Discover the disturbing reality of wage inequality in one US state, where black Americans earn over 50% less than their white counterparts.
- We used data from the US Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Report, Bureau of Justice statistics, and data from the Centers for Disease Control
- In 18 states, Black households earn even less than 63.6% of white households
- Also, Discover “The Next NVIDIA”
In 1968, the United States passed the Fair Housing Act, banning discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of houses. The resulting discrimination, despite legislation working against it, has produced inequality that still exists today. The US continues to face significant wealth gaps between upper-income households and the majority of Americans.
Racial inequality continues to affect Black Americans due to many years of unfair laws and policies, such as Jim Crow laws and housing discrimination. The problem of economic inequality is rooted in more than just differences in income and higher rates of poverty. Other contributing factors include disparities in employment, housing, education, rates of incarceration, and many more.
To determine the worst states for Black Americans, 24/7 Wall St. created an index consisting of eight measures to assess race-based gaps in socioeconomic outcomes. Six of the measures – median household income, poverty, adult high school and bachelor’s degree attainment, homeownership, and unemployment rates – are based on five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community. The seventh measure, prisoners under the jurisdiction of state or federal correctional authorities by race per 100,000 residents, is based on Bureau of Justice Statistics data for 2021. The eighth measure, age-adjusted mortality rate by race, is based on data from 2018 to 2020 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nationwide, Black households earn $50,901 annually, or just 63.6% of the $80,042 income white households earn a year. Similarly, Black Americans are more than twice as likely to live below the poverty line (21.5% vs. 10.1%) or be unemployed (9.2% vs. 4.6%) as white Americans and are nearly five times as likely to be incarcerated (1,020.4 per 100,000 Black Americans vs 217.7 per 100,000 white Americans).
In 18 states, Black households earn even less than 63.6% of white households, including in all ten worst states for Black Americans. In Wisconsin, the Black median household income is just 51.1% of the white median household income — the largest income disparity of any state. And while the poverty rate for white Americans is lower than 10% in 23 states, this is true for Black Americans in only one state, Hawaii.
Many of the lowest-ranking states on the list are in the Midwest, where millions of Black Americans moved during the Great Migration of the early 20th century. But redlining — a discriminatory practice of designating neighborhoods as high risk because of race, thus denying residents loans — created segregated neighborhoods, enforcing racial disparity. To this day, the gap in homeownership rates in the worst states for Black Americans is significantly higher than the 28-point gap nationwide (71.7% white homeownership rate vs 43.1% for Blacks). In Minnesota, for example, the gap is 48.4 points.
Why This Matters
Hyejin Kang / Shutterstock.com
New policies continue to address the issues of racial inequality and disparity in the United States. However, years of unfair treatment have created pervasive problems that are difficult to undo. By increasing awareness of the issues by looking at facts and figures, individuals and decision-makers can understand the need for change.
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50. Hawaii
Pearl Harbor Naval Base – Honolulu – Hawaii (BY 2.0) by MasonArchitects
Median household income: $80,207 (Black); $93,896 (white)
Homeownership rate: 28.2% (Black); 57.7% (white)
Unemployment rate: 12.2% (Black); 5.6% (white)
Black population: 26,664 (1.8% of total)
49. New Mexico
Church Rock in Gallup New Mexico – Shallow Depth of Field – Route 66 (Shutterstock.com) by Neil Lockhart
Median household income: $48,987 (Black); $63,910 (white)
Homeownership rate: 37.8% (Black); 70.3% (white)
Unemployment rate: 9.0% (Black); 6.0% (white)
Black population: 37,996 (1.8% of total)
48. Texas
Jonathan Ross / iStock via Getty Images
Median household income: $55,459 (Black); $80,134 (white)
Homeownership rate: 41.3% (Black); 67.7% (white)
Unemployment rate: 8.4% (Black); 4.6% (white)
Black population: 3,449,557 (11.8% of total)
47. Alaska
Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
Median household income: $71,857 (Black); $94,315 (white)
Homeownership rate: 40.9% (Black); 70.7% (white)
Unemployment rate: 4.6% (Black); 5.1% (white)
Black population: 22,400 (3.0% of total)
46. Arizona
Saguaros and Superstition Mountains, Lost Dutchman State Park, Apache Junction, Arizona, USA (Shutterstock.com) by Fotogro
Median household income: $58,184 (Black); $75,939 (white)
Homeownership rate: 38.4% (Black); 70.3% (white)
Unemployment rate: 8.3% (Black); 5.0% (white)
Black population: 307,726 (4.3% of total)
45. West Virginia
The West Virginia State Capitol Building in Charleston, WV (BY 2.0) by o palsson
Median household income: $38,004 (Black); $55,826 (white)
Homeownership rate: 44.5% (Black); 75.8% (white)
Unemployment rate: 9.8% (Black); 6.2% (white)
Black population: 60,237 (3.4% of total)
44. Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky (BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund
Median household income: $44,196 (Black); $62,242 (white)
Homeownership rate: 37.9% (Black); 72.1% (white)
Unemployment rate: 8.6% (Black); 4.9% (white)
Black population: 355,368 (7.9% of total)
43. Georgia
SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
Median household income: $55,010 (Black); $81,445 (white)
Homeownership rate: 49.0% (Black); 74.7% (white)
Unemployment rate: 8.2% (Black); 4.1% (white)
Black population: 3,334,095 (31.1% of total)
42. Idaho
.jpg "Spirit Lake, Idaho, as viewed from Mt. Spokane, WA by LibertyLakeAnne")
Spirit Lake, Idaho, as viewed from Mt. Spokane, WA (CC0 1.0 DEED) by LibertyLakeAnne
Median household income: $54,727 (Black); $71,661 (white)
Homeownership rate: 36.9% (Black); 73.7% (white)
Unemployment rate: 6.7% (Black); 3.9% (white)
Black population: 11,919 (0.6% of total)
41. Oregon
Siuslaw River Bridge, Oregon (PDM 1.0) by Bonnie Moreland (free images)
Median household income: $56,124 (Black); $77,627 (white)
Homeownership rate: 33.9% (Black); 65.8% (white)
Unemployment rate: 6.7% (Black); 5.5% (white)
Black population: 75,790 (1.8% of total)
40. Maryland
Powerhawk5k / Wikimedia Commons
Median household income: $79,161 (Black); $109,387 (white)
Homeownership rate: 52.5% (Black); 76.9% (white)
Unemployment rate: 7.8% (Black); 4.0% (white)
Black population: 1,815,877 (29.5% of total)
39. Delaware
Wilmington Delaware skyline (BY-SA 2.5) by Tim Kiser (User:Malepheasant)
Median household income: $58,385 (Black); $86,094 (white)
Homeownership rate: 51.5% (Black); 80.1% (white)
Unemployment rate: 8.0% (Black); 4.9% (white)
Black population: 213,516 (21.5% of total)
38. Wyoming
A man fly fishing in the Wyoming wilderness (Shutterstock.com) by Amanda Allard-Korell
Median household income: $56,046 (Black); $73,542 (white)
Homeownership rate: 38.2% (Black); 73.0% (white)
Unemployment rate: 11.0% (Black); 3.8% (white)
Black population: 4,488 (0.8% of total)
37. Tennessee
Beale Street Memphis Morning (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Mobilus In Mobili
Median household income: $46,708 (Black); $68,515 (white)
Homeownership rate: 43.6% (Black); 73.1% (white)
Unemployment rate: 9.4% (Black); 4.4% (white)
Black population: 1,116,871 (16.1% of total)
36. Florida
Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Median household income: $51,249 (Black); $72,212 (white)
Homeownership rate: 47.6% (Black); 72.9% (white)
Unemployment rate: 8.1% (Black); 4.6% (white)
Black population: 3,232,871 (14.9% of total)
35. New Hampshire
Concord – New Hampshire (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Josh Hallett
Median household income: $72,946 (Black); $91,394 (white)
Homeownership rate: 36.2% (Black); 74.0% (white)
Unemployment rate: 7.6% (Black); 3.7% (white)
Black population: 18,477 (1.3% of total)
34. Washington
aiisha5 / iStock via Getty Images
Median household income: $65,817 (Black); $91,601 (white)
Homeownership rate: 34.0% (Black); 67.6% (white)
Unemployment rate: 8.1% (Black); 4.8% (white)
Black population: 290,907 (3.8% of total)
33. Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island (CC BY 2.0) by JJBers
Median household income: $61,614 (Black); $86,467 (white)
Homeownership rate: 35.1% (Black); 68.3% (white)
Unemployment rate: 8.2% (Black); 5.3% (white)
Black population: 58,304 (5.3% of total)
32. Oklahoma
Oklahoma City Memorial (CC BY 2.0) by Raymond Bucko, SJ
Median household income: $42,145 (Black); $65,469 (white)
Homeownership rate: 39.8% (Black); 70.1% (white)
Unemployment rate: 8.9% (Black); 4.4% (white)
Black population: 277,702 (7.0% of total)
31. North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina (CC BY-SA 2.0) by James Willamor
Median household income: $47,088 (Black); $73,675 (white)
Homeownership rate: 46.3% (Black); 73.7% (white)
Unemployment rate: 8.3% (Black); 4.3% (white)
Black population: 2,161,841 (20.6% of total)
30. Virginia
Richmond, Virginia (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Doug Kerr
Median household income: $60,201 (Black); $93,691 (white)
Homeownership rate: 48.6% (Black); 73.1% (white)
Unemployment rate: 7.2% (Black); 3.8% (white)
Black population: 1,601,668 (18.6% of total)
29. South Dakota
Panorama of Rapid City, South Dakota, USA (Shutterstock.com) by Sopotnicki
Median household income: $56,399 (Black); $72,498 (white)
Homeownership rate: 25.6% (Black); 72.2% (white)
Unemployment rate: 3.4% (Black); 2.3% (white)
Black population: 19,172 (2.2% of total)
28. Alabama
Morning in Birmingham – April … (CC BY-SA 2.0) by formulanone
Median household income: $40,661 (Black); $69,042 (white)
Homeownership rate: 51.3% (Black); 77.4% (white)
Unemployment rate: 8.9% (Black); 4.1% (white)
Black population: 1,318,388 (26.2% of total)
27. California
Ventura, California (13) (BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund
Median household income: $64,513 (Black); $97,859 (white)
Homeownership rate: 35.6% (Black); 60.7% (white)
Unemployment rate: 10.5% (Black); 6.0% (white)
Black population: 2,102,510 (5.3% of total)
26. Arkansas
Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa, as Seen from Hot Springs Mountain Tower, Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas. (BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund
Median household income: $37,395 (Black); $60,756 (white)
Homeownership rate: 44.2% (Black); 71.9% (white)
Unemployment rate: 9.4% (Black); 4.5% (white)
Black population: 454,728 (15.1% of total)
25. Nevada
MGM Grand Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada (BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund
Median household income: $48,022 (Black); $77,786 (white)
Homeownership rate: 31.6% (Black); 64.4% (white)
Unemployment rate: 12.5% (Black); 6.2% (white)
Black population: 278,689 (9.0% of total)
24. Vermont
Fall Foliage Along Norton Pond Northeast Kingdom Vermont 2021 Season (BY 2.0) by Anthony Quintano
Median household income: $52,736 (Black); $74,499 (white)
Homeownership rate: 27.7% (Black); 74.0% (white)
Unemployment rate: 6.4% (Black); 3.8% (white)
Black population: 7,548 (1.2% of total)
23. Maine
Portland, Maine (BY 2.0) by Me in ME
Median household income: $53,407 (Black); $68,783 (white)
Homeownership rate: 25.9% (Black); 74.4% (white)
Unemployment rate: 5.6% (Black); 4.2% (white)
Black population: 21,093 (1.5% of total)
22. Colorado
Colorado State Capitol, Denver, Colorado (BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund
Median household income: $61,343 (Black); $91,475 (white)
Homeownership rate: 41.8% (Black); 69.1% (white)
Unemployment rate: 7.8% (Black); 4.2% (white)
Black population: 221,211 (3.8% of total)
21. Missouri
Old St. Louis County Courthous… (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Warren LeMay
Median household income: $44,293 (Black); $69,547 (white)
Homeownership rate: 39.3% (Black); 72.4% (white)
Unemployment rate: 8.2% (Black); 3.9% (white)
Black population: 688,219 (11.2% of total)
20. Mississippi
Mississippi State Capitol, Jackson, Mississippi (BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund
Median household income: $36,263 (Black); $65,518 (white)
Homeownership rate: 54.4% (Black); 78.7% (white)
Unemployment rate: 10.0% (Black); 4.9% (white)
Black population: 1,098,675 (37.1% of total)
19. South Carolina
MargaretW / iStock via Getty Images
Median household income: $42,672 (Black); $73,204 (white)
Homeownership rate: 53.5% (Black); 78.4% (white)
Unemployment rate: 7.9% (Black); 4.3% (white)
Black population: 1,316,074 (25.6% of total)
18. Massachusetts
stresstensor / iStock via Getty Images
Median household income: $67,044 (Black); $102,701 (white)
Homeownership rate: 36.4% (Black); 68.5% (white)
Unemployment rate: 8.4% (Black); 4.7% (white)
Black population: 459,848 (6.6% of total)
17. Indiana
Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Median household income: $42,067 (Black); $70,740 (white)
Homeownership rate: 38.0% (Black); 74.9% (white)
Unemployment rate: 9.9% (Black); 4.1% (white)
Black population: 631,919 (9.3% of total)
16. Montana
Beautiful Landscape photography of Glacier National Park in Montana USA (Shutterstock.com) by Vaclav Sebek
Median household income: $50,676 (Black); $68,005 (white)
Homeownership rate: 27.4% (Black); 70.7% (white)
Unemployment rate: 11.7% (Black); 3.3% (white)
Black population: 5,248 (0.5% of total)
15. New York
New York City (BY-SA 2.0) by Padmanaba01
Median household income: $58,805 (Black); $90,866 (white)
Homeownership rate: 32.7% (Black); 64.7% (white)
Unemployment rate: 9.2% (Black); 5.0% (white)
Black population: 2,767,223 (13.8% of total)
14. Louisiana
artiste9999 / iStock via Getty Images
Median household income: $37,015 (Black); $70,270 (white)
Homeownership rate: 48.9% (Black); 76.9% (white)
Unemployment rate: 10.4% (Black); 4.9% (white)
Black population: 1,456,107 (31.4% of total)
13. North Dakota
Sunrise over Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota (Shutterstock.com) by ZakZeinert
Median household income: $49,369 (Black); $77,950 (white)
Homeownership rate: 11.7% (Black); 67.3% (white)
Unemployment rate: 7.9% (Black); 2.6% (white)
Black population: 24,882 (3.2% of total)
12. Utah
Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Median household income: $57,433 (Black); $89,462 (white)
Homeownership rate: 27.4% (Black); 73.2% (white)
Unemployment rate: 5.8% (Black); 3.2% (white)
Black population: 34,485 (1.1% of total)
11. Kansas
Kansas summer wheat field and storm (BY 2.0) by US Department of State
Median household income: $46,145 (Black); $72,357 (white)
Homeownership rate: 36.5% (Black); 70.2% (white)
Unemployment rate: 9.1% (Black); 3.6% (white)
Black population: 157,768 (5.4% of total)
10. Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut (CC BY 2.0) by JJBers
Median household income: $59,728 (Black); $98,855 (white)
Homeownership rate: 40.7% (Black); 73.5% (white)
Unemployment rate: 8.8% (Black); 5.2% (white)
Black population: 355,970 (9.9% of total)
9. New Jersey
File:Newark, New Jersey at night.jpg (BY-SA 3.0) by Jamaalcobbs at English Wikipedia
Median household income: $65,351 (Black); $105,392 (white)
Homeownership rate: 39.7% (Black); 73.3% (white)
Unemployment rate: 9.2% (Black); 5.3% (white)
Black population: 1,147,770 (12.4% of total)
8. Ohio
Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Median household income: $40,499 (Black); $71,843 (white)
Homeownership rate: 36.1% (Black); 72.7% (white)
Unemployment rate: 10.6% (Black); 4.3% (white)
Black population: 1,431,238 (12.2% of total)
7. Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania State Capitol Building (BY 2.0) by kev72
Median household income: $45,944 (Black); $77,962 (white)
Homeownership rate: 43.4% (Black); 74.3% (white)
Unemployment rate: 11.1% (Black); 4.6% (white)
Black population: 1,347,784 (10.4% of total)
6. Michigan
SolomonCrowe / iStock via Getty Images
Median household income: $42,171 (Black); $73,039 (white)
Homeownership rate: 43.3% (Black); 78.4% (white)
Unemployment rate: 13.1% (Black); 5.0% (white)
Black population: 1,346,918 (13.4% of total)
5. Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska (BY 2.0) by kla4067
Median household income: $45,287 (Black); $74,157 (white)
Homeownership rate: 29.8% (Black); 70.0% (white)
Unemployment rate: 8.3% (Black); 2.8% (white)
Black population: 91,357 (4.7% of total)
4. Illinois
Chicago, Illinois, USA (BY-SA 2.0) by pom'.
Median household income: $46,717 (Black); $85,060 (white)
Homeownership rate: 40.2% (Black); 73.7% (white)
Unemployment rate: 13.7% (Black); 4.8% (white)
Black population: 1,744,151 (13.7% of total)
3. Minnesota
Terrence Floyd, George Floyd's brother visits the location where his brother was killed, now a memorial, at Chicago Ave and E 38th St in Minneapolis, Minnesota (BY 2.0) by Lorie Shaull
Median household income: $49,738 (Black); $87,692 (white)
Homeownership rate: 28.4% (Black); 76.8% (white)
Unemployment rate: 8.6% (Black); 3.4% (white)
Black population: 377,173 (6.6% of total)
2. Iowa
f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
Median household income: $40,592 (Black); $72,363 (white)
Homeownership rate: 27.2% (Black); 74.3% (white)
Unemployment rate: 11.0% (Black); 3.4% (white)
Black population: 117,940 (3.7% of total)
1. Wisconsin
Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Median household income: $38,732 (Black); $75,803 (white)
Homeownership rate: 26.5% (Black); 71.9% (white)
Unemployment rate: 8.3% (Black); 3.0% (white)
- Black population: 356,150 (6.1% of total)
- #wagegap #inequality #racialjustice
