Median Income Comparison
Income

California vs New York: Median Income

California has a higher median household income than New York by $5,488.

California flag
California
CA • West
Winner
$84,097
Median household income in U.S. dollars.
New York flag
New York
NY • Northeast
$78,609
Median household income in U.S. dollars.

Visual Comparison

California $84,097
New York $78,609

Difference: $5,488 — California leads.

National Rankings

Where They Rank Nationally

See where both states fall among all 50 states for median income.

California #12 · $84,097
New York #15 · $78,609
Lowest Highest

Top 10 States — Median Income

#1 Maryland flag Maryland
$98,461
#2 New Jersey flag New Jersey
$97,126
#3 Massachusetts flag Massachusetts
$96,505
#4 New Hampshire flag New Hampshire
$90,845
#5 Washington flag Washington
$90,325
#6 Connecticut flag Connecticut
$90,213
#7 Hawaii flag Hawaii
$88,005
#8 Colorado flag Colorado
$87,598
#9 Virginia flag Virginia
$87,249
#10 Alaska flag Alaska
$86,533
Selected states
#12 California flag California
$84,097
#15 New York flag New York
$78,609

California ranks 12th and New York ranks 15th nationally for median income.

Related Context

Income in Context

A paycheck only matters relative to what things cost — and how much stays after taxes.

What This Means

California vs New York: Median Income in context

California has a median income of $84,097, compared with $78,609 in New York. Median household income in U.S. dollars.

California
$84,097
New York
$78,609
Difference
$5,488

People Also Ask

California vs New York Median Income — Common Questions

Q What is California's median income?

California's median income is $84,097.

Q What is New York's median income?

New York's median income is $78,609.

Q Which state has a higher median income — California or New York?

California has a higher median household income than New York by $5,488.

Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker.