Kent County, Michigan Income Statistics
Kent 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
Kent County Around averageWealthier than 89% of counties in Michigan
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Kent County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $83,335 | $72,977 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $59,565 | $59,920 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.3% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.9% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 11.0% | 9.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Kent County is about 14% higher than in Michigan. Income has been growing faster in Kent County (5.3%/yr) than in Michigan (4.6%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Kent County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, about the same as the Michigan average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Kent County, Michigan grew by 67.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $83,335 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Kent County
| Metric | Kent County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.517 | 0.539 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $68,713 | $69,354 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $55,935 | $54,749 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.6% | 21.1% | 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 Kent County, it is 0.517, lower than Michigan's 0.539, 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 23% more than women's income in Kent County, Michigan. Over a 35-year career, a 23% wage gap accumulates to roughly $447,230 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Kent County, Michigan has narrowed from about 24% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,593 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Kent County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 14.3% | 13.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 15,009 people are unemployed in Kent County, Michigan.
The average commute time in Kent County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Michigan.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Kent County, Michigan has fallen from 9.8% to 4.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.1% in 2013.
Kent County, MI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Kent County, MI is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 662,843 residents against a local median of 63,409. Kent County, MI's median household income, at $83,335, runs 23% above the $67,531 typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread $17,022 on median household income, so Kent County, MI sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Kent County, MI has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent County, MI | 662,843 | $83,335 #1/6 | 5.3%/yr #3/6 | 4.2% #3/6 | 0.517 #2/6 |
| Ionia County, MI | 66,574 | $75,790 | 5.4%/yr | 3.9% | 0.530 |
| Montcalm County, MI | 67,816 | $67,531 | 5.7%/yr | 5.0% | 0.537 |
| Barry County, MI | 63,409 | $78,210 | 4.0%/yr | 4.3% | 0.521 |
| Newaygo County, MI | 50,792 | $63,785 | 4.7%/yr | 4.4% | 0.514 |
| Mecosta County, MI | 41,242 | $61,188 | 4.9%/yr | 4.0% | 0.534 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Kent County, Michigan has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Michigan, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Kent County, Michigan.
How Rich Is Kent County, Michigan?
Kent 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 $83,335, about 14% higher than the Michigan average of $72,977.
How has median household income changed in Kent County, Michigan?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Kent County, Michigan rose 67%, from $49,910 to $83,335. Over the same years, income here outpaced Michigan as a whole: +67% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Kent County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Kent County, Michigan was $80,997, up 6% from $76,312 in 2022. The Michigan median that year was $71,362.
What was the median household income in Kent County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Kent County, Michigan was $65,832. By 2024 it had risen 27% to $83,335.
Is it hard to find a job in Kent County, Michigan?
Unemployment in Kent County, Michigan is only 4.2%, well below the Michigan rate of 5.7%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Kent County, Michigan?
The Gini coefficient in Kent County is 0.517. 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 Kent County, Michigan?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Kent County, Michigan has narrowed from about 24% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,593 since 2009.
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