Benton County, Missouri Income Statistics
Benton 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
Benton County Well below averageLess wealthy than 79% of counties in Missouri
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Benton County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $52,808 | $70,801 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $47,957 | $54,686 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.0% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.2% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.6% | 8.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Benton County is about 25% lower than in Missouri. Income has been growing faster in Benton County (6.0%/yr) than in Missouri (4.6%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Benton County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Missouri average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Benton County, Missouri grew by 54.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $52,808 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Benton County
| Metric | Benton County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.532 | 0.532 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $57,296 | $64,288 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $43,956 | $51,060 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 23.3% | 20.6% | 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 Benton County, it is 0.532, about the same as Missouri's 0.532, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 30% more than women's income in Benton County, Missouri. Over a 35-year career, a 30% wage gap accumulates to roughly $466,900 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Benton County, Missouri has narrowed from about 37% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 39% in 2010, and was narrowest at 13% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,008 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Benton County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.6% | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 275 people are unemployed in Benton County, Missouri.
The average commute time in Benton County is 23 minutes, longer than the 20 minutes in Missouri.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Benton County, Missouri has fallen from 6.5% to 3.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.2% in 2015.
Benton County, MO Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Benton County, MO is typical in size for this group, 20,151 residents against a local median of 21,717, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. The measure that sets Benton County, MO apart most is income growth: 6.0%/yr, 16% above the local median of 5.2%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.8%/yr on income growth, so Benton County, MO sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Benton County, MO has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton County, MO | 20,151 | $52,808 #5/6 | 6.0%/yr #2/6 | 3.8% #3/6 | 0.532 #3/6 |
| Hickory County, MO | 8,585 | $39,283 | 2.5%/yr | 13.7% | 0.553 |
| Morgan County, MO | 21,717 | $53,120 | 6.3%/yr | 2.9% | 0.559 |
| Pettis County, MO | 43,397 | $60,475 | 5.2%/yr | 3.8% | 0.534 |
| Henry County, MO | 22,328 | $57,861 | 4.0%/yr | 4.4% | 0.501 |
| St. Clair County, MO | 9,587 | $52,864 | 5.9%/yr | 3.3% | 0.506 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Benton County, Missouri has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Missouri, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Benton County, Missouri.
How Rich Is Benton County, Missouri?
Benton 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 $52,808, about 25% lower than the Missouri average of $70,801.
How has median household income changed in Benton County, Missouri?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Benton County, Missouri rose 55%, from $34,083 to $52,808. Over the same years, income here outpaced Missouri as a whole: +55% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Benton County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Benton County, Missouri was $52,951, up 6% from $50,184 in 2022. The Missouri median that year was $69,047.
What was the median household income in Benton County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Benton County, Missouri was $41,747. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $52,808.
What is the Gini coefficient in Benton County, Missouri?
The Gini coefficient in Benton County is 0.532. 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 Benton County, Missouri?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Benton County, Missouri has narrowed from about 37% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 39% in 2010, and was narrowest at 13% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,008 since 2009.
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