Laurel County, Kentucky Income Statistics
Laurel 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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D
Laurel County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Laurel County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $58,280 | $64,312 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $46,070 | $52,849 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.1% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.2% | 8.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.6% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Laurel County is about 9% lower than in Kentucky. Income has been growing faster in Laurel County (6.1%/yr) than in Kentucky (4.6%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Laurel 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 Laurel County, Kentucky grew by 65.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $58,280 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Laurel County
| Metric | Laurel County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.554 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,034 | $60,966 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $42,055 | $49,119 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 22.2% | 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 Laurel County, it is 0.554, higher than Kentucky's 0.547, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 28% more than women's income in Laurel County, Kentucky. Over a 35-year career, a 28% wage gap accumulates to roughly $419,265 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
The income gap between men and women in Laurel County, Kentucky has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 22%. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2022, and was narrowest at 21% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,789 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Laurel County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.7% | 10.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 967 people are unemployed in Laurel County, Kentucky.
The average commute time in Laurel County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Kentucky.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Laurel County, Kentucky has fallen from 11.4% to 3.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 12.9% in 2014.
Laurel County, KY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Laurel County, KY is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 62,983 residents against a local median of 19,921. Laurel County, KY's income growth, at 6.1%/yr, runs 46% above the 4.2%/yr typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $58,280 against a local median of $40,558, 44% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Laurel County, KY is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 5.3%/yr on income growth, so Laurel County, KY sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Laurel County, KY has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel County, KY | 62,983 | $58,280 #1/6 | 6.1%/yr #2/6 | 3.5% #1/6 | 0.554 #2/6 |
| Rockcastle County, KY | 16,158 | $49,228 | 5.0%/yr | 4.6% | 0.566 |
| Jackson County, KY | 13,086 | $40,000 | 3.3%/yr | 4.0% | 0.551 |
| Knox County, KY | 29,865 | $32,074 | 2.5%/yr | 8.1% | 0.597 |
| Whitley County, KY | 36,920 | $44,696 | 4.2%/yr | 5.3% | 0.574 |
| Clay County, KY | 19,921 | $40,558 | 7.8%/yr | 9.3% | 0.561 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Laurel County, Kentucky has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Kentucky, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Laurel County, Kentucky.
How Rich Is Laurel County, Kentucky?
Laurel County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $58,280, about 9% lower than the Kentucky average of $64,312.
How has median household income changed in Laurel County, Kentucky?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Laurel County, Kentucky rose 65%, from $35,285 to $58,280. Over the same years, income here outpaced Kentucky as a whole: +65% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Laurel County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Laurel County, Kentucky was $56,864, up 6% from $53,756 in 2022. The Kentucky median that year was $62,783.
What was the median household income in Laurel County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Laurel County, Kentucky was $43,718. By 2024 it had risen 33% to $58,280.
How strong is the job market in Laurel County, Kentucky?
Unemployment in Laurel County, Kentucky is only 3.5%, 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 Laurel County, Kentucky?
The Gini coefficient in Laurel County is 0.554. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Laurel County, Kentucky?
The income gap between men and women in Laurel County, Kentucky has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 22%. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2022, and was narrowest at 21% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,789 since 2009.
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