Why do we more often hear references to the median family income in the U.S.than to the mean family income in the U.S
A) The median is the most common income.
B) Family incomes are very similar across the U.S., making the mean to compute.
C) Income data is highly influenced by a small number of families making extremely high incomes.
D) There are too many families in the U.S. for the mean to be computed.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Income data is often highly skewed by a small number of families making extremely high incomes. As a result, the mean can be a misleading measure of central tendency. The median, on the other hand, is less affected by outliers and provides a better indication of the typical income for a family in the U.S.

Why Do We More Often Hear References to the Median