Caldwell County, Kentucky Income Statistics
Caldwell 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
Caldwell County Below averageWealthier than 74% of counties in Kentucky
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Caldwell County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $59,827 | $64,312 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,125 | $52,849 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.3% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.5% | 8.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.6% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Caldwell County is about 7% lower than in Kentucky. Income has been growing slower in Caldwell County (4.3%/yr) than in Kentucky (4.6%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Caldwell County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Kentucky average of 9%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Caldwell County, Kentucky grew by 64.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $59,827 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Caldwell County
| Metric | Caldwell County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.530 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $55,218 | $60,966 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $50,447 | $49,119 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 8.6% | 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 Caldwell County, it is 0.530, 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 9% more than women's income in Caldwell County, Kentucky. Over a 35-year career, a 9% wage gap accumulates to roughly $166,985 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Caldwell County, Kentucky has narrowed from about 25% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $6,042 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Caldwell County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.0% | 10.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 246 people are unemployed in Caldwell County, Kentucky.
The average commute time in Caldwell County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Kentucky.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Caldwell County, Kentucky has fallen from 10.4% to 4.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.1% in 2013 and fell as low as 2.8% in 2023.
Caldwell County, KY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Caldwell County, KY is typical in size for this group, 12,618 residents against a local median of 12,842, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Where Caldwell County, KY breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 17% above the local median of 3.7%/yr at 4.3%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.2%/yr on income growth, so Caldwell County, KY sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Caldwell County, KY has the 3rd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caldwell County, KY | 12,618 | $59,827 #3/6 | 4.3%/yr #3/6 | 4.4% #5/6 | 0.530 #1/6 |
| Lyon County, KY | 8,900 | $66,537 | 4.4%/yr | 2.9% | 0.599 |
| Crittenden County, KY | 8,979 | $47,070 | 2.5%/yr | 3.4% | 0.556 |
| Trigg County, KY | 14,315 | $59,880 | 3.7%/yr | 4.1% | 0.539 |
| Hopkins County, KY | 45,117 | $57,061 | 3.5%/yr | 6.2% | 0.545 |
| Webster County, KY | 12,842 | $59,485 | 5.7%/yr | 4.1% | 0.557 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Caldwell 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 Caldwell County, Kentucky.
How Rich Is Caldwell County, Kentucky?
Caldwell 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 $59,827, about 7% lower than the Kentucky average of $64,312.
Are incomes growing in Caldwell County, Kentucky?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Caldwell County, Kentucky rose 64%, from $36,394 to $59,827. Over the same years, income here outpaced Kentucky as a whole: +64% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Caldwell County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Caldwell County, Kentucky was $58,073, up 8% from $53,539 in 2022. The Kentucky median that year was $62,783.
What was the median household income in Caldwell County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Caldwell County, Kentucky was $49,096. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $59,827.
What is the Gini coefficient in Caldwell County, Kentucky?
The Gini coefficient in Caldwell County is 0.530. 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 Caldwell County, Kentucky?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Caldwell County, Kentucky has narrowed from about 25% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $6,042 since 2009.
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