Fayette County, Kentucky Income Statistics
Fayette 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
Fayette County Below averageWealthier than 91% of counties in Kentucky
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Fayette County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $70,277 | $64,312 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $57,956 | $52,849 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.2% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 12.7% | 8.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 10.9% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Fayette County is about 9% higher than in Kentucky. Income has been growing slower in Fayette County (4.2%/yr) than in Kentucky (4.6%/yr).
About 13% of adults in Fayette 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 Fayette County, Kentucky grew by 49.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $70,277 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Fayette County
| Metric | Fayette County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.544 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $64,372 | $60,966 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $56,258 | $49,119 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 12.6% | 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 Fayette County, it is 0.544, about the same as Kentucky's 0.547, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 14% more than women's income in Fayette County, Kentucky. Over a 35-year career, a 14% wage gap accumulates to roughly $283,990 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Fayette County, Kentucky has narrowed from about 21% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 21% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,307 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Fayette County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.2% | 10.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 8,756 people are unemployed in Fayette County, Kentucky.
The average commute time in Fayette County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Kentucky.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Fayette County, Kentucky has fallen from 7.2% to 4.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.2% in 2013.
Fayette County, KY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Fayette County, KY is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 323,723 residents against a local median of 37,190. The measure that sets Fayette County, KY apart most is unemployment: 4.8%, 16% above the local median of 4.2%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.9% on unemployment, so Fayette County, KY sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Fayette County, KY has the 6th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette County, KY | 323,723 | $70,277 #4/6 | 4.2%/yr #4/6 | 4.8% #6/6 | 0.544 #5/6 |
| Jessamine County, KY | 54,588 | $74,512 | 4.4%/yr | 3.1% | 0.536 |
| Scott County, KY | 59,536 | $87,024 | 3.9%/yr | 4.3% | 0.518 |
| Woodford County, KY | 27,278 | $83,715 | 4.4%/yr | 2.5% | 0.519 |
| Bourbon County, KY | 20,240 | $61,521 | 4.4%/yr | 4.2% | 0.545 |
| Clark County, KY | 37,190 | $66,114 | 3.8%/yr | 4.4% | 0.533 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Fayette County, Kentucky has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat better than Kentucky, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Fayette County, Kentucky.
How Rich Is Fayette County, Kentucky?
Fayette 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 $70,277, about 9% higher than the Kentucky average of $64,312.
How has median household income changed in Fayette County, Kentucky?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Fayette County, Kentucky rose 49%, from $47,055 to $70,277. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Kentucky as a whole: +49% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Fayette County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Fayette County, Kentucky was $68,572, up 3% from $66,443 in 2022. The Kentucky median that year was $62,783.
What was the median household income in Fayette County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Fayette County, Kentucky was $59,243. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $70,277.
Do many residents of Fayette County, Kentucky earn over $100,000?
Yes. 13% of adults in Fayette County, Kentucky earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 8), against 9% (about 1 in 11) in Kentucky. 11% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 7% in Kentucky.
What is the Gini coefficient in Fayette County, Kentucky?
The Gini coefficient in Fayette County is 0.544. 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 Fayette County, Kentucky?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Fayette County, Kentucky has narrowed from about 21% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 21% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,307 since 2009.
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