<p>^ The Census Bureau’s 2012 Statistical Abstract shows 5.0% of families with incomes of $200,000 or more. It also shows 27.8% of families earning $35,000 or less, and 32.8% earning $40,000 or less. So I was a few percentage points off on the bottom end, but pretty much spot on on the top end.</p>
<p>Maybe this explains the discrepancy between my figures and yours: I’m looking at income figures for families, which probably excludes single-person households and perhaps households made up of unrelated roommates. (I assume cohabitating couples would count as families, but I’m not sure whether the Census Bureau agrees). You may be looking at figures for all households, which probably has lower averages. I mistakenly said household when I should have said families; I think the latter group is the more relevant group for comparison purposes, since presumably the vats majority of kids going off to college are being sent there from families.</p>