Houston County, Alabama Income Statistics
Houston 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
Houston County Well below averageWealthier than 77% of counties in Alabama
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Houston County | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $58,687 | $64,544 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,760 | $52,756 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.2% | 4.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.3% | 9.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.2% | 7.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Houston County is about 9% lower than in Alabama. Income has been growing slower in Houston County (4.2%/yr) than in Alabama (4.7%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Houston 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 Houston County, Alabama grew by 43.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $58,687 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Houston County
| Metric | Houston County | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.549 | 0.560 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,383 | $62,840 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $43,255 | $47,036 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 25.9% | 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 Houston County, it is 0.549, 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 35% more than women's income in Houston County, Alabama. Over a 35-year career, a 35% wage gap accumulates to roughly $529,480 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Houston County, Alabama has narrowed from about 31% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2010, and was narrowest at 25% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,121 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Houston County | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% | 4.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.6% | 8.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 2,231 people are unemployed in Houston County, Alabama.
The average commute time in Houston County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Alabama.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Houston County, Alabama has fallen from 7.3% to 4.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.3% in 2015.
Houston County, AL Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Houston County, AL is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 108,140 residents against a local median of 17,647. Where Houston County, AL breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 25% below the local median of 6.0% at 4.5%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.1% on unemployment, so Houston County, AL sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Houston County, AL has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston County, AL | 108,140 | $58,687 #2/6 | 4.2%/yr #4/6 | 4.5% #2/6 | 0.549 #1/6 |
| Henry County, AL | 17,647 | $59,958 | 4.9%/yr | 3.6% | 0.551 |
| Jackson County, FL | 48,250 | $49,196 | 4.1%/yr | 4.5% | 0.585 |
| Dale County, AL | 49,597 | $55,362 | 3.0%/yr | 6.0% | 0.555 |
| Early County, GA | 10,603 | $53,014 | 8.3%/yr | 6.7% | 0.579 |
| Seminole County, GA | 9,156 | $49,190 | 4.4%/yr | 6.0% | 0.579 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Houston 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 Houston County, Alabama.
How Rich Is Houston County, Alabama?
Houston 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 $58,687, about 9% lower than the Alabama average of $64,544.
How fast is household income rising in Houston County, Alabama?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Houston County, Alabama rose 43%, from $41,043 to $58,687. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Alabama as a whole: +43% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Houston County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Houston County, Alabama was $57,256, up 4% from $55,150 in 2022. The Alabama median that year was $62,326.
What was the median household income in Houston County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Houston County, Alabama was $49,135. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $58,687.
What is the Gini coefficient in Houston County, Alabama?
The Gini coefficient in Houston County is 0.549. 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 Houston County, Alabama?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Houston County, Alabama has narrowed from about 31% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2010, and was narrowest at 25% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,121 since 2009.
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