Residents in six Southern states spend a higher share of their income on groceries than those in the North, according to a new WalletHub study comparing grocery costs to median household income. Mississippi leads the list, driven not by high prices but by the nation’s lowest median income level.
Key Takeaways
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Low incomes drive a higher grocery burden: Southern states such as Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arkansas spend a larger share of their income on food because of lower earnings rather than higher prices.
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Mississippi tops the ranking: Despite having the sixth-lowest grocery prices nationally, Mississippians devote 2.6% of their median income to groceries.
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Northern states spend less proportionally: States like Utah, New Hampshire, Maryland, New Jersey, and Massachusetts rank lowest, benefiting from higher median incomes that offset food costs.
