Union County, Mississippi Income Statistics
Union 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.
-
D
Union County Well below averageWealthier than 78% of counties in Mississippi
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Union County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $56,904 | $56,669 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $41,910 | $48,086 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.2% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.9% | 7.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.6% | 5.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Union County is about the same as in Mississippi. Income has been growing faster in Union County (5.2%/yr) than in Mississippi (4.3%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Union 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 Union County, Mississippi grew by 58.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $56,904 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Union County
| Metric | Union County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.554 | 0.566 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $48,381 | $56,525 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $39,931 | $43,645 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.5% | 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 Union County, it is 0.554, lower than Mississippi's 0.566, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 21% more than women's income in Union County, Mississippi. Over a 35-year career, a 21% wage gap accumulates to roughly $295,750 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Union County, Mississippi has widened from about 14% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 19% in 2023, and was narrowest at 8% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,912 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Union County widened by 3.8 points while Mississippi's narrowed by 2.5 points.
Employment
| Metric | Union County | Mississippi Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 1.4% | 5.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 543 people are unemployed in Union County, Mississippi.
The average commute time in Union County is 21 minutes, about the same as in Mississippi.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Union County, Mississippi has fallen from 8.5% to 4.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.7% in 2015 and fell as low as 3.9% in 2023.
Union County, MS Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Union County, MS is typical in size for this group, 28,122 residents against a local median of 31,525, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Where Union County, MS breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 42% above the local median of 3.1% at 4.4%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.4% on unemployment, so Union County, MS sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Union County, MS 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County, MS | 28,122 | $56,904 #3/6 | 5.2%/yr #3/6 | 4.4% #4/6 | 0.554 #5/6 |
| Pontotoc County, MS | 31,525 | $52,298 | 3.6%/yr | 3.1% | 0.531 |
| Tippah County, MS | 21,523 | $53,704 | 5.0%/yr | 5.5% | 0.531 |
| Benton County, MS | 7,589 | $46,468 | 3.1%/yr | 3.1% | 0.509 |
| Lee County, MS | 83,034 | $68,266 | 5.9%/yr | 5.0% | 0.546 |
| Lafayette County, MS | 58,327 | $70,279 | 6.1%/yr | 2.1% | 0.624 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Union County, Mississippi has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat better than Mississippi, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Union County, Mississippi.
How Wealthy Is Union County, Mississippi?
Union 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 $56,904, close to the Mississippi average of $56,669.
How fast is household income rising in Union County, Mississippi?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Union County, Mississippi rose 58%, from $35,920 to $56,904. Over the same years, income here outpaced Mississippi as a whole: +58% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Union County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Union County, Mississippi was $57,375, up 2% from $56,481 in 2022. The Mississippi median that year was $55,083.
What was the median household income in Union County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Union County, Mississippi was $48,211. By 2024 it had risen 18% to $56,904.
Is unemployment high in Union County, Mississippi?
Unemployment in Union County, Mississippi is only 4.4%, 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 Union County, Mississippi?
The Gini coefficient in Union County is 0.554. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Union County, Mississippi?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Union County, Mississippi has widened from about 14% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 19% in 2023, and was narrowest at 8% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,912 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →