Alexander County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Alexander 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
Alexander County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Alexander County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $64,655 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $47,441 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.1% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.6% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.2% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Alexander County is about 11% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing faster in Alexander County (6.1%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Alexander County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Alexander County, North Carolina grew by 56.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $64,655 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Alexander County
| Metric | Alexander County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.525 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $53,585 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $45,212 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 15.6% | 16.7% | 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 Alexander County, it is 0.525, lower than North Carolina's 0.547, 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 19% more than women's income in Alexander County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 19% wage gap accumulates to roughly $293,055 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Alexander County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 20% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2017, and was narrowest at 14% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $892 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Alexander County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.1% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 857 people are unemployed in Alexander County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Alexander County is 22 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Alexander County, North Carolina has fallen from 12.1% to 5.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 4.8% in 2021.
Alexander County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Alexander County, NC is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 36,412 residents against a local median of 92,729. Alexander County, NC's unemployment, at 5.0%, runs 21% above the 4.2% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 6.1%/yr against a local median of 5.3%/yr, 16% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Alexander County, NC is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 1.7% on unemployment, so Alexander County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Alexander County, NC has the 5th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander County, NC | 36,412 | $64,655 #4/6 | 6.1%/yr #1/6 | 5.0% #5/6 | 0.525 #3/6 |
| Catawba County, NC | 163,556 | $67,947 | 5.2%/yr | 3.7% | 0.527 |
| Wilkes County, NC | 65,914 | $51,695 | 5.1%/yr | 5.0% | 0.511 |
| Iredell County, NC | 196,543 | $81,685 | 5.3%/yr | 4.2% | 0.541 |
| Caldwell County, NC | 80,517 | $56,350 | 5.3%/yr | 5.0% | 0.521 |
| Lincoln County, NC | 92,729 | $78,296 | 6.1%/yr | 3.3% | 0.542 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Alexander County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with North Carolina, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Alexander County, North Carolina.
How Wealthy Is Alexander County, North Carolina?
Alexander 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 $64,655, about 11% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How has median household income changed in Alexander County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Alexander County, North Carolina rose 56%, from $41,355 to $64,655. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +56% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Alexander County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Alexander County, North Carolina was $64,706, up 4% from $62,186 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Alexander County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Alexander County, North Carolina was $51,653. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $64,655.
What is the Gini coefficient in Alexander County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Alexander County is 0.525. 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 Alexander County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Alexander County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 20% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2017, and was narrowest at 14% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $892 since 2009.
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