West Virginia Faces Highest Gas Price Burden Relative to Income in the U.S.
In 2026, West Virginia has emerged as the state with the highest gas price burden relative to household income in the United States. A standard 15-gallon fill-up consumes 5.2% of the median weekly household income in the state. This is despite West Virginia not having the highest gas prices in the nation. The financial strain is attributed to the lower household incomes in the state, which make routine fuel expenses a significant portion of weekly earnings. Other states with high gas burdens include Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana, where long driving distances and limited public transportation options make gasoline a near-essential expense. In contrast, states like California, despite having the highest gas prices, do not rank as high in terms of burden due to higher median incomes. 
