Households earning $200,000 or more are flocking to these 10 states—5 are in the South (2024)

A $200,000 household income is more than most people earn across the U.S. In fact, just 12% of U.S. households earn $200,000 or more annually, according to Census Bureau data.

While that may be nearly enough for most Americans to feel comfortable financially, $200,000 will inevitably go further in places where the cost of living is generally lower.

It may even motivate some people to move. While people move for several reasons, cost can certainly be a major factor. Recently, even high-earning families seem to be flocking to lower-cost states, especially in the South.

Between 2020 and 2021, Florida saw the largest net migration of high-earning residents, with over 40,000 households earning $200,000 or more moving to the Sunshine State, according to new research from SmartAsset, which looked at data from the IRS.

Florida lost 12,567 high-earning households during the same period, bringing its net migration to 27,567 households.

It's not the only Southern state to see its affluent population grow. Five of the 10 states that saw the largest net migration of high earners are in the South.

Here's a look at the 10 most-popular states high earners flocked to between 2020 and 2021.

1. Florida

2. Texas

  • Inflow: 22,751
  • Outflow: 13,743
  • Net migration: 9,008

3. North Carolina

  • Inflow: 11,437
  • Outflow: 5,991
  • Net migration: 5,446

4. Arizona

  • Inflow: 9,763
  • Outflow: 5,200
  • Net migration: 4,563

5. South Carolina

  • Inflow: 7,312
  • Outflow: 2,802
  • Net migration: 4,510

6. Tennessee

  • Inflow: 7,353
  • Outflow: 3,436
  • Net migration: 3,917

7. Nevada

  • Inflow: 5,576
  • Outflow: 2,791
  • Net migration: 2,785

8. Idaho

  • Inflow: 3,246
  • Outflow: 931
  • Net migration: 2,315

9. Colorado

  • Inflow: 8,771
  • Outflow: 6,719
  • Net migration: 2,052

10. Utah

  • Inflow: 3,579
  • Outflow: 1,827
  • Net migration: 1,752

Where $200,000 households are moving

High-earning Americans seem to seek states that offer the lowest tax burdens. Neither Florida nor Texas collect state income tax, which could be part of the reason they lead the rankings. Tennessee and Nevada also do not collect state income tax.

The ranking is based on net migration, but if it looked at inflows alone, California and New York would rank third and fourth, respectively. However, both states saw a greater number of high-income households leave, bringing their net migration totals into the negatives.

New Jersey, Washington and Virginia similarly saw some of the country's highest number of $200,000 households move in but had even more leave.

Despite being historically more affordable than other parts of the country, states in the Sun Belt — which includes those across the southern and southwestern parts of the U.S. — haven't been immune to rising prices as inflation has increased over the past couple of years. Several cities in Florida, Texas and Arizona ranked among the places where inflation has been rising the fastest in a recent WalletHub study.

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Households earning $200,000 or more are flocking to these 10 states—5 are in the South (1)

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Households earning $200,000 or more are flocking to these 10 states—5 are in the South (2024)

FAQs

Where does a 200K household income rank? ›

One half, 49.98%, of all income in the US was earned by households with an income over $100,000, the top twenty percent. Over one quarter, 28.5%, of all income was earned by the top 8%, those households earning more than $150,000 a year. The top 3.65%, with incomes over $200,000, earned 17.5%.

Is 200,000 household income good? ›

According to the Census Bureau, only 11.5% of U.S. households earned $200,000 or more in 2022. So, if you're earning $200,000 all on your own, you could say you're doing pretty well.

How much does a household need to earn to be in the top 10% US? ›

A financial advisor can help you build a financial plan that works. However, there is a difference between those in the top half and the bottom half of the top 10% of earners. Those in the top half earned around $223,000, while those in the bottom section earned approximately $133,500, nearly $90,000 less.

How much wealth do you need to be in the top 10 percent in the US? ›

Top 2% wealth: The top 2% of Americans have a net worth of about $2.472 million, aligning closely with the surveyed perception of wealth. Top 5% wealth: The next tier, the top 5%, has a net worth of around $1.03 million. Top 10% wealth: The top 10% of the population has a net worth of approximately $854,900.

What percentile is $200000 household income? ›

Where Does $200k a Year Put You on the Income Spectrum? If you had an income of $200,000, that would put you in the top 12% of household incomes or the top 5% of individual incomes in 2022.

Is 200K a good salary in Texas? ›

200K Salary in Texas. $175,007 is the 75th percentile. Salaries above this are outliers.

Is a salary of 200K good in California? ›

Sure, as a single person 200K is doing well. But, 200K with a family of 4 (2 kids and a wife) is definately scraping by on the penninsula or SF. The only way that's not scraping by is if you bought your house over 20 years ago (or during 2010-2012 housing slump) OR you got yourself a Rent controlled apartment.

How much is 200K a year per month? ›

If you're earning $200,000 annually, your monthly gross income is likely to be about $16,666.

What is considered a rich salary? ›

You'll need to earn more than half a million annually to be considered among the highest earning residents in 11 states and Washington, D.C.

What is considered a good salary? ›

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national average salary in 2021 was $58,260. Although wages above the average could be seen as a good salary, there are no hard and fast rules regarding how to determine a good salary since there are many factors involved.

What salary is considered upper class for a single person? ›

Upper middle class: Anyone with earnings in the 60th to 80th percentile would be considered upper middle class. Those in the upper middle class have incomes between $89,745 and $149,131. Upper class: Finally, the upper class is the top 20% of earners and they have incomes of $149,132 or higher.

How much money is considered middle class? ›

Over the last decade, the household income needed to be considered middle class has skyrocketed. In 2012, a household income of $35,364 qualified you as a member of the middle class in the U.S.; in 2022, $50,099 was the lowest minimum household income threshold, GOBankingrates reports.

What is considered wealthy in 2024? ›

To be considered very high net worth, one might need assets ranging from $5 million to $10 million, while an ultra-high net worth status could require $30 million or more. These figures underscore the subjective nature of financial classifications across different thresholds of wealth.

Who is considered rich in the USA? ›

Based on that figure, an annual income of $500,000 or more would make you rich. The Economic Policy Institute uses a different baseline to determine who constitutes the top 1% and the top 5%. For 2021, you're in the top 1% if you earn $819,324 or more each year. The top 5% of income earners make $335,891 per year.

Are you wealthy for your age? ›

The average net worth of someone younger than 35 years old is $183,500, as of 2022. From there, average net worth steadily rises within each age bracket. Between 35 to 44, the average net worth is $549,600, while between 45 and 54, that number increases to $975,800.

Is 200k salary upper middle class? ›

More than 1 in 5 Americans were upper income in 2022, compared to only 14% in 1971. In 2020, according to Pew Research Center analysis, the median for upper income households was around $220,000 and the median for middle income households was slightly above $90,000.

What percent of U.S. households make over 250k? ›

Only 7% of American households earn $250,000 or more. For those high-income earners, however, certain cities will offer them the most bang for their buck — and others will offer far less. The real purchasing power of a $250,000 salary depends on a city's overall economy, taxes and cost of living.

What is considered a high income household? ›

In 2021, the median household income is roughly $68,000. An upper class income is usually considered at least 50% higher than the median household income. Therefore, an upper class income in America is $100,000 and higher.

What income is considered upper class? ›

Upper-middle class: $94,001 – $153,000. Upper class: greater than $153,000.

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