Leslie County, Kentucky Income Statistics
Leslie 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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F
Leslie County Well below averageLess wealthy than 90% of counties in Kentucky
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Leslie County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $36,418 | $64,312 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $41,841 | $52,849 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.1% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.7% | 8.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.2% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Leslie County is about 43% lower than in Kentucky. Income has been growing faster in Leslie County (5.1%/yr) than in Kentucky (4.6%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Leslie 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 Leslie County, Kentucky grew by 46.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $36,418 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Leslie County
| Metric | Leslie County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.596 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $65,733 | $60,966 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $36,303 | $49,119 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 44.8% | 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 Leslie County, it is 0.596, higher than Kentucky's 0.547, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 81% more than women's income in Leslie County, Kentucky. Over a 35-year career, a 81% wage gap accumulates to roughly $1,030,050 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Leslie County, Kentucky has widened from about 27% to 45% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 50% in 2023, and was narrowest at 23% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $19,745 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Leslie County widened by 18.2 points while Kentucky's narrowed by 5.2 points.
Employment
| Metric | Leslie County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.0% | 10.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 31 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 132 people are unemployed in Leslie County, Kentucky.
The average commute time in Leslie County is 31 minutes, longer than the 20 minutes in Kentucky.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Leslie County, Kentucky has fallen from 6.9% to 3.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 17.0% in 2015.
Leslie County, KY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Leslie County, KY is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 10,079 residents against a local median of 19,921. The measure that sets Leslie County, KY apart most is unemployment: 3.8%, 59% below the local median of 9.3%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 6.8% on unemployment, so Leslie County, KY sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Leslie 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leslie County, KY | 10,079 | $36,418 #4/6 | 5.1%/yr #3/6 | 3.8% #1/6 | 0.596 #6/6 |
| Perry County, KY | 27,499 | $42,766 | 3.9%/yr | 5.8% | 0.582 |
| Harlan County, KY | 25,771 | $41,438 | 6.5%/yr | 9.5% | 0.560 |
| Clay County, KY | 19,921 | $40,558 | 7.8%/yr | 9.3% | 0.561 |
| Breathitt County, KY | 13,276 | $34,813 | 4.4%/yr | 9.3% | 0.568 |
| Owsley County, KY | 3,971 | $23,922 | 1.6%/yr | 12.6% | 0.564 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Leslie County, Kentucky has an overall wealth index grade of F, making it somewhat worse than Kentucky, and worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Leslie County, Kentucky.
How Rich Is Leslie County, Kentucky?
Leslie County has a wealth index grade of F. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an F grade means residents are well below the U.S. average. The median household income is $36,418, about 43% lower than the Kentucky average of $64,312.
How has median household income changed in Leslie County, Kentucky?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Leslie County, Kentucky rose 46%, from $24,872 to $36,418. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Kentucky as a whole: +46% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Leslie County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Leslie County, Kentucky was $40,246, up 10% from $36,532 in 2022. The Kentucky median that year was $62,783.
What was the median household income in Leslie County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Leslie County, Kentucky was $36,476. By 2024 it was about the same, at $36,418.
Is it hard to find a job in Leslie County, Kentucky?
Unemployment in Leslie County, Kentucky is only 3.8%, 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 Leslie County, Kentucky?
The Gini coefficient in Leslie County is 0.596. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Leslie County, Kentucky?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Leslie County, Kentucky has widened from about 27% to 45% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 50% in 2023, and was narrowest at 23% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $19,745 since 2009.
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