Monroe County, Kentucky Income Statistics
Monroe 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
Monroe County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Monroe County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $52,443 | $64,312 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $44,910 | $52,849 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.7% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.2% | 8.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.6% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Monroe County is about 18% lower than in Kentucky. Income has been growing faster in Monroe County (5.7%/yr) than in Kentucky (4.6%/yr).
About 4% of adults in Monroe 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 Monroe County, Kentucky grew by 85.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $52,443 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Monroe County
| Metric | Monroe County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.519 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $51,550 | $60,966 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $42,755 | $49,119 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.1% | 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 Monroe County, it is 0.519, 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 21% more than women's income in Monroe County, Kentucky. Over a 35-year career, a 21% wage gap accumulates to roughly $307,825 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Monroe County, Kentucky has widened from about 9% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2013, and in 2018 women out-earned men by 1%. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,186 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Monroe County widened by 8.2 points while Kentucky's narrowed by 5.2 points.
Employment
| Metric | Monroe County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.5% | 10.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 209 people are unemployed in Monroe County, Kentucky.
The average commute time in Monroe County is 16 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Kentucky.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Monroe County, Kentucky has fallen from 7.2% to 4.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.4% in 2015 and fell as low as 3.5% in 2020.
Monroe County, KY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Monroe County, KY is typical in size for this group, 11,269 residents against a local median of 10,425, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. The measure that sets Monroe County, KY apart most is income growth: 5.7%/yr, 25% above the local median of 4.5%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 4.4%/yr on income growth, so Monroe County, KY sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Monroe 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County, KY | 11,269 | $52,443 #2/6 | 5.7%/yr #2/6 | 4.0% #3/6 | 0.519 #2/6 |
| Clay County, TN | 7,670 | $39,958 | 4.5%/yr | 10.0% | 0.548 |
| Metcalfe County, KY | 10,425 | $51,015 | 5.2%/yr | 4.9% | 0.510 |
| Barren County, KY | 44,937 | $50,825 | 3.4%/yr | 4.1% | 0.537 |
| Cumberland County, KY | 5,948 | $39,999 | 2.7%/yr | 4.0% | 0.526 |
| Macon County, TN | 26,240 | $58,828 | 7.1%/yr | 3.4% | 0.521 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Monroe County, Kentucky has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with Kentucky, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Monroe County, Kentucky.
How Rich Is Monroe County, Kentucky?
Monroe 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 $52,443, about 18% lower than the Kentucky average of $64,312.
How has median household income changed in Monroe County, Kentucky?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Monroe County, Kentucky rose 85%, from $28,335 to $52,443. Over the same years, income here outpaced Kentucky as a whole: +85% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Monroe County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Monroe County, Kentucky was $49,170, up 4% from $47,357 in 2022. The Kentucky median that year was $62,783.
What was the median household income in Monroe County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Monroe County, Kentucky was $35,047. By 2024 it had risen 50% to $52,443.
What is the Gini coefficient in Monroe County, Kentucky?
The Gini coefficient in Monroe County is 0.519. 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 Monroe County, Kentucky?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Monroe County, Kentucky has widened from about 9% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2013, and in 2018 women out-earned men by 1%. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,186 since 2009.
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