San Benito County, California Income Statistics
San Benito 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
San Benito County Around averageWealthier than 77% of counties in California
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | San Benito County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $115,991 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $64,058 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.8% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 15.9% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 21.8% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in San Benito County is about 17% higher than in California. Income has been growing faster in San Benito County (5.8%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 16% of adults in San Benito County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in San Benito County, California grew by 69.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $115,991 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in San Benito County
| Metric | San Benito County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.536 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $73,888 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $56,191 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 24.0% | 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 San Benito County, it is 0.536, 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 31% more than women's income in San Benito County, California. Over a 35-year career, a 31% wage gap accumulates to roughly $619,395 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in San Benito County, California has widened from about 23% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2022, and was narrowest at 13% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,130 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in San Benito County widened by 1.3 points while California's narrowed by 4.3 points.
Employment
| Metric | San Benito County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.8% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 31 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 1,885 people are unemployed in San Benito County, California.
The average commute time in San Benito County is 31 minutes, longer than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in San Benito County, California has fallen from 11.0% to 5.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 14.0% in 2014.
San Benito County, CA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
San Benito County, CA is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 67,290 residents against a local median of 437,328. The measure that sets San Benito County, CA apart most is median household income: $115,991, 19% above the local median of $97,252. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread $99,897 on median household income, so San Benito County, CA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. San Benito County, CA has the 2nd highest median household income 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Benito County, CA | 67,290 | $115,991 #2/6 | 5.8%/yr #5/6 | 5.4% #3/6 | 0.536 #1/6 |
| Monterey County, CA | 437,328 | $97,252 | 6.0%/yr | 5.0% | 0.579 |
| Merced County, CA | 290,118 | $66,042 | 5.1%/yr | 10.5% | 0.597 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | 1,901,257 | $165,940 | 6.3%/yr | 4.9% | 0.536 |
| Stanislaus County, CA | 553,305 | $82,225 | 5.9%/yr | 8.0% | 0.576 |
| Santa Cruz County, CA | 264,809 | $111,078 | 6.0%/yr | 6.1% | 0.562 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, San Benito 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 San Benito County, California.
How Rich Is San Benito County, California?
San Benito 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 $115,991, about 17% higher than the California average of $99,161.
How fast is household income rising in San Benito County, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in San Benito County, California rose 69%, from $68,558 to $115,991. Over the same years, income here outpaced California as a whole: +69% against +64%.
What was the median household income in San Benito County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in San Benito County, California was $109,656, up 5% from $104,402 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in San Benito County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in San Benito County, California was $86,881. By 2024 it had risen 34% to $115,991.
What is the Gini coefficient in San Benito County, California?
The Gini coefficient in San Benito County is 0.536. 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 San Benito County, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in San Benito County, California has widened from about 23% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2022, and was narrowest at 13% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,130 since 2009.
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