US household income breaks 58-year-old record. These groups saw the biggest gains

(NEXSTAR) – Median household income in the U.S. has reached new heights, the Census Bureau revealed in a data drop on Tuesday.

The median household made $87,460 in 2025, the Census reported. Adjusted for inflation, that’s the highest household income since 1967.

Demographic data shows different groups in the U.S. felt wages grow at different paces between 2024 and 2025.

Median income rose 3% for white households, but 4.8% for Black households, the Census reports. Despite the recent gains, Black households still make far less than households on average.

There was no significant change in 2025 for Asian or Hispanic households.

For full-time workers, women saw wages grow about 3.2% in 2025. Men, however, didn’t see a boost over the one-year period.

That being said, men who are working full time still make more than women, $72,380 versus $60,760, respectively. The gap is slowly closing, the Census Bureau says, but for now women earn about 84 cents on the dollar compared to men.

There was also a difference in income growth between the country’s top earners and lowest earners. While the top 10% of households saw income go up by 1.7% to about $261,300, the bottom 10% saw a slight decline, making around $20,000 in 2025.

Looking at everyone in the U.S. together, median household income rose 2.6% in one year, or about $2,250.

Even if income is higher and inflation is lower over the past year, many Americans are still feeling worse off, consumer surveys show. A key reason is likely that inflation, even at lower levels, has been eroding income for years.

Necessities, like gas and housing, also remain particularly expensive. The national average cost of a gallon of gas is about $4.33, according to AAA.

Mortgage rates have also been rising, driving the average long-term U.S. home loan rate to its highest level in more than a year. The benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.71% in early September, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said. Higher mortgage rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting homebuyers’ purchasing power.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.