Gadsden, Alabama Income Statistics
Gadsden Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Gadsden Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Gadsden | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $40,054 | $64,544 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $36,624 | $52,756 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.9% | 4.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 3.0% | 9.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.2% | 7.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Gadsden is about 38% lower than in Alabama. Income has been growing slower in Gadsden (3.9%/yr) than in Alabama (4.7%/yr).
About 3% of adults in Gadsden 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 Gadsden, Alabama grew by 45.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $40,054 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.9% per year.
Gadsden has been far below the U.S. median household income in every year from 2009 to 2024. The gap has widened from 46% in 2009, the closest it has been, to 50% in 2024.
Income Distribution in Gadsden
How incomes are spread across brackets, compared with the U.S. Pick a range to count who falls in it.
Households by income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 1,305 households (11.6% of all households) have an income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 40.2% of all households.
In 2024, 44.6% of households in Gadsden had an income under $35,000 and 5.0% had $150,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 21.6% and 22.8%.
Compared with the U.S., Gadsden has a larger share of households earning $15,000 to $24,999 (16.3% vs 6.4%) and a smaller share earning $200,000 or more (2.2% vs 13.2%).
| Household income | Households | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | 1,028 | 9.1% | 5.1% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 1,082 | 9.6% | 3.5% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 1,833 | 16.3% | 6.4% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 1,087 | 9.6% | 6.7% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 1,738 | 15.4% | 10.1% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 2,093 | 18.6% | 15.5% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 1,112 | 9.9% | 12.6% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 745 | 6.6% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 310 | 2.7% | 9.5% |
| $200,000 or more | 251 | 2.2% | 13.2% |
Shares are of all 11,278 households, one per occupied home whatever its size. Households with zero or negative income are counted in the lowest bracket. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19001).
Residents 15+ by personal income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 689 residents (3.0% of residents aged 15 and over) have a personal income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 13.9% of residents aged 15 and over.
That is 3.4% of residents who have any income.
In 2024, 13.9% of Gadsden residents aged 15 and over reported no personal income, 47.2% had some income but less than $25,000, and 5.9% had $75,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 12.8%, 28.7% and 22.0%.
Compared with the U.S., Gadsden has a larger share of residents earning $15,000 to $24,999 (18.1% vs 10.5%) and a smaller share earning $100,000 or more (3.0% vs 13.9%).
| Personal income | Residents | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| No income | 3,241 | 13.9% | 12.8% |
| $1 to $9,999 | 3,453 | 14.8% | 11.2% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 3,310 | 14.2% | 7.0% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 4,211 | 18.1% | 10.5% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 2,611 | 11.2% | 9.5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 2,741 | 11.8% | 12.6% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 2,325 | 10.0% | 14.3% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 678 | 2.9% | 8.2% |
| $100,000 or more | 689 | 3.0% | 13.9% |
Shares are of the 23,260 residents aged 15 and over, the only people the Census Bureau asks about income, and include those who reported none. A share of the whole population would count children as people without income, while a share of earners alone would hide the 13.9% with no income; the calculator adds that second share whenever your range leaves out people with no income. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19325).
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Gadsden
| Metric | Gadsden | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.541 | 0.560 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $42,423 | $62,840 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $36,109 | $47,036 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 14.9% | 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 Gadsden, it is 0.541, 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 17% more than women's income in Gadsden, Alabama. Over a 35-year career, a 17% wage gap accumulates to roughly $220,990 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Gadsden, Alabama has narrowed from about 20% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $225 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Gadsden | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9% | 4.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 3.7% | 8.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 831 people are unemployed in Gadsden, Alabama.
The average commute time in Gadsden is 15 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Alabama.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Gadsden, Alabama has fallen from 14.7% to 6.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 15.7% in 2013.
Gadsden has stayed well above the U.S. unemployment rate in every year from 2011 to 2024 and has never dropped below it. The gap has narrowed from 6.0 points in 2011 to 1.7 points in 2024, the closest it has been.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Gadsden, Alabama has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Alabama, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Gadsden, Alabama.
How Rich Is Gadsden, Alabama?
Gadsden 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 $40,054, about 38% lower than the Alabama average of $64,544.
How fast is household income rising in Gadsden, Alabama?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Gadsden, Alabama rose 45%, from $27,582 to $40,054. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Alabama as a whole: +45% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Gadsden in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Gadsden, Alabama was $37,718, down 1% from $38,248 in 2022. The Alabama median that year was $62,326.
What was the median household income in Gadsden in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Gadsden, Alabama was $32,587. By 2024 it had risen 23% to $40,054.
Is unemployment high in Gadsden, Alabama?
Unemployment in Gadsden, Alabama is 6.9%, well above the Alabama rate of 4.7%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Gadsden, Alabama?
The Gini coefficient in Gadsden is 0.541. 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 Gadsden, Alabama?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Gadsden, Alabama has narrowed from about 20% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $225 since 2009.
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