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Income Disparities Revealed: States See Dramatic Growth Variations

1/31/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Urban Institute analysis finds wide disparities in median household income growth across the United States from 1970 to 2023, with national income rising by nearly $19,000.
Utah and Colorado posted income increases of 77.6% and 66.6%, while West Virginia declined 0.4%, ranking 49th.
Key factors driving growth include educational attainment and immigration rates.
The report suggests focusing on education and workforce development, as tax changes alone may not boost growth.

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Story summary

The Urban Institute analysis finds wide disparities in median household income growth across the United States from 1970 to 2023, with national income rising by nearly $19,000.
Utah and Colorado posted income increases of 77.6% and 66.6%, while West Virginia declined 0.4%, ranking 49th.
Key factors driving growth include educational attainment and immigration rates.
The report suggests focusing on education and workforce development, as tax changes alone may not boost growth.