Wealth Index
Among the top 3 wealthiest counties in Missouri
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.
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Clay County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $86,024 | $69,051 | $78,145 |
| Median Personal Income | $62,111 | $56,130 | $61,726 |
| Average income growth | 4.4% | 4.8% | 5.1% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 12.5% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Clay County is about 25% higher than in Missouri. Income has been growing slower in Clay County (4.4%/yr) than in Missouri (4.8%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Clay County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Missouri average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2023 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Clay County, Missouri grew by 47.8% from 2009 to 2023, reaching $86,024 in 2023. That's an average of about 4.4% per year.
Economic Inequality in Clay County | Gender Pay Gap | Gini Coefficient
| Metric | Clay County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.513 | 0.543 | 0.570 |
| Male Median Income | $69,084 | $62,759 | $67,746 |
| Female Median Income | $55,520 | $49,461 | $54,793 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.6% | 21.2% | 19.1% |
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 Clay County, it is 0.513, lower than Missouri's 0.543, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.570, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 24% more than women's income in Clay County, Missouri. Over a 35-year career, a 24% wage gap accumulates to roughly $474,740 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Clay County, Missouri has narrowed from about 26% to 20% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $752 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Clay County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 14.0% | 11.6% | 13.4% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 5,464 people are unemployed in Clay County, Missouri.
The average commute time in Clay County is 21 minutes, about the same as in Missouri.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Clay County, Missouri has fallen from 5.9% to 3.9% in 2023.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Clay County, Missouri has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Missouri, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Clay County, Missouri.
How Rich Is Clay County, Missouri?
Clay 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 $86,024, about 25% higher than the Missouri average of $69,051.
What is the current median household income in Clay County, Missouri?
As of 2023, the median household income in Clay County, Missouri is $86,024.
What was the median household income in Clay County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Clay County, Missouri was $86,024.
What was the median household income in Clay County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Clay County, Missouri was $72,188.
What is the Gini coefficient in Clay County, Missouri?
The Gini coefficient in Clay County is 0.513. 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 0.570, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Clay County, Missouri?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Clay County, Missouri has narrowed from about 26% to 20% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $752 since 2009.