DeKalb County, Alabama Income Statistics
DeKalb 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
DeKalb County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | DeKalb County | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $51,236 | $64,544 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $41,892 | $52,756 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.8% | 4.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.5% | 9.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.9% | 7.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in DeKalb County is about 21% lower than in Alabama. Income has been growing slower in DeKalb County (3.8%/yr) than in Alabama (4.7%/yr).
About 5% of adults in DeKalb 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 DeKalb County, Alabama grew by 52.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $51,236 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in DeKalb County
| Metric | DeKalb County | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.551 | 0.560 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $47,968 | $62,840 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $37,718 | $47,036 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.4% | 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 DeKalb County, it is 0.551, lower than Alabama's 0.560, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 27% more than women's income in DeKalb County, Alabama. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $358,750 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in DeKalb County, Alabama has narrowed from about 29% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2010, and was narrowest at 21% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $114 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | DeKalb County | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% | 4.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.4% | 8.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 1,308 people are unemployed in DeKalb County, Alabama.
The average commute time in DeKalb County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Alabama.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in DeKalb County, Alabama has fallen from 9.9% to 4.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.4% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.9% in 2022.
DeKalb County, AL Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
DeKalb County, AL is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 72,266 residents against a local median of 25,443. The measure that sets DeKalb County, AL apart most is income growth: 3.8%/yr, 16% below the local median of 4.5%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.6%/yr on income growth, so DeKalb County, AL sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. DeKalb County, AL has the 6th highest income growth 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb County, AL | 72,266 | $51,236 #5/6 | 3.8%/yr #6/6 | 4.1% #3/6 | 0.551 #4/6 |
| Cherokee County, AL | 25,443 | $55,406 | 4.5%/yr | 3.9% | 0.542 |
| Jackson County, AL | 53,053 | $52,554 | 4.1%/yr | 4.5% | 0.553 |
| Chattooga County, GA | 25,036 | $50,365 | 4.7%/yr | 5.4% | 0.557 |
| Etowah County, AL | 103,105 | $54,845 | 3.9%/yr | 5.9% | 0.538 |
| Dade County, GA | 16,136 | $65,705 | 5.6%/yr | 3.2% | 0.541 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, DeKalb 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 DeKalb County, Alabama.
How Rich Is DeKalb County, Alabama?
DeKalb 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 $51,236, about 21% lower than the Alabama average of $64,544.
Are incomes growing in DeKalb County, Alabama?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in DeKalb County, Alabama rose 52%, from $33,670 to $51,236. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Alabama as a whole: +52% against +56%.
What was the median household income in DeKalb County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in DeKalb County, Alabama was $51,077, up 6% from $48,166 in 2022. The Alabama median that year was $62,326.
What was the median household income in DeKalb County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in DeKalb County, Alabama was $42,493. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $51,236.
What is the Gini coefficient in DeKalb County, Alabama?
The Gini coefficient in DeKalb County is 0.551. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in DeKalb County, Alabama?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in DeKalb County, Alabama has narrowed from about 29% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2010, and was narrowest at 21% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $114 since 2009.
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