Muhlenberg County, Kentucky Income Statistics
Muhlenberg 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
Muhlenberg County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Muhlenberg County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $54,328 | $64,312 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $48,779 | $52,849 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.8% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.5% | 8.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.5% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Muhlenberg County is about 16% lower than in Kentucky. Income has been growing slower in Muhlenberg County (3.8%/yr) than in Kentucky (4.6%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Muhlenberg 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 Muhlenberg County, Kentucky grew by 52.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $54,328 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Muhlenberg County
| Metric | Muhlenberg County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.559 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $60,683 | $60,966 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $41,899 | $49,119 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 31.0% | 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 Muhlenberg County, it is 0.559, 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 45% more than women's income in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. Over a 35-year career, a 45% wage gap accumulates to roughly $657,440 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky has narrowed from about 34% to 31% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 36% in 2010, and was narrowest at 27% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,623 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Muhlenberg County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.0% | 10.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 729 people are unemployed in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.
The average commute time in Muhlenberg County is 21 minutes, longer than the 20 minutes in Kentucky.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky has fallen from 8.1% to 5.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.3% in 2015 and fell as low as 4.1% in 2023.
Muhlenberg County, KY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Muhlenberg County, KY is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 30,591 residents against a local median of 23,735. The measure that sets Muhlenberg County, KY apart most is income growth: 3.8%/yr, 29% below the local median of 5.3%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.2%/yr on income growth, so Muhlenberg County, KY sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Muhlenberg County, KY has the 5th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muhlenberg County, KY | 30,591 | $54,328 #6/6 | 3.8%/yr #5/6 | 5.6% #4/6 | 0.559 #5/6 |
| McLean County, KY | 9,114 | $67,096 | 5.7%/yr | 5.6% | 0.544 |
| Todd County, KY | 12,467 | $62,011 | 5.3%/yr | 3.2% | 0.570 |
| Ohio County, KY | 23,735 | $57,842 | 4.9%/yr | 5.0% | 0.529 |
| Hopkins County, KY | 45,117 | $57,061 | 3.5%/yr | 6.2% | 0.545 |
| Logan County, KY | 27,986 | $60,505 | 5.7%/yr | 5.7% | 0.542 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Muhlenberg 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 Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.
How Rich Is Muhlenberg County, Kentucky?
Muhlenberg 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 $54,328, about 16% lower than the Kentucky average of $64,312.
Are incomes growing in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky rose 52%, from $35,636 to $54,328. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Kentucky as a whole: +52% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Muhlenberg County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky was $53,462, up 4% from $51,226 in 2022. The Kentucky median that year was $62,783.
What was the median household income in Muhlenberg County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky was $46,130. By 2024 it had risen 18% to $54,328.
What is the Gini coefficient in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky?
The Gini coefficient in Muhlenberg County is 0.559. 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 Muhlenberg County, Kentucky?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky has narrowed from about 34% to 31% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 36% in 2010, and was narrowest at 27% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,623 since 2009.
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