One state — for the third consecutive year — leads the country in median household income.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s latest figures list Maryland is the nation’s top-earning state for the third year in a row, with a median household income of $70,545 in 2008. Following Maryland in the top five were: New Jersey ($70,378), Connecticut ($68,595), Alaska ($68,460) and Hawaii ($67,214).

Mississippi had the lowest median income, just $37,790. The other states in the bottom five were: West Virginia ($37,989), Arkansas ($38,815), Kentucky ($41,538) and Alabama ($42,538).

Ups and one down
Florida was the only state where median income actually declined, falling a tiny 0.01% before adjusting for inflation. Michigan and Montana each rose by about 0.3%. The state with the biggest percentage jump: Louisiana, up 6.9%. Incomes there rose partly on the strength of federal money that flowed in to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina, and the state’s unemployment rate was less than 5% in 2008.

Care to guess which area followed Louisiana in percentage growth? (Hint: It was another spot that got inundated with federal money.)

The District of Columbia,  6.7%

Tags: Census Bureau, district of columbia, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland