Lawrence County, Missouri Income Statistics
Lawrence 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
Lawrence County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Lawrence County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $61,185 | $70,801 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $44,630 | $54,686 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.4% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.5% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.7% | 8.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Lawrence County is about 14% lower than in Missouri. Income has been growing faster in Lawrence County (5.4%/yr) than in Missouri (4.6%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Lawrence 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 Lawrence County, Missouri grew by 60.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $61,185 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Lawrence County
| Metric | Lawrence County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.521 | 0.532 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $53,126 | $64,288 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $44,299 | $51,060 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 16.6% | 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 Lawrence County, it is 0.521, 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 20% more than women's income in Lawrence County, Missouri. Over a 35-year career, a 20% wage gap accumulates to roughly $308,945 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lawrence County, Missouri has narrowed from about 34% to 17% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,665 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Lawrence County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2% | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.4% | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 768 people are unemployed in Lawrence County, Missouri.
The average commute time in Lawrence County is 20 minutes, about the same as in Missouri.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Lawrence County, Missouri has fallen from 8.3% to 4.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.9% in 2012.
Lawrence County, MO Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Lawrence County, MO is typical in size for this group, 38,593 residents against a local median of 35,028, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Where Lawrence County, MO breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 17% above the local median of 3.6% at 4.2%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.8% on unemployment, so Lawrence County, MO sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Lawrence County, MO has the 4th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence County, MO | 38,593 | $61,185 #3/6 | 5.4%/yr #2/6 | 4.2% #4/6 | 0.521 #2/6 |
| Dade County, MO | 7,641 | $54,214 | 4.8%/yr | 3.2% | 0.527 |
| Barry County, MO | 35,028 | $58,172 | 5.3%/yr | 4.6% | 0.535 |
| Greene County, MO | 303,351 | $61,985 | 5.0%/yr | 3.4% | 0.528 |
| Jasper County, MO | 124,268 | $60,630 | 4.3%/yr | 3.6% | 0.522 |
| Stone County, MO | 32,050 | $64,442 | 5.6%/yr | 7.1% | 0.511 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Lawrence 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 Lawrence County, Missouri.
How Rich Is Lawrence County, Missouri?
Lawrence 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 $61,185, about 14% lower than the Missouri average of $70,801.
How has median household income changed in Lawrence County, Missouri?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Lawrence County, Missouri rose 61%, from $38,104 to $61,185. Over the same years, income here outpaced Missouri as a whole: +61% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Lawrence County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Lawrence County, Missouri was $57,550, up 6% from $54,408 in 2022. The Missouri median that year was $69,047.
What was the median household income in Lawrence County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Lawrence County, Missouri was $43,929. By 2024 it had risen 39% to $61,185.
What is the Gini coefficient in Lawrence County, Missouri?
The Gini coefficient in Lawrence County is 0.521. 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 Lawrence County, Missouri?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lawrence County, Missouri has narrowed from about 34% to 17% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,665 since 2009.
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