Census Data Show Hawaii Leads State Net Worth at $643,300, Oklahoma Trails at $61,080
Updated
Updated · Newsweek · Jul 16
Census Data Show Hawaii Leads State Net Worth at $643,300, Oklahoma Trails at $61,080
1 articles · Updated · Newsweek · Jul 16
Summary
$643,300 in Hawaii versus $61,080 in Oklahoma marked the widest state median-net-worth gap in new 2024 Census Bureau data, with the U.S. median at $204,900.
Home equity drove much of that wealth, and the report said Hawaii's elevated fortunes were tied to surging property values, outside investment and wealthy buyers.
$1.8 million was the 90th-percentile household net worth in 2024, while the 10th percentile was $0, meaning one in 10 households had negative wealth.
Race and education still sharply shaped outcomes: 28.7% of Asian and 22.6% of White households topped $1 million, versus 6.3% of Hispanic and 4.7% of Black households; median wealth rose from $9,410 without a high school diploma to $606,600 with a graduate degree.
Why is a household's net worth ten times higher in Hawaii than in Oklahoma?
With investment returns outpacing wages, is the path to wealth now closed for ordinary Americans?
Will taxing the super-rich close the wealth gap or drive fortunes out of the country?
Wealth Inequality Across America: How Housing Costs and Income Gaps Shape State-Level Net Worth in 2025
Overview
The report highlights the stark wealth divide across the United States in mid-2026, drawing on recent data to show that nearly half of all households struggle to afford basic needs, even if they are above the poverty line. Using national surveys, it reveals that while the median household income is $80,610, 42% of households fall below the ALICE threshold, meaning they are employed but still financially insecure. These figures underscore deep challenges in wealth accumulation and financial stability, emphasizing that economic disparities are widespread and not limited to just the poorest Americans.