Net Worth

Definition

Median net worth of households, 2010.

Net worth equals the sum of assets attributable to any individual age 15 years and older in a household less any liabilities. Assets included in this measure are interest-earning assets, stocks and mutual fund shares, real estate equity (own home, rental property, vacation homes and land holdings), business equity, and motor vehicles. Liabilities include debts secured by any asset, credit card or store bills, bank loans and other unsecured debts.

Data are point estimates produced from a national survey with relatively small samples for some states, which can result in imprecise estimates and ranks. States are not ranked on this measure because estimates are too imprecise to say with confidence how the state compares to other states. For more information on how we measured precision and to download margin of error data for each state, see here.

Description

Median net worth, a basic indicator of wealth and financial well-being, is the value of assets held by households at the middle of the wealth distribution.  Net worth represents the amount of financial cushion a household has to respond to unexpected events – such as a job loss or unforeseen medical expense – as well as take advantage of opportunities – like buying a home, starting a business or going to college. Building net worth over a lifetime is also essential to adequate retirement and financial security later in life. 

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Net Worth

State	Median Net Worth ($)
United States	$68,948
Alabama	$65,663
Alaska	—
Arizona	$51,408 *
Arkansas	$57,251 *
California	$54,432
Colorado	$83,175
Connecticut	$113,557 *
Delaware	$117,928
District of Columbia	$40,200
Florida	$49,750
Georgia	$45,000
Hawaii	$165,645 *
Idaho	$59,618 *
Illinois	$75,665
Indiana	$65,850
Iowa	$90,736
Kansas	$95,412 *
Kentucky	$55,159 *
Louisiana	$61,077
Maine	$67,870
Maryland	$165,601
Massachusetts	$143,620
Michigan	$72,020
Minnesota	$128,514
Mississippi	$33,941 *
Missouri	$76,630
Montana	—
Nebraska	$90,516 *
Nevada	—
New Hampshire	$122,823
New Jersey	$133,303
New Mexico	—
New York	$57,654
North Carolina	$61,842
North Dakota	$75,520
Ohio	$63,002
Oklahoma	$50,843
Oregon	$89,549
Pennsylvania	$93,000
Rhode Island	$124,025
South Carolina	$70,441
South Dakota	$119,939 *
Tennessee	$66,274 *
Texas	$44,612
Utah	$103,284 *
Vermont	—
Virginia	$135,245
Washington	$90,704 *
West Virginia	$111,158
Wisconsin	$93,496
Wyoming	$109,494

Source

Survey of Income and Program Participation, 2008 Panel, Wave 7. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 2010. Data calculated by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute.

"—" indicates that no data is available, or data is suppressed due to a margin of error that is greater than 50% of the estimate.