Median household income is the median (middle) household income value in local currency. Household income differs from the average individual wage because it accounts for the fact that a single person's income may have to support many people not earning their own money (spouses, children, parents, other dependents). The reality of poverty becomes much clearer through the concept of household income, as economies of scale within a household lead to a more precise estimation of income compared to a per capita measure. It is important to understand that even if the reported household income seems adequate, there is a plurality of people living on far less money in this city since this is a median value.