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Explore national- and state-level data for hundreds of health, environmental and socioeconomic measures, including background information about each measure. Use features on this page to find measures; view subpopulations, trends and rankings; and download and share content.
District of Columbia Value:
Ratio of median household income at the 80th percentile to median household income at the 20th percentile
Ratio of median household income at the 80th percentile to median household income at the 20th percentile
3.73 - 4.25
4.26 - 4.51
4.52 - 4.67
4.68 - 5.04
5.05 - 7.52
US Value: 4.85
Top State(s): Utah: 3.73
Bottom State(s): New York: 5.82
Definition: Ratio of median household income at the 80th percentile to median household income at the 20th percentile
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-Year Dataset, 2024
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-Year Dataset, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2026.
Research indicates a correlation between higher income disparity and poorer overall population health. Income inequality generates chronic stress, which can lead to cognitive difficulties, increased blood pressure, decreased immune response, higher risk of cardiovascular diseases and other negative health outcomes.
The U.S. has a higher ratio of income inequality than nearly every other country in the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development. Income inequality has increased over the past 60 years in the United States, with the top 20% of earners receiving more than half of all U.S. income in 2023.
Income inequality affects society as a whole. However, those with the lowest incomes suffer the most. Populations more affected by income inequality include:
Investing in education is an effective strategy to reduce income disparity. Another important area of focus for policymakers is redistributive tax policies, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, which has been proven to reduce wealth disparities. The Peterson Institute for International Economics offers additional solutions from inequality experts for reducing income inequality, which include expanding tax policies, improving access to education and child care and increasing the federal minimum wage.
Avanceña, Anton L. V., Ellen Kim DeLuca, Bradley Iott, Amanda Mauri, Nicholas Miller, Daniel Eisenberg, and David W. Hutton. “Income and Income Inequality Are a Matter of Life and Death. What Can Policymakers Do About It?” American Journal of Public Health 111, no. 8 (August 2021): 1404–8. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306301.
Bhatt, Anjali, Melina Kolb, and Oliver Ward. How to Fix Economic Inequality? An Overview of Policies for the United States and Other High-Income Economies. Feature. Washington, D.C.: Peterson Institute for International Economics, November 17, 2020. https://www.piie.com/sites/default/files/documents/how-to-fix-economic-inequality.pdf.
Guzman, Gloria, and Melissa Kollar. Income in the United States: 2023. Current Population Reports. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Census Bureau, September 2024. https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2024/demo/p60-282.pdf.
Hoynes, Hilary W., and Ankur J. Patel. Effective Policy for Reducing Inequality? The Earned Income Tax Credit and the Distribution of Income. Working Paper 21340. National Bureau of Economic Research, July 2015. https://doi.org/10.3386/w21340.
Pickett, Kate E., and Richard G. Wilkinson. “Income Inequality and Health: A Causal Review.” Social Science & Medicine 128 (March 2015): 316–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.12.031.
Why Education Matters to Health: Exploring the Causes. Issue Brief #2. Education and Health Initiative. Richmond, VA: The VCU Center on Society and Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, April 2014.https://societyhealth.vcu.edu/media/society-health/pdf/test-folder/CSH-EHI-Issue-Brief-2.pdf.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.
