Jefferson County, Arkansas Income Statistics
Jefferson 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
Jefferson County Well below averageLess wealthy than 91% of counties in Arkansas
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Jefferson County | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $50,870 | $60,940 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $44,250 | $49,255 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.3% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.9% | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.6% | 6.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Jefferson County is about 17% lower than in Arkansas. Income has been growing slower in Jefferson County (4.3%/yr) than in Arkansas (4.6%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Jefferson County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Arkansas average of 8%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Jefferson County, Arkansas grew by 44.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $50,870 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Jefferson County
| Metric | Jefferson County | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.582 | 0.551 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $50,955 | $57,045 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $42,790 | $46,102 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 16.0% | 19.2% | 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 Jefferson County, it is 0.582, higher than Arkansas's 0.551, 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 19% more than women's income in Jefferson County, Arkansas. Over a 35-year career, a 19% wage gap accumulates to roughly $285,775 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jefferson County, Arkansas has narrowed from about 24% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2010, and was narrowest at 13% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,168 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Jefferson County | Arkansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1% | 4.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.0% | 8.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 18 | 22 |
Approximately 2,193 people are unemployed in Jefferson County, Arkansas.
The average commute time in Jefferson County is 18 minutes, about the same as in Arkansas.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Jefferson County, Arkansas has fallen from 14.1% to 8.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 7.5% in 2023.
Jefferson County, AR Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Jefferson County, AR is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 64,799 residents against a local median of 16,514. Where Jefferson County, AR breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 91% above the local median of 4.2% at 8.1%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 6.0% on unemployment, so Jefferson County, AR sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Jefferson County, AR 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County, AR | 64,799 | $50,870 #6/6 | 4.3%/yr #4/6 | 8.1% #5/6 | 0.582 #5/6 |
| Lincoln County, AR | 12,948 | $54,462 | 6.3%/yr | 2.7% | 0.698 |
| Cleveland County, AR | 7,452 | $55,134 | 3.4%/yr | 2.2% | 0.564 |
| Lonoke County, AR | 75,267 | $72,662 | 3.3%/yr | 4.2% | 0.520 |
| Grant County, AR | 18,243 | $71,163 | 4.7%/yr | 4.5% | 0.544 |
| Arkansas County, AR | 16,514 | $53,500 | 5.0%/yr | 8.1% | 0.539 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Jefferson County, Arkansas has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Arkansas, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Jefferson County, Arkansas.
How Rich Is Jefferson County, Arkansas?
Jefferson 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 $50,870, about 17% lower than the Arkansas average of $60,940.
How has median household income changed in Jefferson County, Arkansas?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Jefferson County, Arkansas rose 44%, from $35,212 to $50,870. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Arkansas as a whole: +44% against +58%.
What was the median household income in Jefferson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Jefferson County, Arkansas was $48,853, up 4% from $47,133 in 2022. The Arkansas median that year was $58,782.
What was the median household income in Jefferson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Jefferson County, Arkansas was $40,361. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $50,870.
Is it hard to find a job in Jefferson County, Arkansas?
Unemployment in Jefferson County, Arkansas is 8.1%, well above the Arkansas rate of 4.9%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Jefferson County, Arkansas?
The Gini coefficient in Jefferson County is 0.582. 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 Jefferson County, Arkansas?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jefferson County, Arkansas has narrowed from about 24% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2010, and was narrowest at 13% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,168 since 2009.
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