Cherokee County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Cherokee 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
Cherokee County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Cherokee County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $54,386 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $43,009 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.6% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.5% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.1% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Cherokee County is about 25% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing faster in Cherokee County (5.6%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 4% of adults in Cherokee 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 Cherokee County, North Carolina grew by 46.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $54,386 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Cherokee County
| Metric | Cherokee County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.497 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $47,693 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $41,943 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 12.1% | 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 Cherokee County, it is 0.497, 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 14% more than women's income in Cherokee County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 14% wage gap accumulates to roughly $201,250 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cherokee County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 22% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2012, and was narrowest at 1% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,884 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Cherokee County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.8% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 510 people are unemployed in Cherokee County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Cherokee County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Cherokee County, North Carolina has fallen from 7.3% to 4.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.8% in 2014.
Cherokee County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Cherokee County, NC is typical in size for this group, 29,563 residents against a local median of 25,731, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest counties, which makes Cherokee County, NC an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is unemployment, 10% above the local median at 4.1% against 3.7%. Cherokee 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee County, NC | 29,563 | $54,386 #5/6 | 5.6%/yr #3/6 | 4.1% #4/6 | 0.497 #1/6 |
| Union County, GA | 26,304 | $68,463 | 6.4%/yr | 2.6% | 0.524 |
| Graham County, NC | 8,067 | $49,669 | 4.6%/yr | 7.0% | 0.505 |
| Clay County, NC | 11,613 | $57,775 | 6.0%/yr | 2.6% | 0.546 |
| Monroe County, TN | 47,695 | $56,619 | 5.5%/yr | 4.3% | 0.530 |
| Fannin County, GA | 25,731 | $58,441 | 5.3%/yr | 3.7% | 0.555 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Cherokee 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 Cherokee County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Cherokee County, North Carolina?
Cherokee 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 $54,386, about 25% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How has median household income changed in Cherokee County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Cherokee County, North Carolina rose 47%, from $37,092 to $54,386. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +47% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Cherokee County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Cherokee County, North Carolina was $51,405, up 5% from $49,093 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Cherokee County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Cherokee County, North Carolina was $41,055. By 2024 it had risen 32% to $54,386.
What is the Gini coefficient in Cherokee County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Cherokee County is 0.497. 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 Cherokee County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cherokee County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 22% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2012, and was narrowest at 1% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,884 since 2009.
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