Ashe County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Ashe 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
Ashe County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Ashe County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $57,366 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $43,150 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.4% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.1% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.4% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Ashe County is about 21% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing faster in Ashe County (5.4%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Ashe 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 Ashe County, North Carolina grew by 62.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $57,366 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Ashe County
| Metric | Ashe County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.512 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $51,490 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $44,956 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 12.7% | 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 Ashe County, it is 0.512, 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 15% more than women's income in Ashe County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 15% wage gap accumulates to roughly $228,690 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Ashe County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 18% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 19% in 2011, and in 2013 women out-earned men by 1%. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $667 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Ashe County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.0% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 585 people are unemployed in Ashe County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Ashe County is 21 minutes, about the same as in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Ashe County, North Carolina has fallen from 10.2% to 4.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.6% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.6% in 2019.
Ashe County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Ashe County, NC is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 26,946 residents against a local median of 18,196. Ashe County, NC's unemployment, at 4.8%, runs 29% above the 3.7% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 4.7% on unemployment, so Ashe County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Ashe County, NC 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashe County, NC | 26,946 | $57,366 #1/6 | 5.4%/yr #2/6 | 4.8% #4/6 | 0.512 #2/6 |
| Watauga County, NC | 55,114 | $52,022 | 3.5%/yr | 7.9% | 0.620 |
| Johnson County, TN | 18,196 | $53,642 | 7.5%/yr | 3.2% | 0.569 |
| Grayson County, VA | 15,277 | $47,185 | 5.4%/yr | 3.6% | 0.548 |
| Alleghany County, NC | 11,122 | $46,997 | 2.9%/yr | 3.7% | 0.518 |
| Wilkes County, NC | 65,914 | $51,695 | 5.1%/yr | 5.0% | 0.511 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Ashe 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 Ashe County, North Carolina.
How Wealthy Is Ashe County, North Carolina?
Ashe 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 $57,366, about 21% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How fast is household income rising in Ashe County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Ashe County, North Carolina rose 62%, from $35,333 to $57,366. Over the same years, income here outpaced North Carolina as a whole: +62% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Ashe County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Ashe County, North Carolina was $50,919, up 4% from $49,139 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Ashe County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Ashe County, North Carolina was $43,054. By 2024 it had risen 33% to $57,366.
What is the Gini coefficient in Ashe County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Ashe County is 0.512. 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 Ashe County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Ashe County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 18% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 19% in 2011, and in 2013 women out-earned men by 1%. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $667 since 2009.
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