Introduction to Household Income
Household income is often discussed in terms of averages, but the share of households reporting no income can reveal a different side of the country’s economic reality. This article explores the share of households with no income across U.S. states and the District of Columbia, using data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 2024 1-Year Estimates.
Key Takeaways
The share of households with no income varies significantly across states, ranging from 17% in Utah to 34% in West Virginia. Most states have a share of no-income households between 24% and 28%, showing how common "no income" households are nationwide.
States with the Highest Shares of No-Income Households
The top five states with the highest shares of no-income households are West Virginia (34%), New Mexico (31%), Maine (30%), Arkansas (30%), and Mississippi (30%). These states tend to have older populations, higher rates of disability, and lower median incomes overall. In such contexts, a larger portion of households rely on non-earned income sources or report no income during the survey period.
States with the Fewest No-Income Households
Even among the lowest results, "no income" households remain a meaningful slice of the population. After Utah (17%), the District of Columbia is next-lowest at 19%. Alaska, Colorado, and Texas each come in at 21%, with only five jurisdictions at 21% or lower. Utah’s low share of one-adult/non-family households is a large driver of its low rate of households with no income.
States with the Most No-Income Households
The top 10 states by number of households with no income are California (3,126,046), Florida (2,640,572), Texas (2,366,530), New York (2,019,968), Pennsylvania (1,445,128), Ohio (1,312,408), Illinois (1,224,988), Michigan (1,159,943), North Carolina (1,142,224), and Georgia (969,847). These states have large populations, which contribute to their high totals, rather than unusually high prevalence of no-income households.
Conclusion
The share of households with no income is a significant aspect of the country’s economic reality, and it varies greatly across states. Understanding the distribution of no-income households can provide insights into the economic conditions and challenges faced by different regions. By examining the data, we can see that some states struggle with higher rates of no-income households, while others have lower rates. This information can be useful for policymakers and individuals seeking to address economic disparities and improve the overall well-being of households across the United States.
