All 50 States Ranked from Poorest to Richest

New York’s ranking lands in the middle-upper range because its extremely high-paying industries in New York City are balanced out by large regions upstate where wages are much lower. The cost of living in the city also masks income strength, making the statewide median look more modest than people expect.

In the long run, New York could move higher if upstate revitalization efforts succeed and more tech, green energy, and advanced manufacturing jobs spread beyond NYC. If housing and transportation improvements help retain workers, incomes may rise more evenly across the state.