Etowah County, Alabama Income Statistics
Etowah 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.
-
D
Etowah County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Etowah County | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $54,845 | $64,544 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $45,634 | $52,756 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.9% | 4.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.0% | 9.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.7% | 7.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Etowah County is about 15% lower than in Alabama. Income has been growing slower in Etowah County (3.9%/yr) than in Alabama (4.7%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Etowah 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 Etowah County, Alabama grew by 51.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $54,845 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Etowah County
| Metric | Etowah County | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.538 | 0.560 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $53,261 | $62,840 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $41,608 | $47,036 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.9% | 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 Etowah County, it is 0.538, 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 28% more than women's income in Etowah County, Alabama. Over a 35-year career, a 28% wage gap accumulates to roughly $407,855 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Etowah County, Alabama has narrowed from about 25% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,844 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Etowah County | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9% | 4.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.0% | 8.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 2,710 people are unemployed in Etowah County, Alabama.
The average commute time in Etowah County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Alabama.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Etowah County, Alabama has fallen from 10.2% to 5.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.7% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.5% in 2019.
Etowah County, AL Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Etowah County, AL is typical in size for this group, 103,105 residents against a local median of 94,166, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. The measure that sets Etowah County, AL apart most is unemployment: 5.9%, 43% above the local median of 4.1%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.1% on unemployment, so Etowah County, AL sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Etowah County, AL has the 5th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Etowah County, AL | 103,105 | $54,845 #5/6 | 3.9%/yr #4/6 | 5.9% #5/6 | 0.538 #2/6 |
| Calhoun County, AL | 116,090 | $55,107 | 3.4%/yr | 5.9% | 0.547 |
| Marshall County, AL | 99,748 | $64,170 | 6.2%/yr | 3.9% | 0.560 |
| St. Clair County, AL | 94,166 | $77,657 | 4.5%/yr | 4.5% | 0.537 |
| Cherokee County, AL | 25,443 | $55,406 | 4.5%/yr | 3.9% | 0.542 |
| DeKalb County, AL | 72,266 | $51,236 | 3.8%/yr | 4.1% | 0.551 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Etowah 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 Etowah County, Alabama.
How Wealthy Is Etowah County, Alabama?
Etowah 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 $54,845, about 15% lower than the Alabama average of $64,544.
How has median household income changed in Etowah County, Alabama?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Etowah County, Alabama rose 51%, from $36,309 to $54,845. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Alabama as a whole: +51% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Etowah County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Etowah County, Alabama was $52,922, up 2% from $52,110 in 2022. The Alabama median that year was $62,326.
What was the median household income in Etowah County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Etowah County, Alabama was $44,948. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $54,845.
How strong is the job market in Etowah County, Alabama?
Unemployment in Etowah County, Alabama is 5.9%, well above the Alabama rate of 4.7%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Etowah County, Alabama?
The Gini coefficient in Etowah County is 0.538. 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 Etowah County, Alabama?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Etowah County, Alabama has narrowed from about 25% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,844 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →