THESE 10 STATES ARE THE WEALTHIEST IN THE U.S.A.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2023), The United States of America’s annual median household income was $77,719 (based on the Bureau's one-year estimates).

However wide variation exists among states. 

The average household income among the 10 lowest-performing states was $61,021, 36% lower than the average among the country’s 10 highest-performing states, at $95,860. 

Mississippi had the lowest annual median household income among states, at $54,203.

 

#10. Connecticut

Median Household Income: $91,665

According to the state, 15 Connecticut companies are on the 2024 Fortune 500 list, encompassing key industries such as insurance, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, biosciences, and medical technology.

Read more about Connecticut.

 

9. Colorado

Median Household Income: $92,911

Some of the largest employers in the state include companies in trade, transportation, and health care.

Read more about Colorado.

 

8. Utah

Median Household Income: $93,421

The largest employers in Utah include the Intermountain Health System, Walmart, and the state government, as well as major universities including Brigham Young University and the University of Utah, which includes a hospital.

Read more about Utah..

7. Washington

Median Household Income: $94,605

Government jobs are the second-largest employment sector in the state, with more than 605,000 workers as of November 2024, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. The trade, transportation, and utilities sectors were the largest and employed more than 617,000 workers in November.

Learn more about Washington.

6. Hawaii

Median Household Income: $95,322

The public sector remains the largest employer in Hawaii, with more than 126,000 government workers as of November 2024, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The state had no company that was included in the 2024 Fortune 500 list.

Read more about Hawaii.

5. California

Median Household Income: $95,521

Four counties in California – San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo, and Santa Clara – are among the wealthiest counties in the country, according to a recent U.S. News analysis. The median household income of the richest county, Santa Clara, is the second-highest in the U.S., at $159,674, according to 2019-2023 Census Bureau estimates.

Learn more about California.

4. New Hampshire

Median Household Income: $96,838

Health care is one of the largest industries in New Hampshire, employing more than 102,000 people as of November 2024, according to data published by the state.

Read more about New Hampshire.

3. Maryland

Median Household Income: $98,678

Three companies based in the state – Lockheed Martin, Marriott International, and Constellation Energy – are included on the 2024 Fortune 500 list.

Maryland’s Howard County, with a median household income of $146,982, was the sixth-wealthiest county in the nation, according to 2019-2023 Census Bureau estimates. The largest employer in the state is the government, which had a workforce of more than 538,000 people as of November 2024, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Read more about Maryland.

2. New Jersey

Median Household Income: $99,781

New Jersey’s richest county – Hunterdon County – has a median household income of $139,453, according to 2019-2023 Census Bureau estimates. The trade, transportation, and utilities supersector has the largest number of workers in the state, with nearly 920,000 employees as of November 2024, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Read more about New Jersey.

1. Massachusetts

Median Household Income: $99,858

Massachusetts is home to 16 companies that are included on the 2024 Fortune 500 list, yet it is the education and healthcare services sector that is the largest employer in the state, with nearly 850,000 workers as of November 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Independent Survey says the Most Popular Sex Toy in the U.S. is...

Whether you’re going solo or looking to spice things up with your partner, sex toys can enhance stimulation and increase pleasure in the bedroom.

But which toy is best? It depends on your personal preferences, but this might give you an idea: 

According to a recent study conducted by Bespoke Surgical, dildos are the sex toy of choice across America, taking the #1 spot on a list of the most popular toys.

To come up with the list, researchers analyzed the search interest in sex toys on Google Shopping. They selected eight broad categories to narrow the results: 

1. butt plugs
2. vibrators
3. dildos
4. handcuffs
5. bondage gear
6. cock rings
7. male sex toys
8. strap-ons

The study also focused on the number one toy in individual states and major cities. Strap-ons were the most-searched sex toy in Rhode Island, Delaware, California, and New York. 

People in the Big Apple were most interested in adding cock rings to their cart, while Los Angelenos were on the hunt for bondage gear. Hey, no judgment from us; anything that increases sexual satisfaction also gives your health a boost, and we're all for that. “Sex toys really expand the erotic horizons for people because there are so many different types of devices and ways to use them,” Holly Richmond, PhD, a Los Angeles–based sex therapist, told Health earlier this year.

SOURCE

British study shows E-mails "hurt IQ more than pot" - CNN

Workers distracted by phone calls, e-mails and text messages suffer a greater loss of IQ than a person smoking marijuana, a British study shows.

The constant interruptions reduce productivity and leave people feeling tired and lethargic, according to a survey carried out by TNS Research and commissioned by Hewlett Packard.

The survey of 1,100 Britons showed:

1. Almost 2 out of 3 people (67%) check their electronic messages outside of office hours and when on holiday
2. 1/2 of all workers respond to an e-mail within 60 minutes of receiving one
3. 1 in 5 will break off from a business or social engagement to respond to a message
4. 9 out of 10 people thought colleagues who answered messages during face-to-face meetings were rude, while 3 out of 10 believed it was not only acceptable, but a sign of diligence and efficiency 

But the mental impact of trying to balance a steady inflow of messages with getting on with normal work took its toll, the UK's Press Association reported. In 80 clinical trials, Dr. Glenn Wilson, a psychiatrist at King's College London University, monitored the IQ of workers throughout the day. He found the IQ of those who tried to juggle messages and work fell by 10 points -- the equivalent to missing a whole night's sleep and more than double the 4-point fall seen after smoking marijuana.

"This is a very real and widespread phenomenon," Wilson said. "We have found that this obsession with looking at messages, if unchecked, will damage a worker's performance by reducing their mental sharpness. Companies should encourage a more balanced and appropriate way of working."

Wilson said the IQ drop was even more significant in the men who took part in the tests.

"The research suggests that we are in danger of being caught up in a 24-hour 'always on' society," said David Smith of Hewlett Packard. "This is more worrying when you consider the potential impairment on performance and concentration for workers, and the consequent impact on businesses."