Russell County, Alabama Income Statistics
Russell 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
Russell County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Russell County | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $51,343 | $64,544 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $46,461 | $52,756 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.7% | 4.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.6% | 9.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.2% | 7.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Russell County is about 20% lower than in Alabama. Income has been growing slower in Russell County (3.7%/yr) than in Alabama (4.7%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Russell 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 Russell County, Alabama grew by 60.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $51,343 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Russell County
| Metric | Russell County | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.565 | 0.560 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,646 | $62,840 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $40,431 | $47,036 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 26.0% | 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 Russell County, it is 0.565, higher than Alabama's 0.560, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 35% more than women's income in Russell County, Alabama. Over a 35-year career, a 35% wage gap accumulates to roughly $497,525 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Russell County, Alabama has widened from about 22% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 34% in 2020, and was narrowest at 21% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,093 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Russell County widened by 4.2 points while Alabama's narrowed by 1.8 points.
Employment
| Metric | Russell County | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9% | 4.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.3% | 8.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 1,512 people are unemployed in Russell County, Alabama.
The average commute time in Russell County is 23 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in Alabama.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Russell County, Alabama has fallen from 11.9% to 5.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 5.3% in 2020.
Russell County, AL Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Russell County, AL is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 58,811 residents against a local median of 8,887. Where Russell County, AL breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 18% below the local median of 4.5%/yr at 3.7%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.1%/yr on income growth, so Russell County, AL sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Russell 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell County, AL | 58,811 | $51,343 #4/6 | 3.7%/yr #6/6 | 5.9% #5/6 | 0.565 #4/6 |
| Lee County, AL | 181,134 | $66,795 | 5.1%/yr | 3.5% | 0.586 |
| Muscogee County, GA | 203,480 | $58,110 | 3.9%/yr | 5.8% | 0.560 |
| Chattahoochee County, GA | 8,887 | $61,778 | 4.5%/yr | 2.0% | 0.424 |
| Stewart County, GA | 4,869 | $32,219 | 6.0%/yr | 5.5% | 0.622 |
| Quitman County, GA | 2,264 | $40,192 | 4.4%/yr | 20.0% | 0.536 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Russell 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 Russell County, Alabama.
How Rich Is Russell County, Alabama?
Russell 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 $51,343, about 20% lower than the Alabama average of $64,544.
How has median household income changed in Russell County, Alabama?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Russell County, Alabama rose 61%, from $31,963 to $51,343. Over the same years, income here outpaced Alabama as a whole: +61% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Russell County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Russell County, Alabama was $50,068, up 5% from $47,885 in 2022. The Alabama median that year was $62,326.
What was the median household income in Russell County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Russell County, Alabama was $42,516. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $51,343.
Is unemployment high in Russell County, Alabama?
Unemployment in Russell 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 Russell County, Alabama?
The Gini coefficient in Russell County is 0.565. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Russell County, Alabama?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Russell County, Alabama has widened from about 22% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 34% in 2020, and was narrowest at 21% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,093 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 →