Oakland County, Michigan Income Statistics
Oakland 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
Oakland County Around averageAmong the top 3 wealthiest counties in Michigan
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Oakland County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $98,107 | $72,977 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $78,177 | $59,920 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.3% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 20.9% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 18.5% | 9.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Oakland County is about 34% higher than in Michigan. Income has been growing slower in Oakland County (4.3%/yr) than in Michigan (4.6%/yr).
About 21% of adults in Oakland County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Michigan average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Oakland County, Michigan grew by 44.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $98,107 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Oakland County
| Metric | Oakland County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.527 | 0.539 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $94,751 | $69,354 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $68,663 | $54,749 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 27.5% | 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 Oakland County, it is 0.527, 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 38% more than women's income in Oakland County, Michigan. Over a 35-year career, a 38% wage gap accumulates to roughly $913,080 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Oakland County, Michigan has narrowed from about 33% to 28% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,079 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Oakland County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 20.2% | 13.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 33,357 people are unemployed in Oakland County, Michigan.
The average commute time in Oakland County is 23 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in Michigan.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Oakland County, Michigan has fallen from 9.9% to 4.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.2% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.4% in 2019.
Oakland County, MI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Oakland County, MI is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 1,277,811 residents against a local median of 403,150. The measure that sets Oakland County, MI apart most is median household income: $98,107, 28% above the local median of $76,664. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 4.8% against a local median of 5.7%, 16% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Oakland County, MI is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread $42,628 on median household income, so Oakland County, MI sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Oakland County, MI has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland County, MI | 1,277,811 | $98,107 #2/6 | 4.3%/yr #3/6 | 4.8% #2/6 | 0.527 #3/6 |
| Wayne County, MI | 1,771,784 | $60,677 | 4.7%/yr | 8.7% | 0.566 |
| Lapeer County, MI | 88,837 | $76,664 | 4.2%/yr | 5.1% | 0.527 |
| Macomb County, MI | 879,566 | $77,943 | 4.2%/yr | 5.7% | 0.527 |
| Genesee County, MI | 403,150 | $62,288 | 4.6%/yr | 8.1% | 0.536 |
| Livingston County, MI | 195,818 | $103,306 | 3.7%/yr | 3.4% | 0.513 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Oakland 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 Oakland County, Michigan.
How Wealthy Is Oakland County, Michigan?
Oakland 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 $98,107, about 34% higher than the Michigan average of $72,977.
How fast is household income rising in Oakland County, Michigan?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Oakland County, Michigan rose 45%, from $67,687 to $98,107. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Michigan as a whole: +45% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Oakland County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Oakland County, Michigan was $95,650, up 3% from $93,221 in 2022. The Michigan median that year was $71,362.
What was the median household income in Oakland County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Oakland County, Michigan was $82,243. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $98,107.
Is Oakland County, Michigan a high-income area?
Yes. 21% of adults in Oakland County, Michigan earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 5), against 11% (about 1 in 9) in Michigan. 19% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 10% in Michigan.
What is the Gini coefficient in Oakland County, Michigan?
The Gini coefficient in Oakland County is 0.527. 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 Oakland County, Michigan?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Oakland County, Michigan has narrowed from about 33% to 28% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,079 since 2009.
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