25. Iowa
> Median household income: $54,736
> Population: 3,123,899 (21st lowest)
> 2015 Unemployment rate: 3.7% (9th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 12.2% (17th lowest)
Iowa’s 2015 median household income of $54,736 is effectively unchanged from the previous year, reflecting little improvement in the residents’ standard of living. Considering that incomes nationwide increased in 2015, state residents are relatively poorer — the typical Iowa household used to earn slightly more than the typical American household, but it now earns about $1,000 less. Though incomes are lower, a dollar goes further in Iowa than it does across the country. Goods and services are nearly 10% cheaper in Iowa than they are nationwide.