Santa Clara County, California Income Statistics
Santa Clara 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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A
Santa Clara County Above averageAmong the top 5 wealthiest counties in California
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Santa Clara County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $165,940 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $108,594 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.3% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 31.4% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 41.6% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Santa Clara County is about 67% higher than in California. Income has been growing faster in Santa Clara County (6.3%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 31% of adults in Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County, California grew by 91.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $165,940 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Santa Clara County
| Metric | Santa Clara County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.536 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $117,048 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $98,216 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 16.1% | 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 Santa Clara 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 19% more than women's income in Santa Clara County, California. Over a 35-year career, a 19% wage gap accumulates to roughly $659,120 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Santa Clara County, California has narrowed from about 25% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,037 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Santa Clara County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 23.9% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 51,105 people are unemployed in Santa Clara County, California.
The average commute time in Santa Clara County is 22 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Santa Clara County, California has fallen from 8.6% to 4.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.7% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.2% in 2020.
Santa Clara County, CA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Santa Clara County, CA is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 1,901,257 residents against a local median of 733,246. Where Santa Clara County, CA breaks from the counties next to it is median household income, sitting 30% above the local median of $127,405 at $165,940. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 4.9% against a local median of 6.1%, 21% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Santa Clara County, CA is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread $77,181 on median household income, so Santa Clara County, CA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Santa Clara County, CA has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara County, CA | 1,901,257 | $165,940 #1/6 | 6.3%/yr #1/6 | 4.9% #2/6 | 0.536 #2/6 |
| Santa Cruz County, CA | 264,809 | $111,078 | 6.0%/yr | 6.1% | 0.562 |
| Alameda County, CA | 1,648,382 | $129,593 | 6.2%/yr | 5.4% | 0.542 |
| San Mateo County, CA | 733,246 | $159,405 | 6.2%/yr | 4.8% | 0.520 |
| Contra Costa County, CA | 1,163,035 | $127,405 | 5.4%/yr | 6.5% | 0.546 |
| Stanislaus County, CA | 553,305 | $82,225 | 5.9%/yr | 8.0% | 0.576 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Santa Clara County, California has an overall wealth index grade of A, making it notably better than California, and notably better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Santa Clara County, California.
How Rich Is Santa Clara County, California?
Santa Clara County has a wealth index grade of A. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an A grade means residents are much better off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $165,940, about 67% higher than the California average of $99,161.
How has median household income changed in Santa Clara County, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Santa Clara County, California rose 92%, from $86,502 to $165,940. Over the same years, income here outpaced California as a whole: +92% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Santa Clara County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Santa Clara County, California was $160,395, up 4% from $153,971 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in Santa Clara County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Santa Clara County, California was $131,271. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $165,940.
Is Santa Clara County, California a high-income area?
Yes. 31% of adults in Santa Clara County, California earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 3), against 18% (about 1 in 6) in California. 42% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 20% in California.
Is it hard to find a job in Santa Clara County, California?
Unemployment in Santa Clara County, California is only 4.9%, well below the California rate of 6.6%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Santa Clara County, California?
The Gini coefficient in Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Santa Clara County, California has narrowed from about 25% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,037 since 2009.
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