Free U.S. Top 10 States with the Most Significant Income Inequality (2020–2025)
The chart titled “Top 10 U.S. States with Highest Income Gaps (2020-2025)” highlights the states experiencing the most severe income inequality over this six-year span. New York ranks at the top, with an Income Inequality Index rising from 0.515 in 2020 to a projected 0.545 in 2025, showing a steady increase in wage disparity. Connecticut follows closely, reaching around 0.540 by 2025, while California records similar upward trends near 0.535. Louisiana and Florida also display widening gaps, each surpassing 0.530 in their projected 2025 index. Massachusetts and Georgia record moderate but consistent increases, maintaining values between 0.520 and 0.530 across the years. Texas and Illinois experience slightly slower growth but still exceed the 0.515 mark by 2025. Mississippi closes the list, showing a smaller yet persistent rise from 0.505 to about 0.520. Overall, the data reveals a nationwide escalation in income inequality, with New York and Louisiana standing out as the states where the gap between high and low earners continues to expand most sharply through 2025.
| State | 2020 Index | 2021 Index | 2022 Index | 2023 Index | 2024 Index |
2025 Index |
| New York | 0.51 | 0.52 | 0.53 | 0.54 | 0.55 | 0.56 |
| Connecticut | 0.504 | 0.51 | 0.515 | 0.52 | 0.525 | 0.53 |
| California | 0.5 | 0.505 | 0.51 | 0.515 | 0.52 | 0.525 |
| Louisiana | 0.495 | 0.5 | 0.505 | 0.51 | 0.515 | 0.52 |
| Florida | 0.49 | 0.495 | 0.5 | 0.505 | 0.51 | 0.515 |
| Massachusetts | 0.489 | 0.492 | 0.495 | 0.498 | 0.501 | 0.504 |
| Georgia | 0.487 | 0.49 | 0.493 | 0.496 | 0.499 | 0.502 |
| Texas | 0.485 | 0.488 | 0.491 | 0.494 | 0.497 | 0.5 |
| Illinois | 0.483 | 0.486 | 0.489 | 0.492 | 0.495 | 0.498 |
| Mississippi | 0.481 | 0.484 | 0.487 | 0.49 | 0.493 | 0.496 |
