Benton County, Mississippi 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 average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Benton County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $46,468 | $56,669 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $36,073 | $48,086 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.1% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 3.8% | 7.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.0% | 5.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Benton County is about 18% lower than in Mississippi. Income has been growing slower in Benton County (3.1%/yr) than in Mississippi (4.3%/yr).
About 4% of adults in Benton County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Mississippi average of 7%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Benton County, Mississippi grew by 67.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $46,468 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Benton County
| Metric | Benton County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.509 | 0.566 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $40,347 | $56,525 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $36,799 | $43,645 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 8.8% | 22.8% | 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 0.509, lower than Mississippi's 0.566, 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 10% more than women's income in Benton County, Mississippi. Over a 35-year career, a 10% wage gap accumulates to roughly $124,180 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, Mississippi has narrowed from about 14% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 38% in 2012, and was narrowest at 2% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $774 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Benton County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 1.9% | 5.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 32 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 105 people are unemployed in Benton County, Mississippi.
The average commute time in Benton County is 32 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in Mississippi.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Benton County, Mississippi has fallen from 17.5% to 3.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 20.0% in 2013 and fell as low as 2.6% in 2020.
Benton County, MS Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Benton County, MS is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 7,589 residents against a local median of 28,122. Where Benton County, MS breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 38% below the local median of 5.0%/yr at 3.1%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 3.1% against a local median of 4.7%, 34% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so Benton County, MS is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 2.3%/yr on income growth, so Benton County, MS sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Benton County, MS has the 6th 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, MS | 7,589 | $46,468 #5/6 | 3.1%/yr #6/6 | 3.1% #1/6 | 0.509 #1/6 |
| Tippah County, MS | 21,523 | $53,704 | 5.0%/yr | 5.5% | 0.531 |
| Marshall County, MS | 33,979 | $53,460 | 3.6%/yr | 4.4% | 0.569 |
| Union County, MS | 28,122 | $56,904 | 5.2%/yr | 4.4% | 0.554 |
| Hardeman County, TN | 25,433 | $46,091 | 4.1%/yr | 9.8% | 0.581 |
| Fayette County, TN | 43,762 | $87,617 | 5.9%/yr | 4.7% | 0.542 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Benton County, Mississippi has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with Mississippi, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Benton County, Mississippi.
How Rich Is Benton County, Mississippi?
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 $46,468, about 18% lower than the Mississippi average of $56,669.
How fast is household income rising in Benton County, Mississippi?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Benton County, Mississippi rose 67%, from $27,768 to $46,468. Over the same years, income here outpaced Mississippi as a whole: +67% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Benton County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Benton County, Mississippi was $41,780, up 8% from $38,628 in 2022. The Mississippi median that year was $55,083.
What was the median household income in Benton County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Benton County, Mississippi was $39,726. By 2024 it had risen 17% to $46,468.
How strong is the job market in Benton County, Mississippi?
Unemployment in Benton County, Mississippi is only 3.1%, well below the Mississippi rate of 5.7%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Benton County, Mississippi?
The Gini coefficient in Benton County is 0.509. 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, Mississippi?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Benton County, Mississippi has narrowed from about 14% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 38% in 2012, and was narrowest at 2% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $774 since 2009.
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