Life in the United States can look very different depending on where you live, and for Black Americans, those differences are often influenced by longstanding factors. These include social, economic, and political conditions. Access to quality education, affordable housing, healthcare, and employment opportunities varies widely from state to state, affecting everything from annual income to overall well-being. While racial progress has been made nationally over the decades, disparities tied to race continue to affect daily life in meaningful ways. And geography is a part of this picture.
Some states present bigger challenges for people of color than others due to a combination of economic inequality, poor medical treatment, criminal justice issues, and limited social support systems. Ranking the states helps show us where obstacles are most pronounced. Within certain states, systemic issues remain difficult to overcome. This article examines the states that pose the greatest challenges for Black Americans and explores the factors that contribute to those rankings.
To determine the worst states for Black Americans, 24/7 Wall St. created an index consisting of eight measures to assess race-based gaps in socioeconomic outcomes. Six of the measures – median household income, poverty, adult high school and bachelor’s degree attainment, homeownership, and unemployment rates – are based on five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community. The seventh measure, prisoners under the jurisdiction of state or federal correctional authorities by race per 100,000 residents, is based on Bureau of Justice Statistics data for 2021. The eighth measure, age-adjusted mortality rate by race, is based on data from 2018 to 2020 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This post was updated on December 31, 2025 to provide an overview of racial challenges in America and the factors that affect them, as well as why this knowledge is important for the public to understand.
Why This Matters
50. Hawaii
- Median household income: $80,207 (Black); $93,896 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 28.2% (Black); 57.7% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 12.2% (Black); 5.6% (white)
- Black population: 26,664 (1.8% of total)
49. New Mexico
- Median household income: $48,987 (Black); $63,910 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 37.8% (Black); 70.3% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 9.0% (Black); 6.0% (white)
- Black population: 37,996 (1.8% of total)
48. Texas
- Median household income: $55,459 (Black); $80,134 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 41.3% (Black); 67.7% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 8.4% (Black); 4.6% (white)
- Black population: 3,449,557 (11.8% of total)
47. Alaska
- Median household income: $71,857 (Black); $94,315 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 40.9% (Black); 70.7% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 4.6% (Black); 5.1% (white)
- Black population: 22,400 (3.0% of total)
46. Arizona
- Median household income: $58,184 (Black); $75,939 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 38.4% (Black); 70.3% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 8.3% (Black); 5.0% (white)
- Black population: 307,726 (4.3% of total)
45. West Virginia
- Median household income: $38,004 (Black); $55,826 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 44.5% (Black); 75.8% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 9.8% (Black); 6.2% (white)
- Black population: 60,237 (3.4% of total)
44. Kentucky
- Median household income: $44,196 (Black); $62,242 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 37.9% (Black); 72.1% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 8.6% (Black); 4.9% (white)
- Black population: 355,368 (7.9% of total)
43. Georgia
- Median household income: $55,010 (Black); $81,445 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 49.0% (Black); 74.7% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 8.2% (Black); 4.1% (white)
- Black population: 3,334,095 (31.1% of total)
42. Idaho
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- Median household income: $54,727 (Black); $71,661 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 36.9% (Black); 73.7% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 6.7% (Black); 3.9% (white)
- Black population: 11,919 (0.6% of total)
41. Oregon
- Median household income: $56,124 (Black); $77,627 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 33.9% (Black); 65.8% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 6.7% (Black); 5.5% (white)
- Black population: 75,790 (1.8% of total)
40. Maryland
- Median household income: $79,161 (Black); $109,387 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 52.5% (Black); 76.9% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 7.8% (Black); 4.0% (white)
- Black population: 1,815,877 (29.5% of total)
39. Delaware
- Median household income: $58,385 (Black); $86,094 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 51.5% (Black); 80.1% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 8.0% (Black); 4.9% (white)
- Black population: 213,516 (21.5% of total)
38. Wyoming
- Median household income: $56,046 (Black); $73,542 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 38.2% (Black); 73.0% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 11.0% (Black); 3.8% (white)
- Black population: 4,488 (0.8% of total)
37. Tennessee
- Median household income: $46,708 (Black); $68,515 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 43.6% (Black); 73.1% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 9.4% (Black); 4.4% (white)
- Black population: 1,116,871 (16.1% of total)
36. Florida
- Median household income: $51,249 (Black); $72,212 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 47.6% (Black); 72.9% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 8.1% (Black); 4.6% (white)
- Black population: 3,232,871 (14.9% of total)
35. New Hampshire
- Median household income: $72,946 (Black); $91,394 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 36.2% (Black); 74.0% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 7.6% (Black); 3.7% (white)
- Black population: 18,477 (1.3% of total)
34. Washington
- Median household income: $65,817 (Black); $91,601 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 34.0% (Black); 67.6% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 8.1% (Black); 4.8% (white)
- Black population: 290,907 (3.8% of total)
33. Rhode Island
- Median household income: $61,614 (Black); $86,467 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 35.1% (Black); 68.3% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 8.2% (Black); 5.3% (white)
- Black population: 58,304 (5.3% of total)
32. Oklahoma
- Median household income: $42,145 (Black); $65,469 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 39.8% (Black); 70.1% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 8.9% (Black); 4.4% (white)
- Black population: 277,702 (7.0% of total)
31. North Carolina
- Median household income: $47,088 (Black); $73,675 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 46.3% (Black); 73.7% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 8.3% (Black); 4.3% (white)
- Black population: 2,161,841 (20.6% of total)
30. Virginia
- Median household income: $60,201 (Black); $93,691 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 48.6% (Black); 73.1% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 7.2% (Black); 3.8% (white)
- Black population: 1,601,668 (18.6% of total)
29. South Dakota
- Median household income: $56,399 (Black); $72,498 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 25.6% (Black); 72.2% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 3.4% (Black); 2.3% (white)
- Black population: 19,172 (2.2% of total)
28. Alabama
- Median household income: $40,661 (Black); $69,042 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 51.3% (Black); 77.4% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 8.9% (Black); 4.1% (white)
- Black population: 1,318,388 (26.2% of total)
27. California
- Median household income: $64,513 (Black); $97,859 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 35.6% (Black); 60.7% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 10.5% (Black); 6.0% (white)
- Black population: 2,102,510 (5.3% of total)
26. Arkansas
- Median household income: $37,395 (Black); $60,756 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 44.2% (Black); 71.9% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 9.4% (Black); 4.5% (white)
- Black population: 454,728 (15.1% of total)
25. Nevada
- Median household income: $48,022 (Black); $77,786 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 31.6% (Black); 64.4% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 12.5% (Black); 6.2% (white)
- Black population: 278,689 (9.0% of total)
24. Vermont
- Median household income: $52,736 (Black); $74,499 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 27.7% (Black); 74.0% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 6.4% (Black); 3.8% (white)
- Black population: 7,548 (1.2% of total)
23. Maine
- Median household income: $53,407 (Black); $68,783 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 25.9% (Black); 74.4% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 5.6% (Black); 4.2% (white)
- Black population: 21,093 (1.5% of total)
22. Colorado
- Median household income: $61,343 (Black); $91,475 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 41.8% (Black); 69.1% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 7.8% (Black); 4.2% (white)
- Black population: 221,211 (3.8% of total)
21. Missouri
- Median household income: $44,293 (Black); $69,547 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 39.3% (Black); 72.4% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 8.2% (Black); 3.9% (white)
- Black population: 688,219 (11.2% of total)
20. Mississippi
- Median household income: $36,263 (Black); $65,518 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 54.4% (Black); 78.7% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 10.0% (Black); 4.9% (white)
- Black population: 1,098,675 (37.1% of total)
19. South Carolina
- Median household income: $42,672 (Black); $73,204 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 53.5% (Black); 78.4% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 7.9% (Black); 4.3% (white)
- Black population: 1,316,074 (25.6% of total)
18. Massachusetts
- Median household income: $67,044 (Black); $102,701 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 36.4% (Black); 68.5% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 8.4% (Black); 4.7% (white)
- Black population: 459,848 (6.6% of total)
17. Indiana
- Median household income: $42,067 (Black); $70,740 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 38.0% (Black); 74.9% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 9.9% (Black); 4.1% (white)
- Black population: 631,919 (9.3% of total)
16. Montana
- Median household income: $50,676 (Black); $68,005 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 27.4% (Black); 70.7% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 11.7% (Black); 3.3% (white)
- Black population: 5,248 (0.5% of total)
15. New York
- Median household income: $58,805 (Black); $90,866 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 32.7% (Black); 64.7% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 9.2% (Black); 5.0% (white)
- Black population: 2,767,223 (13.8% of total)
14. Louisiana
- Median household income: $37,015 (Black); $70,270 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 48.9% (Black); 76.9% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 10.4% (Black); 4.9% (white)
- Black population: 1,456,107 (31.4% of total)
13. North Dakota
- Median household income: $49,369 (Black); $77,950 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 11.7% (Black); 67.3% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 7.9% (Black); 2.6% (white)
- Black population: 24,882 (3.2% of total)
12. Utah
- Median household income: $57,433 (Black); $89,462 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 27.4% (Black); 73.2% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 5.8% (Black); 3.2% (white)
- Black population: 34,485 (1.1% of total)
11. Kansas
- Median household income: $46,145 (Black); $72,357 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 36.5% (Black); 70.2% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 9.1% (Black); 3.6% (white)
- Black population: 157,768 (5.4% of total)
10. Connecticut
- Median household income: $59,728 (Black); $98,855 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 40.7% (Black); 73.5% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 8.8% (Black); 5.2% (white)
- Black population: 355,970 (9.9% of total)
9. New Jersey
- Median household income: $65,351 (Black); $105,392 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 39.7% (Black); 73.3% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 9.2% (Black); 5.3% (white)
- Black population: 1,147,770 (12.4% of total)
8. Ohio
- Median household income: $40,499 (Black); $71,843 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 36.1% (Black); 72.7% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 10.6% (Black); 4.3% (white)
- Black population: 1,431,238 (12.2% of total)
7. Pennsylvania
- Median household income: $45,944 (Black); $77,962 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 43.4% (Black); 74.3% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 11.1% (Black); 4.6% (white)
- Black population: 1,347,784 (10.4% of total)
6. Michigan
- Median household income: $42,171 (Black); $73,039 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 43.3% (Black); 78.4% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 13.1% (Black); 5.0% (white)
- Black population: 1,346,918 (13.4% of total)
5. Nebraska
- Median household income: $45,287 (Black); $74,157 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 29.8% (Black); 70.0% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 8.3% (Black); 2.8% (white)
- Black population: 91,357 (4.7% of total)
4. Illinois
- Median household income: $46,717 (Black); $85,060 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 40.2% (Black); 73.7% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 13.7% (Black); 4.8% (white)
- Black population: 1,744,151 (13.7% of total)
3. Minnesota
- Median household income: $49,738 (Black); $87,692 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 28.4% (Black); 76.8% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 8.6% (Black); 3.4% (white)
- Black population: 377,173 (6.6% of total)
2. Iowa
- Median household income: $40,592 (Black); $72,363 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 27.2% (Black); 74.3% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 11.0% (Black); 3.4% (white)
- Black population: 117,940 (3.7% of total)
1. Wisconsin
- Median household income: $38,732 (Black); $75,803 (white)
- Homeownership rate: 26.5% (Black); 71.9% (white)
- Unemployment rate: 8.3% (Black); 3.0% (white)
- Black population: 356,150 (6.1% of total)
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