Wealth Index
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.
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Compton | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $73,965 | $96,718 | $78,145 |
| Median Personal Income | $44,111 | $68,943 | $61,726 |
| Average income growth | 7.2% | 6.0% | 5.1% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.3% | 16.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Compton is about 24% lower than in California. Income has been growing faster in Compton (7.2%/yr) than in California (6.0%/yr).
About 4% of adults in Compton earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the California average of 17%.
Median Household Income 2009–2023 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Compton, California grew by 74.9% from 2009 to 2023, reaching $73,965 in 2023. That's an average of about 7.2% per year.
Economic Inequality in Compton | Gender Pay Gap | Gini Coefficient
| Metric | Compton | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.581 | 0.596 | 0.570 |
| Male Median Income | $43,528 | $73,016 | $67,746 |
| Female Median Income | $45,133 | $63,704 | $54,793 |
| Gender Pay Gap | -3.7% | 12.8% | 19.1% |
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 Compton, it is 0.581, lower than California's 0.596, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.570, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Women's income is about 4% more than men's income in Compton, California. Over a 35-year career, a 4% wage gap accumulates to roughly $56,175 in unearned income for male workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Compton, California has widened from about 3% to -4% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,550 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Compton | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.4% | 15.5% | 13.4% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 30 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 3,137 people are unemployed in Compton, California.
The average commute time in Compton is 30 minutes, longer than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Compton, California has fallen from 14.8% to 6.9% in 2023.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Compton, California has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than California, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Compton, California.
How Rich Is Compton, California?
Compton 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 $73,965, about 24% lower than the California average of $96,718.
What is the current median household income in Compton, California?
As of 2023, the median household income in Compton, California is $73,965.
What was the median household income in Compton in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Compton, California was $73,965.
What was the median household income in Compton in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Compton, California was $58,877.
What is the Gini coefficient in Compton, California?
The Gini coefficient in Compton is 0.581. 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 0.570, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Compton, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Compton, California has widened from about 3% to -4% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,550 since 2009.