Ballard County, Kentucky Income Statistics
Ballard 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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C
Ballard County Below averageWealthier than 72% of counties in Kentucky
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Ballard County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $65,499 | $64,312 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $50,544 | $52,849 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.3% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.5% | 8.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.5% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Ballard County is about 2% higher than in Kentucky. Income has been growing faster in Ballard County (5.3%/yr) than in Kentucky (4.6%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Ballard County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Kentucky average of 9%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Ballard County, Kentucky grew by 61.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $65,499 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Ballard County
| Metric | Ballard County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.533 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $55,323 | $60,966 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,283 | $49,119 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 10.9% | 19.4% | 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 Ballard County, it is 0.533, lower than Kentucky's 0.547, 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 12% more than women's income in Ballard County, Kentucky. Over a 35-year career, a 12% wage gap accumulates to roughly $211,400 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Ballard County, Kentucky has narrowed from about 23% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2014, and was narrowest at 7% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,098 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Ballard County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.6% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 2.6% | 10.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 56 people are unemployed in Ballard County, Kentucky.
The average commute time in Ballard County is 22 minutes, longer than the 20 minutes in Kentucky.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Ballard County, Kentucky has fallen from 7.6% to 1.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.5% in 2012.
Ballard County, KY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Ballard County, KY is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 7,652 residents against a local median of 5,015. Ballard County, KY's unemployment, at 1.6%, runs 58% below the 3.8% typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.2% on unemployment, so Ballard County, KY sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Ballard County, KY has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballard County, KY | 7,652 | $65,499 #2/6 | 5.3%/yr #4/6 | 1.6% #1/6 | 0.533 #1/6 |
| Carlisle County, KY | 4,760 | $64,056 | 6.1%/yr | 3.7% | 0.534 |
| Pulaski County, IL | 5,015 | $42,913 | 3.5%/yr | 4.3% | 0.564 |
| McCracken County, KY | 67,525 | $66,255 | 5.7%/yr | 3.2% | 0.542 |
| Massac County, IL | 13,864 | $63,609 | 5.3%/yr | 3.8% | 0.535 |
| Alexander County, IL | 4,873 | $48,250 | 6.7%/yr | 6.5% | 0.550 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Ballard County, Kentucky has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Kentucky, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Ballard County, Kentucky.
How Rich Is Ballard County, Kentucky?
Ballard County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $65,499, about 2% higher than the Kentucky average of $64,312.
How has median household income changed in Ballard County, Kentucky?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Ballard County, Kentucky rose 61%, from $40,653 to $65,499. Over the same years, income here outpaced Kentucky as a whole: +61% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Ballard County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Ballard County, Kentucky was $62,516, up 9% from $57,210 in 2022. The Kentucky median that year was $62,783.
What was the median household income in Ballard County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Ballard County, Kentucky was $45,515. By 2024 it had risen 44% to $65,499.
Is unemployment high in Ballard County, Kentucky?
Unemployment in Ballard County, Kentucky is only 1.6%, well below the Kentucky rate of 4.8%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Ballard County, Kentucky?
The Gini coefficient in Ballard County is 0.533. 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 Ballard County, Kentucky?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Ballard County, Kentucky has narrowed from about 23% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2014, and was narrowest at 7% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,098 since 2009.
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