Contra Costa County, California Income Statistics
Contra Costa 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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B
Contra Costa County Around averageAmong the top 5 wealthiest counties in California
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Contra Costa County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $127,405 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $89,851 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.4% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 24.4% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 29.4% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Contra Costa County is about 28% higher than in California. Income has been growing slower in Contra Costa County (5.4%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 24% of adults in Contra Costa County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Contra Costa County, California grew by 63.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $127,405 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Contra Costa County
| Metric | Contra Costa County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.546 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $99,986 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $81,675 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.3% | 12.1% | 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 Contra Costa County, it is 0.546, lower than California's 0.572, 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 22% more than women's income in Contra Costa County, California. Over a 35-year career, a 22% wage gap accumulates to roughly $640,885 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Contra Costa County, California has narrowed from about 23% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 23% in 2011, and was narrowest at 18% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,126 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Contra Costa County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 21.3% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 30 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 39,462 people are unemployed in Contra Costa County, California.
The average commute time in Contra Costa County is 30 minutes, longer than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Contra Costa County, California has fallen from 9.4% to 6.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.3% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.3% in 2019.
Contra Costa County, CA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Contra Costa County, CA is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 1,163,035 residents against a local median of 733,246. Contra Costa County, CA's unemployment, at 6.5%, runs 21% above the 5.4% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.8% on unemployment, so Contra Costa County, CA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Contra Costa County, CA 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contra Costa County, CA | 1,163,035 | $127,405 #3/6 | 5.4%/yr #4/6 | 6.5% #5/6 | 0.546 #4/6 |
| Alameda County, CA | 1,648,382 | $129,593 | 6.2%/yr | 5.4% | 0.542 |
| Solano County, CA | 451,581 | $100,378 | 4.7%/yr | 6.3% | 0.554 |
| San Mateo County, CA | 733,246 | $159,405 | 6.2%/yr | 4.8% | 0.520 |
| San Joaquin County, CA | 797,313 | $93,025 | 6.7%/yr | 7.6% | 0.581 |
| Napa County, CA | 134,769 | $112,778 | 5.3%/yr | 5.2% | 0.542 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Contra Costa County, California has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than California, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Contra Costa County, California.
How Rich Is Contra Costa County, California?
Contra Costa County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $127,405, about 28% higher than the California average of $99,161.
How fast is household income rising in Contra Costa County, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Contra Costa County, California rose 64%, from $77,808 to $127,405. Over the same years, income here kept pace with California as a whole: +64% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Contra Costa County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Contra Costa County, California was $125,681, up 4% from $120,518 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in Contra Costa County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Contra Costa County, California was $104,470. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $127,405.
Do many residents of Contra Costa County, California earn over $100,000?
Yes. 24% of adults in Contra Costa County, California earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 4), against 18% (about 1 in 6) in California. 29% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 20% in California.
What is the Gini coefficient in Contra Costa County, California?
The Gini coefficient in Contra Costa County is 0.546. 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 Contra Costa County, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Contra Costa County, California has narrowed from about 23% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 23% in 2011, and was narrowest at 18% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,126 since 2009.
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