Jefferson County, Kentucky Income Statistics
Jefferson 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.
-
B
Jefferson County Around averageWealthier than 92% of counties in Kentucky
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Jefferson County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $69,976 | $64,312 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $57,402 | $52,849 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.3% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.8% | 8.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.6% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Jefferson County is about 9% higher than in Kentucky. Income has been growing slower in Jefferson County (4.3%/yr) than in Kentucky (4.6%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, Kentucky grew by 53.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $69,976 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Jefferson County
| Metric | Jefferson County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.530 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $65,162 | $60,966 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $54,486 | $49,119 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 16.4% | 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 Jefferson 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 20% more than women's income in Jefferson County, Kentucky. Over a 35-year career, a 20% wage gap accumulates to roughly $373,660 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jefferson County, Kentucky has narrowed from about 23% to 16% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $63 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Jefferson County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 14.2% | 10.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 21,192 people are unemployed in Jefferson County, Kentucky.
The average commute time in Jefferson County is 21 minutes, longer than the 20 minutes in Kentucky.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Jefferson County, Kentucky has fallen from 9.5% to 5.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.1% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.8% in 2023.
Jefferson County, KY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Jefferson County, KY is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 781,949 residents against a local median of 80,920. The measure that sets Jefferson County, KY apart most is unemployment: 5.2%, 25% above the local median of 4.1%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.5% on unemployment, so Jefferson County, KY sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Jefferson 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County, KY | 781,949 | $69,976 #6/6 | 4.3%/yr #5/6 | 5.2% #6/6 | 0.530 #5/6 |
| Bullitt County, KY | 84,027 | $81,944 | 4.2%/yr | 4.2% | 0.511 |
| Floyd County, IN | 80,920 | $80,118 | 4.4%/yr | 4.1% | 0.521 |
| Clark County, IN | 124,346 | $74,105 | 4.5%/yr | 4.0% | 0.497 |
| Oldham County, KY | 69,249 | $123,816 | 4.5%/yr | 3.5% | 0.558 |
| Spencer County, KY | 20,193 | $100,880 | 5.4%/yr | 5.0% | 0.521 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Jefferson County, Kentucky has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Kentucky, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Jefferson County, Kentucky.
How Rich Is Jefferson County, Kentucky?
Jefferson 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 $69,976, about 9% higher than the Kentucky average of $64,312.
How has median household income changed in Jefferson County, Kentucky?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Jefferson County, Kentucky rose 54%, from $45,458 to $69,976. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Kentucky as a whole: +54% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Jefferson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Jefferson County, Kentucky was $68,130, up 2% from $66,499 in 2022. The Kentucky median that year was $62,783.
What was the median household income in Jefferson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Jefferson County, Kentucky was $58,350. By 2024 it had risen 20% to $69,976.
What is the Gini coefficient in Jefferson County, Kentucky?
The Gini coefficient in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, Kentucky?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jefferson County, Kentucky has narrowed from about 23% to 16% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $63 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →