/techdocs/cpsmar25.pdf.
“Median household income was $83,730 in 2024, not statistically different from the 2023 estimate of $82,690.”
“In 2024, most people (92.0% or 310 million) had health insurance for some or all of the year.”
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