Average Income by Zip Code in US 2025 | Statistics & Facts

Average Income by Zip Code in America 2025

Understanding the average income by zip code patterns across the United States provides critical insights into the nation’s economic landscape and geographic wealth distribution. The year 2025 represents a pivotal moment for analyzing income disparities, with the most recent government data from the American Community Survey and IRS Statistics of Income revealing substantial variations in household earnings across over 32,000 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs). These zip code-level income statistics reflect profound economic divides that exist within American communities, from ultra-wealthy coastal enclaves commanding median incomes exceeding $250,000 to struggling urban and rural areas where median household incomes fall below $15,000.

The median household income in the United States reached $83,730 in 2024 according to the U.S. Census Bureau, but this national figure obscures the dramatic income variations that exist at the local level. ZIP code income data has become an essential tool for understanding regional economic health, informing real estate decisions, guiding business expansion strategies, and helping policymakers identify areas requiring economic intervention. The difference between the highest and lowest earning zip codes exceeds $280,000 annually, creating fundamentally different lived experiences for Americans based solely on their geographic location. This stark reality makes average income by zip code in the US 2025 one of the most important economic metrics for understanding wealth inequality and opportunity distribution across the nation.

Interesting Facts About Average Income by Zip Code in the US 2025

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-Year Estimates; IRS Statistics of Income 2022 Zip Code Data

The data on average income by zip code in the US 2025 reveals extraordinary geographic concentration of wealth. Zip code 11005 in Floral Park, New York, rose meteorically from 38th place in 2016 to claim the top position by 2023, demonstrating how rapidly neighborhood wealth profiles can shift. With a per capita income of $222,147, residents in this 1,945-person community earn more than twenty times the per capita income of those living in zip code 16501 in Erie, Pennsylvania. This disparity isn’t merely statistical—it represents fundamentally different access to quality education, healthcare, employment opportunities, and economic mobility.

Geographic clustering is unmistakable in the highest income zip codes. Manhattan alone contains multiple zip codes ranking in the top 20, including 10007 (Lower Manhattan Financial District), 10282 (Battery Park City), and 10013 (Tribeca). The San Francisco Bay Area contributes heavily with 94027 (Atherton), 94105 (San Francisco Financial District), and 94028 (Portola Valley) all exceeding $175,000 per capita income. These elite zip codes benefit from proximity to high-paying industries like finance, technology, and professional services, combined with restricted housing supply that maintains exclusivity and property values. Meanwhile, the lowest income zip codes cluster in deindustrialized Midwest cities like Cleveland, Detroit, and Toledo, Appalachian communities, and rural Southern areas lacking economic diversification.

Highest Income Zip Codes in the US 2025

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-Year Estimates

The highest income zip codes in America for 2025 are dominated by New York and California, accounting for 13 of the top 15 positions. These exclusive communities represent the pinnacle of American wealth concentration, where residents benefit from proximity to the world’s most lucrative industries and employment opportunities. Zip code 11005 in Floral Park, New York’s ascent to number one is particularly noteworthy, rising from 38th position in just seven years. This dramatic climb reflects both gentrification pressures in New York metro suburbs and increasing wealth concentration among high earners.

Manhattan zip codes comprise nearly half the top 20, with the Financial District (10007), Battery Park City (10282, 10280), Tribeca (10013), and various Upper West and East Side neighborhoods consistently ranking among America’s wealthiest. These neighborhoods house financial executives, corporate lawyers, technology entrepreneurs, and entertainment industry leaders earning multi-million dollar annual incomes. California’s representation comes primarily from the San Francisco Bay Area, where Atherton (94027) maintains its reputation as America’s most expensive zip code by home value. Silicon Valley executives, venture capitalists, and successful tech entrepreneurs cluster in communities like Atherton, Portola Valley (94028), and Los Altos (94022, 94024), creating an ecosystem of extreme wealth. The median home price in Atherton exceeds $8 million, effectively pricing out all but the ultra-wealthy.

Lowest Income Zip Codes in the US 2025

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-Year Estimates; GOBankingRates Analysis 2023

The lowest income zip codes reveal a painful geography of economic distress concentrated in deindustrialized Midwest cities and distressed urban neighborhoods. Zip code 16501 in Erie, Pennsylvania stands as America’s poorest, with a median household income of just $10,873—barely enough to lift a single individual above the federal poverty line of $12,140, let alone support a family. The mean income of $14,780 indicates some households earn slightly more, but the overall economic picture remains dire for this community of 1,418 households.

Several patterns emerge from the lowest income zip codes. Manufacturing decline devastated communities like Canton (44702), Toledo (43604), Cleveland (44115), and Detroit (48208, 48201), all former industrial powerhouses that lost tens of thousands of jobs as factories closed or moved overseas. These zip codes experienced population decline, property abandonment, rising crime, and collapsing tax bases that further diminished public services and economic opportunities. Waterbury, Connecticut (06710) presents a particularly stark contrast—located in one of America’s wealthiest states with median household income of $97,100, yet its 06710 zip code has a median household income of just $9,455, illustrating how extreme poverty can exist alongside extreme wealth even within single states.

Urban Vs Rural Zip Code Income Disparities in the US 2025

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Tabulation Areas 2020; American Community Survey 2023; USDA Economic Research Service

The urban versus rural income gap represents one of the most significant economic divides in America today. More than half of all ZIP code tabulation areas (17,000+ out of 32,000) are classified as 100% rural, yet these communities consistently lag urban and suburban areas in median household income by $20,000 to $40,000 annually. This disparity has widened since the 1980s, when the rural-urban wage gap began expanding after decades of convergence. Urban workers now earn approximately 23% more than rural workers according to Federal Reserve Bank of New York data, an increase from the 20% premium that existed before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The income advantages of urban and suburban zip codes stem from several reinforcing factors. Urban areas concentrate high-paying industries like finance, technology, healthcare, and professional services that offer significantly higher wages than rural employment sectors like agriculture, resource extraction, and low-skill manufacturing. The clustering of businesses creates agglomeration effects—workers become more productive through knowledge sharing, specialized suppliers emerge, and thick labor markets allow better job matching. Suburban zip codes often enjoy the highest median incomes, combining access to urban employment with lower crime, better schools, and more affordable housing than city centers. Communities in the $85,000 to $110,000 median income range typically feature educated professionals commuting to nearby cities while enjoying residential amenities.

Regional Income Patterns by Zip Code in the US 2025

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023-2024 Estimates by Region

Regional patterns in average income by zip code reflect fundamental differences in economic structure and historical development. The Northeast commands the highest concentration of wealthy zip codes, with Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut dominating the upper income brackets. New York City alone contains over 20 zip codes in the top 100 nationally, concentrated in Manhattan, Brooklyn Heights, and affluent Westchester County suburbs. Boston-area zip codes like 02210 (Financial District), 02493 (Weston), and 02481 (Wellesley Hills) consistently rank among America’s wealthiest due to the concentration of universities, hospitals, biotechnology firms, and financial services.

The West Coast features extreme bifurcation between ultra-wealthy Silicon Valley and San Francisco zip codes and struggling communities. California contains 8 of the top 20 highest income zip codes nationally, yet also has some of the poorest urban zip codes like 90021 in downtown Los Angeles. The Bay Area technology boom created unprecedented wealth for executives, engineers, and early startup employees in communities like Atherton, Portola Valley, and Palo Alto, where median home prices exceed $4 million. Meanwhile, rural California, particularly the Central Valley, struggles with agricultural wage stagnation and poverty rates exceeding 20% in many communities. The Pacific Northwest follows similar patterns with wealthy Seattle suburbs like Medina (98039) contrasting sharply with struggling logging communities in rural Oregon and Washington.

The Midwest presents the starkest income disparities by zip code, with wealthy Chicago suburbs in Illinois (Glencoe, Winnetka, Kenilworth) coexisting alongside some of America’s poorest zip codes in Cleveland, Detroit, Toledo, and Canton. These latter communities bear the scars of deindustrialization, having lost hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs since the 1970s. Former auto workers, steelworkers, and factory employees who once earned middle-class wages now face limited opportunities in low-wage service sector jobs. The South shows less extreme variation but consistently lower median incomes overall, with rural Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and West Virginia zip codes frequently ranking among the nation’s poorest. However, energy boom towns in Texas and affluent retirement communities in Florida (like Palm Beach – 33480) create pockets of exceptional wealth.

Income Inequality Within Individual Zip Codes in the US 2025

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-Year Estimates; Income Distribution Analysis

Income inequality exists not only between zip codes but within them. The difference between median and mean household income reveals concentration at the top of the income distribution. In 98% of U.S. zip codes with at least 500 residents, mean income exceeds median income, indicating wealth accumulation among the highest earners. Some zip codes show extreme internal inequality, where ultra-wealthy residents dramatically skew the average even as many households struggle economically.

Zip code 90021 in downtown Los Angeles exemplifies this phenomenon. The median household income of just $12,864 places it among America’s poorest neighborhoods, yet the mean income of $47,393 is nearly four times higher. This massive $34,529 gap reveals a small number of wealthy residents or businesses located in what is otherwise an economically distressed area. Similarly, Manhattan’s Financial District zip codes show mean incomes $100,000+ higher than median incomes, reflecting the presence of multi-millionaire executives and Wall Street traders whose compensation packages dwarf even upper-middle-class professional salaries. These internal disparities complicate policy responses, as wealthy residents may resist taxation or social programs despite the presence of significant poverty in their own zip codes.

Zip Code Income Trends and Changes in the US 2025

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 Comparison Analysis

Income trends by zip code from 2020 to 2024 reveal dramatic shifts in the American economic landscape. Approximately 1,500 zip codes experienced rapid gentrification, with median household incomes surging by 25% or more over four years. These communities typically feature urban neighborhoods undergoing renewal, suburban areas attracting remote technology workers, or small cities benefiting from corporate relocations. Examples include zip codes in Austin, Texas, Boise, Idaho, Nashville, Tennessee, and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina—all experiencing tech sector growth and population influx from expensive coastal cities.

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent remote work revolution fundamentally altered zip code income patterns. Thousands of high-earning professionals left expensive cities like San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles for more affordable regions while maintaining their salaries. This migration injected wealth into previously modest-income zip codes in Montana, Idaho, Tennessee, and Florida, rapidly driving up local incomes, home prices, and living costs. Meanwhile, approximately 7,500 zip codes experienced stagnation or decline, concentrated in deindustrialized Midwest cities, rural agricultural areas, and oil-dependent communities affected by energy sector volatility. These diverging trends exacerbate regional inequality and create self-reinforcing cycles where wealthy areas attract more investment while struggling communities face continued disinvestment.

Economic Opportunity and Mobility by Zip Code in the US 2025

Data Source: Economic Innovation Group Distressed Communities Index 2025; Census Bureau ACS 2023

The zip code where a child grows up profoundly influences their lifetime economic trajectory. Research demonstrates that zip code is often a better predictor of life outcomes than family background alone, with neighborhood effects accounting for substantial variation in adult income, educational attainment, and health outcomes. High-opportunity zip codes feature multiple reinforcing advantages: excellent public schools funded by high property taxes, low crime rates that attract businesses and residents, abundant employment opportunities in diverse industries, and social capital through professional networks and community organizations.

Communities in the top 20% of opportunity typically have median household incomes exceeding $95,000, college education rates above 50%, and poverty rates below 8%. These zip codes cluster in affluent suburbs of Boston, Seattle, San Francisco, New York, and Washington DC, where residents benefit from proximity to world-class universities, major employers, and robust public services. Children growing up in these communities attend well-resourced schools, participate in enrichment activities, and develop social connections that open doors to elite colleges and professional careers. The median income in 2024 for individuals raised in top-opportunity neighborhoods can be $50,000 to $80,000 higher than those from disadvantaged areas, even controlling for race and parents’ income.

Conversely, low-opportunity zip codes face compounding disadvantages. With median incomes below $35,000, poverty rates exceeding 25%, and unemployment above 10%, these communities lack the tax base to fund quality schools or infrastructure. High crime rates deter business investment, creating a scarcity of local jobs that forces residents into long commutes or unemployment. Educational outcomes suffer dramatically—schools in disadvantaged zip codes may have graduation rates below 60% compared to 95%+ in wealthy suburbs. Limited broadband internet access, with connectivity rates below 60% in some rural and poor urban zip codes, further isolates residents from the digital economy and remote work opportunities that sustained many Americans during the pandemic.

Demographic Income Patterns by Zip Code in the US 2025

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023; Demographic Analysis by ZCTA

In 2025, income levels across U.S. zip codes reveal clear socioeconomic and demographic disparities shaped by geography, race, and local economies. Asian-majority zip codes report the highest median household incomes, typically ranging from $95,000 to $125,000, which is 15% to 50% above the national median. These areas are heavily concentrated in states like California, New York, New Jersey, and Washington, where strong job markets in technology, healthcare, and finance drive higher wages. White-majority zip codes—which make up the largest group, with around 22,000 zip codes—show median incomes between $75,000 and $95,000, hovering near or slightly above the national average. These communities are widespread, spanning suburban and rural regions across the country, and benefit from stable employment sectors and higher rates of home ownership.

In contrast, Hispanic-majority and Black-majority zip codes reflect significant income gaps, with median incomes ranging from $45,000 to $70,000, or 15% to 45% below the national median. Hispanic-majority areas are mainly concentrated in California, Texas, Florida, Arizona, and New Mexico, while Black-majority zip codes are found predominantly in the South and Midwest urban centers. Meanwhile, mixed-demographic zip codes have median incomes of $65,000 to $85,000, showing moderate diversity and economic balance across both urban and suburban areas. College town zip codes, often skewed by student populations, show the lowest median incomes—typically $25,000 to $45,000—yet these figures do not reflect long-term earning potential, as they are influenced by temporary residents with limited or part-time employment.

Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.

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