Cherokee County, Alabama Income Statistics
Cherokee County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Cherokee County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Cherokee County | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $55,406 | $64,544 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,044 | $52,756 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.5% | 4.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.0% | 9.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.5% | 7.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Cherokee County is about 14% lower than in Alabama. Income has been growing slower in Cherokee County (4.5%/yr) than in Alabama (4.7%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Cherokee County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Alabama average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Cherokee County, Alabama grew by 37.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $55,406 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Cherokee County
| Metric | Cherokee County | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.542 | 0.560 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,332 | $62,840 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $50,462 | $47,036 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 7.1% | 25.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Cherokee County, it is 0.542, lower than Alabama's 0.560, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 8% more than women's income in Cherokee County, Alabama. Over a 35-year career, a 8% wage gap accumulates to roughly $135,450 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cherokee County, Alabama has narrowed from about 30% to 7% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $8,427 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Cherokee County | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9% | 4.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.4% | 8.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 28 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 404 people are unemployed in Cherokee County, Alabama.
The average commute time in Cherokee County is 28 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in Alabama.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Cherokee County, Alabama has fallen from 12.9% to 3.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 3.4% in 2023.
Cherokee County, AL Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Cherokee County, AL is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 25,443 residents against a local median of 72,266. The measure that sets Cherokee County, AL apart most is unemployment: 3.9%, 28% below the local median of 5.4%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.8% on unemployment, so Cherokee County, AL sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Cherokee County, AL has the lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee County, AL | 25,443 | $55,406 #3/6 | 4.5%/yr #4/6 | 3.9% #1/6 | 0.542 #2/6 |
| DeKalb County, AL | 72,266 | $51,236 | 3.8%/yr | 4.1% | 0.551 |
| Chattooga County, GA | 25,036 | $50,365 | 4.7%/yr | 5.4% | 0.557 |
| Floyd County, GA | 99,681 | $65,737 | 5.3%/yr | 4.2% | 0.560 |
| Etowah County, AL | 103,105 | $54,845 | 3.9%/yr | 5.9% | 0.538 |
| Polk County, GA | 43,785 | $58,171 | 5.0%/yr | 5.9% | 0.545 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Cherokee County, Alabama has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with Alabama, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Cherokee County, Alabama.
How Rich Is Cherokee County, Alabama?
Cherokee County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $55,406, about 14% lower than the Alabama average of $64,544.
How has median household income changed in Cherokee County, Alabama?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Cherokee County, Alabama rose 38%, from $40,256 to $55,406. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Alabama as a whole: +38% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Cherokee County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Cherokee County, Alabama was $50,782, up 9% from $46,741 in 2022. The Alabama median that year was $62,326.
What was the median household income in Cherokee County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Cherokee County, Alabama was $42,537. By 2024 it had risen 30% to $55,406.
What is the Gini coefficient in Cherokee County, Alabama?
The Gini coefficient in Cherokee County is 0.542. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Cherokee County, Alabama?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cherokee County, Alabama has narrowed from about 30% to 7% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $8,427 since 2009.
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