Chatham County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Chatham 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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B
Chatham County Around averageAmong the top 3 wealthiest counties in North Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Chatham County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $93,685 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $65,416 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.1% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 20.2% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 20.7% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Chatham County is about 29% higher than in North Carolina. Income has been growing faster in Chatham County (6.1%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 20% of adults in Chatham County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Chatham County, North Carolina grew by 68.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $93,685 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Chatham County
| Metric | Chatham County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.538 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $78,410 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $62,250 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.6% | 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 Chatham County, it is 0.538, 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 26% more than women's income in Chatham County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 26% wage gap accumulates to roughly $565,600 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Chatham County, North Carolina has widened from about 14% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2023, and was narrowest at 6% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $10,434 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Chatham County widened by 6.5 points while North Carolina's narrowed by 3.0 points.
Employment
| Metric | Chatham County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.9% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 22.5% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 26 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 1,140 people are unemployed in Chatham County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Chatham County is 26 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Chatham County, North Carolina has fallen from 7.9% to 2.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.7% in 2014 and fell as low as 2.8% in 2022.
Chatham County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Chatham County, NC is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 80,150 residents against a local median of 149,658. Chatham County, NC's unemployment, at 2.9%, runs 25% below the 3.9% typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.4% on unemployment, so Chatham County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Chatham County, NC 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatham County, NC | 80,150 | $93,685 #1/6 | 6.1%/yr #2/6 | 2.9% #1/6 | 0.538 #4/6 |
| Lee County, NC | 65,807 | $66,701 | 4.6%/yr | 3.8% | 0.527 |
| Alamance County, NC | 176,834 | $66,483 | 5.6%/yr | 5.1% | 0.540 |
| Orange County, NC | 149,658 | $88,923 | 4.8%/yr | 3.6% | 0.586 |
| Moore County, NC | 104,876 | $84,708 | 6.2%/yr | 4.5% | 0.536 |
| Durham County, NC | 331,707 | $84,826 | 5.7%/yr | 3.9% | 0.529 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Chatham County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than North Carolina, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Chatham County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Chatham County, North Carolina?
Chatham County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $93,685, about 29% higher than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
Are incomes growing in Chatham County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Chatham County, North Carolina rose 69%, from $55,478 to $93,685. Over the same years, income here outpaced North Carolina as a whole: +69% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Chatham County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Chatham County, North Carolina was $89,598, up 6% from $84,729 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Chatham County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Chatham County, North Carolina was $70,427. By 2024 it had risen 33% to $93,685.
Do many residents of Chatham County, North Carolina earn over $100,000?
Yes. 20% of adults in Chatham County, North Carolina earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 5), against 12% (about 1 in 8) in North Carolina. 21% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 10% in North Carolina.
How strong is the job market in Chatham County, North Carolina?
Unemployment in Chatham County, North Carolina is only 2.9%, well below the North Carolina rate of 4.6%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Chatham County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Chatham County is 0.538. 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 Chatham County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Chatham County, North Carolina has widened from about 14% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2023, and was narrowest at 6% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $10,434 since 2009.
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