Simpson County, Kentucky Income Statistics
Simpson 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
Simpson County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Simpson County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $59,801 | $64,312 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $46,605 | $52,849 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.4% | 8.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.5% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Simpson County is about 7% lower than in Kentucky. Income has been growing slower in Simpson County (4.6%/yr) than in Kentucky (4.6%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Simpson 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 Simpson County, Kentucky grew by 46.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $59,801 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Simpson County
| Metric | Simpson County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.523 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $57,436 | $60,966 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $44,649 | $49,119 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 22.3% | 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 Simpson County, it is 0.523, 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 29% more than women's income in Simpson County, Kentucky. Over a 35-year career, a 29% wage gap accumulates to roughly $447,545 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Simpson County, Kentucky has widened from about 19% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 34% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,748 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Simpson County widened by 3.1 points while Kentucky's narrowed by 5.2 points.
Employment
| Metric | Simpson County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.3% | 10.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 341 people are unemployed in Simpson County, Kentucky.
The average commute time in Simpson County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Kentucky.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Simpson County, Kentucky has fallen from 8.7% to 3.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.5% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.2% in 2018.
Simpson County, KY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Simpson County, KY is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 19,972 residents against a local median of 75,539. The measure that sets Simpson County, KY apart most is unemployment: 3.6%, 20% below the local median of 4.4%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.6% on unemployment, so Simpson County, KY sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Simpson County, KY has the 2nd lowest unemployment 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simpson County, KY | 19,972 | $59,801 #6/6 | 4.6%/yr #5/6 | 3.6% #2/6 | 0.523 #4/6 |
| Warren County, KY | 140,918 | $65,763 | 4.3%/yr | 4.4% | 0.554 |
| Sumner County, TN | 204,441 | $90,746 | 5.5%/yr | 3.6% | 0.517 |
| Logan County, KY | 27,986 | $60,505 | 5.7%/yr | 5.7% | 0.542 |
| Robertson County, TN | 75,539 | $83,033 | 5.0%/yr | 3.3% | 0.517 |
| Allen County, KY | 21,293 | $61,460 | 5.3%/yr | 6.9% | 0.496 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Simpson 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 Simpson County, Kentucky.
How Rich Is Simpson County, Kentucky?
Simpson 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 $59,801, about 7% lower than the Kentucky average of $64,312.
How has median household income changed in Simpson County, Kentucky?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Simpson County, Kentucky rose 46%, from $40,864 to $59,801. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Kentucky as a whole: +46% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Simpson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Simpson County, Kentucky was $57,912, up 3% from $56,396 in 2022. The Kentucky median that year was $62,783.
What was the median household income in Simpson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Simpson County, Kentucky was $50,211. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $59,801.
Is it hard to find a job in Simpson County, Kentucky?
Unemployment in Simpson County, Kentucky is only 3.6%, 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 Simpson County, Kentucky?
The Gini coefficient in Simpson County is 0.523. 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 Simpson County, Kentucky?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Simpson County, Kentucky has widened from about 19% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 34% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,748 since 2009.
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