Owsley County, Kentucky Income Statistics
Owsley 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
Owsley County Well below averageLess wealthy than 91% of counties in Kentucky
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Owsley County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $23,922 | $64,312 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $38,489 | $52,849 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 1.6% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 1.0% | 8.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 1.4% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Owsley County is about 63% lower than in Kentucky. Income has been growing slower in Owsley County (1.6%/yr) than in Kentucky (4.6%/yr).
About 1% of adults in Owsley 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 Owsley County, Kentucky grew by 28.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $23,922 in 2024. That's an average of about 1.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Owsley County
| Metric | Owsley County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.564 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $34,938 | $60,966 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $33,619 | $49,119 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 3.8% | 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 Owsley County, it is 0.564, 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 4% more than women's income in Owsley County, Kentucky. Over a 35-year career, a 4% wage gap accumulates to roughly $46,165 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Owsley County, Kentucky has narrowed from about 27% to 4% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2021, and in 2017 women out-earned men by 11%. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $7,948 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Owsley County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 12.6% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.1% | 10.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 163 people are unemployed in Owsley County, Kentucky.
The average commute time in Owsley County is 15 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Kentucky.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Owsley County, Kentucky has fallen from 17.8% to 12.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 8.4% in 2016.
Owsley County, KY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Owsley County, KY is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 3,971 residents against a local median of 13,086. Where Owsley County, KY breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 63% below the local median of 4.4%/yr at 1.6%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $23,922 against a local median of $37,016, 35% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, and it is the wrong way: Owsley County, KY reads weaker than its neighbours on all of them. The counties themselves spread 4.5%/yr on income growth, so Owsley County, KY sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Owsley 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owsley County, KY | 3,971 | $23,922 #6/6 | 1.6%/yr #6/6 | 12.6% #5/6 | 0.564 #4/6 |
| Lee County, KY | 7,339 | $37,016 | 7.2%/yr | 4.7% | 0.592 |
| Clay County, KY | 19,921 | $40,558 | 7.8%/yr | 9.3% | 0.561 |
| Jackson County, KY | 13,086 | $40,000 | 3.3%/yr | 4.0% | 0.551 |
| Wolfe County, KY | 6,443 | $30,492 | 4.1%/yr | 13.1% | 0.564 |
| Breathitt County, KY | 13,276 | $34,813 | 4.4%/yr | 9.3% | 0.568 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Owsley 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 Owsley County, Kentucky.
How Wealthy Is Owsley County, Kentucky?
Owsley 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 $23,922, about 63% lower than the Kentucky average of $64,312.
How fast is household income rising in Owsley County, Kentucky?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Owsley County, Kentucky rose 28%, from $18,674 to $23,922. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Kentucky as a whole: +28% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Owsley County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Owsley County, Kentucky was $32,127, down 2% from $32,870 in 2022. The Kentucky median that year was $62,783.
What was the median household income in Owsley County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Owsley County, Kentucky was $29,374. By 2024 it had fallen 19% to $23,922.
How strong is the job market in Owsley County, Kentucky?
Unemployment in Owsley County, Kentucky is 12.6%, well above the Kentucky rate of 4.8%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Owsley County, Kentucky?
The Gini coefficient in Owsley County is 0.564. 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 Owsley County, Kentucky?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Owsley County, Kentucky has narrowed from about 27% to 4% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2021, and in 2017 women out-earned men by 11%. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $7,948 since 2009.
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