Jefferson County, Mississippi Income Statistics
Jefferson 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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F
Jefferson County Well below averageAmong the 5 least wealthy counties in Mississippi
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Jefferson County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $37,487 | $56,669 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $37,205 | $48,086 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.2% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.5% | 7.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.7% | 5.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Jefferson County is about 34% lower than in Mississippi. Income has been growing faster in Jefferson County (6.2%/yr) than in Mississippi (4.3%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, Mississippi grew by 61.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $37,487 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Jefferson County
| Metric | Jefferson County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.607 | 0.566 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $39,181 | $56,525 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $36,492 | $43,645 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 6.9% | 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 Jefferson County, it is 0.607, higher than Mississippi's 0.566, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 7% more than women's income in Jefferson County, Mississippi. Over a 35-year career, a 7% wage gap accumulates to roughly $94,115 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jefferson County, Mississippi has widened from about -4% to 7% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 38% in 2014, and in 2021 women out-earned men by 16%. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,741 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Jefferson County widened by 10.9 points while Mississippi's narrowed by 2.5 points.
Employment
| Metric | Jefferson County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.8% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.5% | 5.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 26 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 46 people are unemployed in Jefferson County, Mississippi.
The average commute time in Jefferson County is 26 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in Mississippi.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Jefferson County, Mississippi has fallen from 13.7% to 1.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 17.3% in 2014.
Jefferson County, MS Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Jefferson County, MS is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 7,068 residents against a local median of 8,582. The measure that sets Jefferson County, MS apart most is unemployment: 1.8%, 71% below the local median of 6.4%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 6.2%/yr against a local median of 4.3%/yr, 45% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Jefferson County, MS is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 7.5% on unemployment, so Jefferson County, MS sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Jefferson County, MS has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County, MS | 7,068 | $37,487 #4/6 | 6.2%/yr #1/6 | 1.8% #1/6 | 0.607 #4/6 |
| Claiborne County, MS | 8,582 | $30,916 | 2.9%/yr | 6.9% | 0.615 |
| Franklin County, MS | 7,622 | $53,179 | 3.8%/yr | 4.0% | 0.601 |
| Adams County, MS | 28,803 | $43,475 | 4.3%/yr | 6.4% | 0.607 |
| Tensas Parish, LA | 3,935 | $37,110 | 6.2%/yr | 11.4% | 0.543 |
| Copiah County, MS | 27,855 | $48,851 | 4.4%/yr | 5.8% | 0.600 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Jefferson County, Mississippi has an overall wealth index grade of F, making it somewhat worse than Mississippi, and worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Jefferson County, Mississippi.
How Rich Is Jefferson County, Mississippi?
Jefferson County has a wealth index grade of F. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an F grade means residents are well below the U.S. average. The median household income is $37,487, about 34% lower than the Mississippi average of $56,669.
Are incomes growing in Jefferson County, Mississippi?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Jefferson County, Mississippi rose 62%, from $23,203 to $37,487. Over the same years, income here outpaced Mississippi as a whole: +62% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Jefferson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Jefferson County, Mississippi was $35,326, up 9% from $32,500 in 2022. The Mississippi median that year was $55,083.
What was the median household income in Jefferson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Jefferson County, Mississippi was $29,319. By 2024 it had risen 28% to $37,487.
How strong is the job market in Jefferson County, Mississippi?
Unemployment in Jefferson County, Mississippi is only 1.8%, 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 Jefferson County, Mississippi?
The Gini coefficient in Jefferson County is 0.607. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Jefferson County, Mississippi?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jefferson County, Mississippi has widened from about -4% to 7% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 38% in 2014, and in 2021 women out-earned men by 16%. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,741 since 2009.
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