Maryland is holding strong as the state with the highest median income for the third year in a row. The U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (using 2008 figures) found the median household income in Maryland is $70,545, followed by New Jersey ($70,378), Connecticut ($68,595), Alaska ($68,460) and Hawaii ($67,214). See which states have the lowest median income when you read more.
With its median income of $37,790, Mississippi is ranked in the survey, following short of West Virginia ($37,989), Arkansas ($38,815), Kentucky ($41,538), and Alabama ($42,538). It's important to note that the cost of living in Bethesda, Maryland is 52 percent higher than in Tupelo, Mississippi; the average apartment monthly rent in Bethesda is $1,464 and median home price is $529,707, versus $512 monthly rent in Tupelo and a median home price of $220,000.
The takeaway? One must consider purchasing power before taking a job in a new state that promises bigger bucks.
Meltin Pot
Giorgio Armani
Korres
I have lived in both MD (Bethesda, actually -- it's in the DC metro) and NJ, and let me tell you something...you will see some massively affluent people there. I don't think I have ever seen people with more money. Ugh. Anyway, nice places to live. It's unfortunate that their cost of living is so high, which makes the amount of money less enjoyable, since you are spending tons of it just to get food, or just to pay your mortgage or something.
The town I grew up in when I lived in NJ (basically all my life) houses were averaged at 850k to over 1 million. You certainly need the money to get one of those suckers.
1I live in Maryland ... but in Baltimore city, where there isn't quite so much money. Maryland LOVES montgomery county for all the income tax it brings into the State (I grew up there). ... there are a lot of Big Deal people that work in D.C. that live in Maryland, so I think that partly explains why the avg. income is so high. ... although a median income of $70K really isn't very much.
2i grew up in NJ and the houses there are SOO expensive. I lived near the beach and lived in a tiny 2-bedroom, 1 bath house, which even in this market is worth over 600K. I really don't know what people in my town did as jobs, other then owning their own businesses or commuting to NYC for work...
3The people who live in the Federal Hill section of Baltimore are pretty loaded, I'd say.I know places there are expensive, and the people who live there either work in Bethesda, usually like NIH or something or DC. Maybe even Alexandria, even though the commute from Baltimore is pretty long. However, the rest of the city...yeah, not so much.
4Chrstne --- there are areas that are wealthier than Federal Hill --- Bolton Hill, Canton, Fells Point (and then outside of the city: Ruxton). Mt. Vernon has some pretty pricey places too !
5I live at the Jersey Shore & it's insane! I'm actually contemplating a move out of state & one of the reasons is just to see more of my money! Living 1/2 a mile from the beach is nice...but 3 months of the year is not worth the expense!
6I was born and raised in Maryland and 4 years ago moved to Ohio. Let me tell you its amazing that my husbands income in MD was 75,000 a year with the cost of living being so high we couldn't even afford to buy a townhouse! Yet he got transferred to Ohio and he makes the exact same amount of money and the cost of living is a fraction. We bought a brand new home just built in a new community, 3,200 square foot house on 1/2 acre, for $208,000. ! We were shocked for what we get for our money here. We are east of Columbus Ohio and his work commute is 30 min or less. We don't have to deal with the traffic like we had in MD or the high cost of living. People here are very nice and our neighborhood is the best. Schools are very good, property tax is 1/2 of what it is in MD too. It just blows my mind that his job pays the same for the guys back home as here but their living costs are so high. We love it here for so many reason but the cost of living and being able to own such a beautiful home to raise our children in was worth the move. If you were wondering my husband is a HVAC mechanic. Thanks for reading
7luna- ur from ppb!!! im from brielle
as my username can hint at 
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