Nelson County, Kentucky Income Statistics
Nelson 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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B
Nelson County Around averageWealthier than 92% of counties in Kentucky
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Nelson County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $69,485 | $64,312 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $51,880 | $52,849 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.7% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.3% | 8.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.5% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Nelson County is about 8% higher than in Kentucky. Income has been growing slower in Nelson County (3.7%/yr) than in Kentucky (4.6%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Nelson 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 Nelson County, Kentucky grew by 49.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $69,485 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Nelson County
| Metric | Nelson County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.505 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $59,127 | $60,966 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,713 | $49,119 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 15.9% | 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 Nelson County, it is 0.505, 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 19% more than women's income in Nelson County, Kentucky. Over a 35-year career, a 19% wage gap accumulates to roughly $329,490 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Nelson County, Kentucky has narrowed from about 21% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $809 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Nelson County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.0% | 10.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 796 people are unemployed in Nelson County, Kentucky.
The average commute time in Nelson County is 22 minutes, longer than the 20 minutes in Kentucky.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Nelson County, Kentucky has fallen from 9.6% to 3.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.1% in 2013 and fell as low as 2.9% in 2022.
Nelson County, KY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Nelson County, KY is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 47,606 residents against a local median of 19,749. Where Nelson County, KY breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 28% below the local median of 5.1%/yr at 3.7%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 3.3% against a local median of 4.2%, 21% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so Nelson County, KY is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 1.8%/yr on income growth, so Nelson County, KY sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Nelson County, KY has the 6th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson County, KY | 47,606 | $69,485 #3/6 | 3.7%/yr #6/6 | 3.3% #2/6 | 0.505 #1/6 |
| Spencer County, KY | 20,193 | $100,880 | 5.4%/yr | 5.0% | 0.521 |
| Bullitt County, KY | 84,027 | $81,944 | 4.2%/yr | 4.2% | 0.511 |
| Washington County, KY | 12,140 | $61,907 | 4.8%/yr | 3.4% | 0.519 |
| Marion County, KY | 19,749 | $59,648 | 5.1%/yr | 4.2% | 0.526 |
| Larue County, KY | 15,088 | $64,966 | 6.0%/yr | 1.5% | 0.534 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Nelson 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 Nelson County, Kentucky.
How Rich Is Nelson County, Kentucky?
Nelson 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 $69,485, about 8% higher than the Kentucky average of $64,312.
Are incomes growing in Nelson County, Kentucky?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Nelson County, Kentucky rose 49%, from $46,552 to $69,485. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Kentucky as a whole: +49% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Nelson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Nelson County, Kentucky was $68,452, up 2% from $67,024 in 2022. The Kentucky median that year was $62,783.
What was the median household income in Nelson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Nelson County, Kentucky was $62,228. By 2024 it had risen 12% to $69,485.
Is unemployment high in Nelson County, Kentucky?
Unemployment in Nelson County, Kentucky is only 3.3%, 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 Nelson County, Kentucky?
The Gini coefficient in Nelson County is 0.505. 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 Nelson County, Kentucky?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Nelson County, Kentucky has narrowed from about 21% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $809 since 2009.
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