[5]By Free Enterprise
U.S. Chamber of Commerce [6]
While nearly all Americans felt the squeeze of the economic downturn, certain pockets of the United States remained prosperous. USA Today reports [7] that median household income actually rose in 12 states and the District of Columbia between 2005 and 2010:
•Texas, Iowa, and Hawaii saw a rise in median household income based on their agriculture and energy-driven economies, largely supported by demand from emerging markets such as China.
•Wyoming enjoyed a 3.6% rise in median income, the largest increase of any other state. Fellow “energy center” states—North Dakota, Alaska, Louisiana, West Virginia, Oklahoma and Texas—also saw income gains as a result of oil, gas and coal exploration.
•Washington, D.C. experienced the biggest jump in median income, rising 8.1% to $60,000, as federal government payrolls grew.
For a more in-depth analysis of U.S. median household incomes, visit Sentier Research [8].