We may not feel like it, but Hawai'i residents are high rollers compared with most of the rest of the nation.

New figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau show the state ranks fourth-highest in median household income, with levels here running about one-fourth more than the nation as a whole.

The state's median household income was up 5.2 percent to $61,160 last year, ranking better than 46 states and the District of Columbia. Only Maryland, New Jersey and Connecticut had households that earned more, while the national median was $48,451.

One major reason for Hawai'i's high income is that people need to earn more to afford the state's high cost of living, said Paul Briggs, an economics instructor at Windward Community College in Kane'ohe. So while we might earn more, there might not be as much left in our pockets after expenses compared with other high-ranking states.

HIGH COST OF LIVING

Housing, gasoline, electricity and many other prices here are among the highest in the nation.

"You're having to make more money to afford to live here," Briggs said. "The income in a way is chasing after the cost of living."

That means Hawai'i probably has a higher number of couples who both work or perhaps people who hold multiple jobs, he said. Many federal government workers here get up to a 25 percent cost-of-living adjustment.

The high income level also is related to the number of unionized workers, who typically earn more than nonunion employees. Hawai'i ranks first in the country in terms of unionization, with one-fourth of wage and salary workers belonging to a labor organization. That's more than twice the national level.

MOST FOLKS INSURED

The Census Bureau also reported Hawai'i was among states with the fewest number of people without health insurance. Over a three-year period, the bureau determined 8.6 percent, or 108,000 people, were without health insurance here. Only Minnesota had a lower percentage.

Hawai'i also ranked high in terms of the number of households with retirement income, with a little more than one-fifth reporting such income.

Briggs said while the image of fixed-income retirees might not fit with the notion of high-income households, he noted the retiree population here includes wealthy individuals who've moved to the state.

Reach Greg Wiles at gwiles@honoluluadvertiser.com.