This report presents data on median household income and the Gini index of income inequality based on the 2016 and 2017 American Community Surveys (ACS) and Puerto Rico Community Surveys (PRCS). This report also presents data on median household income based on the 2005 through 2015 American Community Surveys (ACS) and Puerto Rico Community Surveys (PRCS). The ACS provides detailed estimates of demographic, social, economic, and housing characteristics for states, congressional districts, counties, places, and other localities every year. A description of the ACS is provided in the text box "What Is the American Community Survey?" Estimates from the 2017 ACS show a significant increase in median household income at the national level and for 24 states and the District of Columbia. Median household income increased between 2016 and 2017 for 17 of the 25 most populous metropolitan areas. The Gini index was not significantly higher in 2017 than 2016 for the United States.

The estimates contained in this report are primarily based on the 2016 and 2017 ACS. The ACS is conducted every month, with income data collected for the 12 months preceding the interview. Since the survey is continuous, adjacent ACS years have income reference months in common. Therefore, comparing the 2016 ACS with the 2017 ACS is not an exact comparison of the economic conditions in 2016 with those in 2017, and comparisons should be interpreted with care. For more information on the ACS sample design and other topics, visit <www.census.gov/acs/www>.