U.S. household income rises as official poverty rate falls
Census reports show stronger inflation-adjusted income in 2025, though gains did not reach every part of the income distribution.
U.S. median household income rose 2.6% after inflation to $87,460 in 2025, while the official poverty rate fell to 10.2%, according to new Census Bureau reports.
The income figure was the highest in records dating to 1967. Median household income after taxes and credits also increased, rising 3.1% to $76,060, according to Income in the United States: 2025.
The gains were uneven. Income at the 10th percentile, near the lower end of the distribution, did not change significantly. Overall income inequality also showed no statistically significant change.
The official poverty rate declined by half a percentage point, with 34.5 million people living in poverty. The official child poverty rate fell to a record low of 13.4%, according to Poverty in the United States: 2025.
A broader measure offered a different picture. The Supplemental Poverty Measure, which accounts for taxes, government benefits, and expenses such as housing and medical care, stood at 13.1%, statistically unchanged from 2024.
For Oklahoma’s business community, the findings provide context for household purchasing power and the pressures facing customers. Stronger inflation-adjusted income can create more room for spending, but the uneven gains suggest businesses should be cautious about assuming every customer’s budget improved.
The reports measure national conditions and do not establish whether Oklahoma experienced the same changes. State and local comparisons require separate Census estimates.
