Rockcastle County, Kentucky Income Statistics
Rockcastle 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
Rockcastle County Well below averageLess wealthy than 74% of counties in Kentucky
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Rockcastle County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $49,228 | $64,312 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $46,727 | $52,849 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.0% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.3% | 8.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.6% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Rockcastle County is about 23% lower than in Kentucky. Income has been growing faster in Rockcastle County (5.0%/yr) than in Kentucky (4.6%/yr).
About 4% of adults in Rockcastle 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 Rockcastle County, Kentucky grew by 91.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $49,228 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Rockcastle County
| Metric | Rockcastle County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.566 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,741 | $60,966 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $39,731 | $49,119 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 32.4% | 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 Rockcastle County, it is 0.566, 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 48% more than women's income in Rockcastle County, Kentucky. Over a 35-year career, a 48% wage gap accumulates to roughly $665,350 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rockcastle County, Kentucky has widened from about 6% to 32% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $17,167 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Rockcastle County widened by 26.6 points while Kentucky's narrowed by 5.2 points.
Employment
| Metric | Rockcastle County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.4% | 10.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 292 people are unemployed in Rockcastle County, Kentucky.
The average commute time in Rockcastle County is 22 minutes, longer than the 20 minutes in Kentucky.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Rockcastle County, Kentucky has fallen from 10.4% to 4.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.9% in 2013.
Rockcastle County, KY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Rockcastle County, KY is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 16,158 residents against a local median of 24,512. Where Rockcastle County, KY breaks from the counties next to it is median household income, sitting 16% below the local median of $58,280 at $49,228. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread $24,757 on median household income, so Rockcastle County, KY sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Rockcastle County, KY has the 5th highest median household income 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockcastle County, KY | 16,158 | $49,228 #5/6 | 5.0%/yr #3/6 | 4.6% #3/6 | 0.566 #6/6 |
| Jackson County, KY | 13,086 | $40,000 | 3.3%/yr | 4.0% | 0.551 |
| Laurel County, KY | 62,983 | $58,280 | 6.1%/yr | 3.5% | 0.554 |
| Garrard County, KY | 17,568 | $62,823 | 3.9%/yr | 5.1% | 0.552 |
| Lincoln County, KY | 24,512 | $52,661 | 5.2%/yr | 6.5% | 0.530 |
| Madison County, KY | 95,769 | $64,757 | 4.9%/yr | 5.1% | 0.546 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Rockcastle County, Kentucky has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Kentucky, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Rockcastle County, Kentucky.
How Rich Is Rockcastle County, Kentucky?
Rockcastle 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 $49,228, about 23% lower than the Kentucky average of $64,312.
How fast is household income rising in Rockcastle County, Kentucky?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Rockcastle County, Kentucky rose 91%, from $25,730 to $49,228. Over the same years, income here outpaced Kentucky as a whole: +91% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Rockcastle County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Rockcastle County, Kentucky was $48,544, up 6% from $45,690 in 2022. The Kentucky median that year was $62,783.
What was the median household income in Rockcastle County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Rockcastle County, Kentucky was $38,500. By 2024 it had risen 28% to $49,228.
What is the Gini coefficient in Rockcastle County, Kentucky?
The Gini coefficient in Rockcastle County is 0.566. 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 Rockcastle County, Kentucky?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rockcastle County, Kentucky has widened from about 6% to 32% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $17,167 since 2009.
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