Median Household Income Fell In Twin Cities In 2021: See New Data

MINNESOTA — Median household income decreased in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, compared with two years earlier before the start of the pandemic, according to a new report from the Census Bureau.

The median household income for the metro was $87,433 in 2021, compared with $88,700 in 2019.

In Minnesota overall, the median household income was $77,720 in 2021, compared with $79,051 in 2019.

Nationally, median household income remained about the same in 2021 versus pre-pandemic 2019, increasing a meager $78 to $69,717, according to American Community Survey responses.

The last time median household income flatlined or went down was in 2013.

At the same time, the so-called “Gini index,” which measures wealth and income inequality, increased by 0.8 percent nationally. The wealth gap also widened in 21 states and the District of Columbia, including Minnesota.

Survey responses from 2020 were thrown out of the comparison. Responses were down during pandemic disruptions, and those who did respond had statistically different social, economic, and housing situations than those who did, leading to “unreasonable estimates,” the Census Bureau said.

Some other findings:

• White, Asian and Hispanic households saw the greatest increase in median household income between 2019 and 2021. Income remained about the same in Black households.
• Households headed by householders aged 25 to 44 experienced an increase in median household income between 2019 and 2021 while households maintained by householders 65 years and older experienced a decrease.
• The other age groups saw no significant change in median household income.