American Dream Ledger: Median Household Lifetime Income

## What this measures

U.S. median household income for the year (Census Bureau, Current Population Survey) × 40 working years. Dollars, one reading per year.

## Why it matters

It is the yardstick for the lifetime cost of the American Dream: what the typical household earns over a working life at this year's income.

## How to read it

Higher means the typical household earns more over a working life. Compare it with the lifetime household cost.

## What it does not say

It is before tax and assumes this year's income for all 40 years. A household's income usually rises and falls over its working life.

## Source

Palanor calculation (src/lib/standards/american-dream.ts), recomputed daily by /api/cron/american-dream. Inputs: Census Bureau, median household income (MEHOINUSA646N via FRED, public domain).