Buchanan County, Missouri Income Statistics
Buchanan 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
Buchanan County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Buchanan County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $61,673 | $70,801 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $50,421 | $54,686 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.6% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.5% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.8% | 8.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Buchanan County is about 13% lower than in Missouri. Income has been growing slower in Buchanan County (3.6%/yr) than in Missouri (4.6%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Buchanan 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 Buchanan County, Missouri grew by 48.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $61,673 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Buchanan County
| Metric | Buchanan County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.525 | 0.532 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $55,006 | $64,288 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,636 | $51,060 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 9.8% | 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 Buchanan County, it is 0.525, lower than Missouri's 0.532, 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 11% more than women's income in Buchanan County, Missouri. Over a 35-year career, a 11% wage gap accumulates to roughly $187,950 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Buchanan County, Missouri has narrowed from about 25% to 10% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2015, and was narrowest at 8% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $4,509 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Buchanan County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.3% | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 1,681 people are unemployed in Buchanan County, Missouri.
The average commute time in Buchanan County is 13 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Missouri.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Buchanan County, Missouri has fallen from 7.3% to 4.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.5% in 2014.
Buchanan County, MO Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Buchanan County, MO is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 83,567 residents against a local median of 18,065. The measure that sets Buchanan County, MO apart most is unemployment: 4.1%, 55% above the local median of 2.7%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $61,673 against a local median of $73,710, 16% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, and it is the wrong way: Buchanan County, MO reads weaker than its neighbours on all of them. The counties themselves spread 1.9% on unemployment, so Buchanan County, MO sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Buchanan County, MO has the 6th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buchanan County, MO | 83,567 | $61,673 #6/6 | 3.6%/yr #5/6 | 4.1% #6/6 | 0.525 #5/6 |
| Platte County, MO | 110,371 | $96,388 | 3.8%/yr | 2.7% | 0.512 |
| Andrew County, MO | 18,065 | $75,788 | 4.2%/yr | 3.5% | 0.501 |
| Doniphan County, KS | 7,501 | $73,710 | 5.3%/yr | 1.6% | 0.518 |
| Clinton County, MO | 21,414 | $71,052 | 2.6%/yr | 3.0% | 0.516 |
| DeKalb County, MO | 10,876 | $72,224 | 6.6%/yr | 2.3% | 0.578 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Buchanan County, Missouri has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with Missouri, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Buchanan County, Missouri.
How Rich Is Buchanan County, Missouri?
Buchanan 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 $61,673, about 13% lower than the Missouri average of $70,801.
How fast is household income rising in Buchanan County, Missouri?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Buchanan County, Missouri rose 48%, from $41,532 to $61,673. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Missouri as a whole: +48% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Buchanan County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Buchanan County, Missouri was $59,466, up 2% from $58,514 in 2022. The Missouri median that year was $69,047.
What was the median household income in Buchanan County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Buchanan County, Missouri was $51,623. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $61,673.
What is the Gini coefficient in Buchanan County, Missouri?
The Gini coefficient in Buchanan County is 0.525. 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 Buchanan County, Missouri?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Buchanan County, Missouri has narrowed from about 25% to 10% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2015, and was narrowest at 8% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $4,509 since 2009.
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