Burke County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Burke 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
Burke County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Burke County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $59,001 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $44,164 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.1% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.3% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.2% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Burke County is about 19% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Burke County (5.1%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Burke 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 Burke County, North Carolina grew by 62.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $59,001 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Burke County
| Metric | Burke County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.518 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $51,749 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $42,689 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.5% | 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 Burke County, it is 0.518, 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 21% more than women's income in Burke County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 21% wage gap accumulates to roughly $317,100 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Burke County, North Carolina has widened from about 14% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 18% in 2019, and was narrowest at 6% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,413 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Burke County widened by 3.5 points while North Carolina's narrowed by 3.0 points.
Employment
| Metric | Burke County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.4% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 1,865 people are unemployed in Burke County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Burke County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Burke County, North Carolina has fallen from 11.1% to 4.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 13.6% in 2013.
Burke County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Burke County, NC is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 87,684 residents against a local median of 64,922. Burke County, NC sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these counties turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is unemployment, 13% below the local median at 4.4% against 5.0%. Burke County, NC has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burke County, NC | 87,684 | $59,001 #2/6 | 5.1%/yr #5/6 | 4.4% #2/6 | 0.518 #1/6 |
| Caldwell County, NC | 80,517 | $56,350 | 5.3%/yr | 5.0% | 0.521 |
| McDowell County, NC | 44,809 | $57,967 | 5.7%/yr | 4.1% | 0.519 |
| Avery County, NC | 17,672 | $63,446 | 7.5%/yr | 4.8% | 0.576 |
| Rutherford County, NC | 64,922 | $51,879 | 4.7%/yr | 6.3% | 0.539 |
| Cleveland County, NC | 100,962 | $58,567 | 5.2%/yr | 5.2% | 0.541 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Burke County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than North Carolina, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Burke County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Burke County, North Carolina?
Burke 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 $59,001, about 19% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How fast is household income rising in Burke County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Burke County, North Carolina rose 63%, from $36,228 to $59,001. Over the same years, income here outpaced North Carolina as a whole: +63% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Burke County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Burke County, North Carolina was $56,228, up 4% from $54,024 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Burke County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Burke County, North Carolina was $44,048. By 2024 it had risen 34% to $59,001.
What is the Gini coefficient in Burke County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Burke County is 0.518. 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 Burke County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Burke County, North Carolina has widened from about 14% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 18% in 2019, and was narrowest at 6% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,413 since 2009.
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