Ness County, Kansas Income Statistics
Ness 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
Ness County Around averageWealthier than 88% of counties in Kansas
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Ness County | Kansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $71,352 | $74,287 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $56,066 | $56,052 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.4% | 4.1% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.0% | 11.3% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.4% | 9.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Ness County is about 4% lower than in Kansas. Income has been growing faster in Ness County (5.4%/yr) than in Kansas (4.1%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Ness County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Kansas average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Ness County, Kansas grew by 64.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $71,352 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Ness County
| Metric | Ness County | Kansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.508 | 0.525 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $62,625 | $65,134 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $43,481 | $51,314 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 30.6% | 21.2% | 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 Ness County, it is 0.508, lower than Kansas's 0.525, 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 44% more than women's income in Ness County, Kansas. Over a 35-year career, a 44% wage gap accumulates to roughly $670,040 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Ness County, Kansas has narrowed from about 35% to 31% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 45% in 2013, and was narrowest at 30% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,857 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Ness County | Kansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.0% | 3.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.6% | 11.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 10 | 17 | 22 |
Approximately 12 people are unemployed in Ness County, Kansas.
The average commute time in Ness County is 10 minutes, shorter than the 17 minutes in Kansas.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Ness County, Kansas has fallen from 2.3% to 1.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 3.3% in 2016 and fell as low as 1.0% in 2021.
Ness County, KS Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Ness County, KS is typical in size for this group, 2,653 residents against a local median of 2,777, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Where Ness County, KS breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 24% above the local median of 4.4%/yr at 5.4%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $71,352 against a local median of $59,965, 19% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Ness County, KS is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 4.6%/yr on income growth, so Ness County, KS sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Ness County, KS has the highest income growth 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ness County, KS | 2,653 | $71,352 #2/6 | 5.4%/yr #1/6 | 1.0% #1/6 | 0.508 #5/6 |
| Hodgeman County, KS | 1,652 | $59,952 | 1.0%/yr | 1.0% | 0.480 |
| Trego County, KS | 2,777 | $78,367 | 5.1%/yr | 1.0% | 0.411 |
| Lane County, KS | 1,461 | $57,094 | 0.7%/yr | 1.0% | 0.514 |
| Rush County, KS | 2,947 | $59,965 | 5.4%/yr | 3.6% | 0.500 |
| Gove County, KS | 2,799 | $65,284 | 4.4%/yr | 2.6% | 0.499 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Ness County, Kansas has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Kansas, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Ness County, Kansas.
How Rich Is Ness County, Kansas?
Ness 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 $71,352, about 4% lower than the Kansas average of $74,287.
How has median household income changed in Ness County, Kansas?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Ness County, Kansas rose 65%, from $43,358 to $71,352. Over the same years, income here outpaced Kansas as a whole: +65% against +53%.
What was the median household income in Ness County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Ness County, Kansas was $69,276, up 2% from $67,597 in 2022. The Kansas median that year was $72,660.
What was the median household income in Ness County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Ness County, Kansas was $55,135. By 2024 it had risen 29% to $71,352.
Is it hard to find a job in Ness County, Kansas?
Unemployment in Ness County, Kansas is only 1.0%, well below the Kansas rate of 3.8%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Ness County, Kansas?
The Gini coefficient in Ness County is 0.508. 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 Ness County, Kansas?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Ness County, Kansas has narrowed from about 35% to 31% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 45% in 2013, and was narrowest at 30% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,857 since 2009.
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