Most people filing for bankruptcy have to satisfy the means test. Basically, it's used to figure out if you can pay back any of your debts rather than have them discharged or eliminated. As part of the test, you need to compare your income to that of a family the same size as yours in your state - the median family income in your state.

This information is compiled by the US Census Bureau, and it's updated throughout the year. Make sure you have up-to-date income information by checking the Bureau's web site or with the US Department of Justice.

Census Bureau Median Family Income By Family Size

Data from 3/15/10

State

1 Earner

Family Size

2 People

3 People

4 People

*

Alabama

$38,278

$47,904

$55,433

$65,079

Alaska

$51,945

$73,809

$77,268

$85,118

Arizona

$42,476

$56,692

$61,845

$69,205

Arkansas

$33,412

$44,257

$48,548

$57,699

California

$47,969

$64,647

$70,638

$79,194

Colorado

$47,085

$64,754

$69,728

$81,354

Connecticut

$58,321

$72,328

$86,335

$101,761

Delaware

$46,249

$60,736

$69,826

$88,409

District of Columbia

$42,120

$68,647

$69,047

$69,047

Florida

$41,079

$52,073

$58,366

$68,763

Georgia

$40,546

$55,061

$60,887

$68,258

Hawaii

$55,221

$66,960

$77,263

$91,158

Idaho

$39,484

$51,291

$52,577

$61,830

Illinois

$45,941

$59,838

$71,075

$81,175

Indiana

$40,683

$52,367

$59,438

$70,621

Iowa

$39,918

$55,087

$64,143

$72,701

Kansas

$41,210

$57,561

$63,212

$72,352

Kentucky

$37,450

$45,491

$54,488

$64,230

Louisiana

$37,331

$48,115

$53,271

$66,020

Maine

$38,674

$50,731

$61,855

$70,124

Maryland

$55,041

$72,801

$85,151

$101,441

Massachusetts

$53,315

$69,204

$82,297

$99,293

Michigan

$43,456

$52,433

$61,517

$74,558

Minnesota

$45,101

$62,162

$74,806

$86,329

Mississippi

$31,954

$42,606

$46,519

$58,310

Missouri

$39,504

$51,385

$60,156

$70,806

Montana

$39,979

$52,310

$58,427

$65,593

Nebraska

$40,208

$56,659

$63,475

$72,284

Nevada

$46,151

$60,234

$66,813

$70,851

New Hampshire

$51,332

$63,976

$79,385

$93,592

New Jersey

$59,812

$71,744

$85,764

$102,894

New Mexico

$36,642

$50,457

$50,457

$55,363

New York

$46,320

$57,902

$69,174

$82,164

North Carolina

$38,656

$52,008

$56,727

$67,056

North Dakota

$36,753

$54,468

$62,412

$74,873

Ohio

$41,724

$52,030

$61,552

$73,040

Oklahoma

$38,929

$50,710

$54,328

$61,816

Oregon

$42,344

$55,820

$62,608

$72,408

Pennsylvania

$44,396

$53,572

$67,516

$77,590

Rhode Island

$45,061

$62,583

$76,573

$86,692

South Carolina

$39,052

$51,191

$55,099

$65,421

South Dakota

$36,713

$54,138

$62,928

$69,932

Tennessee

$37,598

$48,935

$53,822

$63,999

Texas

$38,801

$55,660

$59,011

$66,145

Utah

$50,388

$56,729

$61,685

$69,741

Vermont

$41,593

$56,656

$65,094

$73,899

Virginia

$48,190

$64,890

$73,887

$85,633

Washington

$51,161

$63,930

$72,275

$82,422

West Virginia

$39,135

$43,070

$51,652

$58,271

Wisconsin

$42,205

$57,201

$67,881

$80,243

Wyoming

$44,004

$59,617

$65,586

$76,690

*

For cases filed on or before March 31, 2010, add $6,900 for each individual in excess of 4.

For cases filed on or after April 1, 2010, add $7,500 for each individual in excess of 4.

Commonwealth or U.S. Territory

1 earner

Family Size

2 People

3 People

4 People

*

Guam

$35,891

$42,913

$48,902

$59,178

Northern Mariana Islands

$24,101

$24,101

$28,040

$41,242

Puerto Rico

$20,311

$20,311

$23,113

$27,434

Virgin Islands

$28,476

$34,225

$36,491

$39,980

*

For cases filed on or before March 31, 2010, add $6,900 for each individual in excess of 4.

For cases filed on or after April 1, 2010, add $7,500 for each individual in excess of 4.