Jay County, Indiana Income Statistics
Jay 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
Jay County Well below averageLess wealthy than 84% of counties in Indiana
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Jay County | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $56,874 | $71,967 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $43,860 | $55,757 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.8% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.4% | 10.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.5% | 8.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Jay County is about 21% lower than in Indiana. Income has been growing slower in Jay County (3.8%/yr) than in Indiana (4.5%/yr).
About 4% of adults in Jay County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Indiana average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Jay County, Indiana grew by 49.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $56,874 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Jay County
| Metric | Jay County | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.507 | 0.534 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $50,799 | $65,086 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $41,351 | $51,220 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.6% | 21.3% | 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 Jay County, it is 0.507, lower than Indiana's 0.534, 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 23% more than women's income in Jay County, Indiana. Over a 35-year career, a 23% wage gap accumulates to roughly $330,680 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jay County, Indiana has narrowed from about 29% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 18% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,524 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Jay County | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4% | 4.3% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.7% | 10.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 410 people are unemployed in Jay County, Indiana.
The average commute time in Jay County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Indiana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Jay County, Indiana has fallen from 9.8% to 4.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.6% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.3% in 2020.
Jay County, IN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Jay County, IN is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 20,223 residents against a local median of 28,420. The measure that sets Jay County, IN apart most is unemployment: 4.4%, 58% above the local median of 2.8%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.9% on unemployment, so Jay County, IN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Jay County, IN 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jay County, IN | 20,223 | $56,874 #5/6 | 3.8%/yr #5/6 | 4.4% #5/6 | 0.507 #3/6 |
| Randolph County, IN | 24,387 | $60,625 | 4.5%/yr | 4.5% | 0.510 |
| Adams County, IN | 36,227 | $65,374 | 4.2%/yr | 2.8% | 0.513 |
| Blackford County, IN | 11,950 | $52,492 | 4.0%/yr | 3.7% | 0.523 |
| Wells County, IN | 28,420 | $70,823 | 3.8%/yr | 2.6% | 0.486 |
| Mercer County, OH | 42,484 | $77,000 | 4.3%/yr | 1.6% | 0.471 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Jay County, Indiana has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with Indiana, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Jay County, Indiana.
How Rich Is Jay County, Indiana?
Jay 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 $56,874, about 21% lower than the Indiana average of $71,967.
Are incomes growing in Jay County, Indiana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Jay County, Indiana rose 49%, from $38,146 to $56,874. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Indiana as a whole: +49% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Jay County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Jay County, Indiana was $55,579, up 3% from $54,036 in 2022. The Indiana median that year was $70,115.
What was the median household income in Jay County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Jay County, Indiana was $45,975. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $56,874.
What is the Gini coefficient in Jay County, Indiana?
The Gini coefficient in Jay County is 0.507. 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 Jay County, Indiana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jay County, Indiana has narrowed from about 29% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 18% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,524 since 2009.
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