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Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy. We need your help. More Info ### I would like to contribute One Time Monthly Yearly Join Now ![](\\" ![](\\" Mike Romano stated on November 8, 2018 in an op-ed: \"In 2017, West Virginia’s $43,469 median household income was $16,867 below the national average, ranking 50th.\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" true/3d4df195c595a07e3fd69b5e4aab3e3c.jpg.\\") ![\\"true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") * West Virginia * Economy * Income * Mike Romano ![\\"A](\\" A mural depicting a more vibrant time in the town\'s history decorates a building in Welch, W.Va. (AP/David Goldman) By Julia Mellett December 7, 2018 By Sadaf Nikzad December 7, 2018 # Did West Virginia rank 50th in household income in 2017? Yes In a Nov. 8 op-ed in the Charleston Gazette-Mail, Mike Romano, a Democratic West Virginia state senator, said West Virginia’s median household income was nearly $17,000 below the national average. \"In 2017, West Virginia’s $43,469 median household income was $16,867 below the national average, ranking 50th, according to the U.S. Census Bureau,\" Romano wrote. Is that correct? We took a closer look. In September 2018, the U.S. Census Bureau released a report that included data for household income in 2017. The figure for the United States was $60,336, while the figure for West Virginia was $43,469. The difference is exactly $16,867, as Romano said. Meanwhile, we ranked the 50 states by household income and found that West Virginia ranked last, trailing Mississippi by $60. Here’s the full ranking: Maryland $80,776 New Jersey 80,088 Hawaii 77,765 Massachusetts 77,385 Connecticut 74,168 New Hampshire 73,381 Alaska 73,181 California 71,805 Virginia 71,535 Washington 70,979 Colorado 69,117 Minnesota 68,388 Utah 68,358 New York 64,894 Rhode Island 63,870 Illinois 62,992 Delaware 62,852 North Dakota 61,843 Wyoming 60,434 Oregon 60,212 Nebraska 59,970 Wisconsin #### Featured Fact-check ![](\\" ![](\\" JD Vance stated on August 25, 2024 in an interview on NBC\'s \"Meet the Press\" “Anything that you lose on the tariff from the perspective of the consumer, you gain in higher wages, so you\'re ultimately much better off.” ![\\"true\\"](\\" false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") By Louis Jacobson • August 29, 2024 59,305 Texas 59,206 Pennsylvania 59,195 Iowa 58,570 Nevada 58,003 Vermont 57,513 Arizona 56,581 South Dakota 56,521 Kansas 56,422 Maine 56,277 Georgia 56,183 Michigan 54,909 Indiana 54,181 Ohio 54,021 Missouri 53,578 Montana 53,386 North Carolina 52,752 Florida 52,594 Idaho 52,225 Tennessee 51,340 South Carolina 50,570 Oklahoma 50,051 Kentucky 48,375 Alabama 48,123 New Mexico 46,744 Louisiana 46,145 Arkansas 45,869 Mississippi 43,529 West Virginia 43,469 Our ruling Romano wrote, \"In 2017, West Virginia’s $43,469 median household income was $16,867 below the national average, ranking 50th according to the U.S. Census Bureau.\" His statement is fully correct -- on West Virginia’s median household income, on its distance from the national average, and in its 50th place ranking. We rate the statement True. Share the Facts 2018-12-07 17:37:03 UTC PolitiFact ![\\"PolitiFact\\"](\\" 6 1 7 ![\\"PolitiFact](\\" true.png\\") PolitiFact Rating: True \"In 2017, West Virginia’s $43,469 median household income was $16,867 below the national average, ranking 50th.\" Mike Romano West Virginia state senator romano-creating-a-real-economic-comeback-gazette- opinion/article_61b17433-4922-593f-bf02-f05acbb553e7.html ![](\\" an op-ed Thursday, November 8, 2018 2018-11-08 Read More info #### Read About Our Process The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter ### Our Sources Charleston Gazette-Mail, \"Mike Romano: Creating a real economic comeback\" (op-ed), Nov. 8, 2018 U.S. Census Bureau, \"Household Income: 2017,\" September 2018 Email interview with Mike Romano, Dec. 4 2018 ## Browse the Truth-O-Meter ### More by Julia Mellett ![](\\" ![](\\" Mike Romano stated on November 8, 2018 in an op-ed: \"In 2017, West Virginia’s $43,469 median household income was $16,867 below the national average, ranking 50th.\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By Julia Mellett • December 7, 2018 ### Did West Virginia rank 50th in household income in 2017? Yes * ![](\\" ![](\\" Instagram posts stated on September 12, 2024 in an Instagram post: A video shows a body that Israel embedded with a bomb exploding during a Palestinian funeral procession. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Sofia Ahmed • September 13, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 11, 2024 in a post: “ESPN has fired Shannon Sharpe.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Gideon Hess • September 13, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Instagram posts stated on September 12, 2024 in an Instagram post: Former President Donald Trump admitted during the Sept. 10 presidential debate that he “blew up the Nord Stream pipeline.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Loreben Tuquero • September 13, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 10, 2024 in a Facebook post: Patron, Don Julio and Pink Whitney tequila recalled because they contained fecal matter. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Jeff Cercone • September 13, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Elissa Slotkin stated on September 11, 2024 in a TV ad: Mike Rogers supported “laws that could eliminate IVF and birth control.” ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Caleb McCullough • September 13, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Instagram posts stated on September 11, 2024 in an Instagram post: \"Debate moderators made the false claim to Donald Trump that there is nowhere in the United States where abortion is legal up until birth.\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Jeff Cercone • September 13, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 12, 2024 in a Facebook post: ABC News fired presidential debate moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Sofia Ahmed • September 13, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Yes on 4 stated on September 10, 2024 in a TV ad: Florida’s six-week abortion law has “no real exceptions. Not for her health. Not even for rape.” ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Samantha Putterman • September 13, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 11, 2024 in una publicación en Facebook: Imagen muestra carnet del Partido Comunista de la vicepresidenta Kamala Harris. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Maria Briceño • September 13, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Sam Brown stated on August 28, 2024 in a campaign appearance: Proposed Nevada constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights would put “essentially no limit on access to abortion.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Caleb McCullough • September 13, 2024 Load more ### Support independent fact-checking. Become a member! In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts. 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In 2017 West Virginia’s 43469 median household income was 16867 below the national average ranking 50th