Chowan County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Chowan 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
Chowan County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Chowan County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $56,822 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,340 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.3% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.2% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.3% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Chowan County is about 22% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Chowan County (4.3%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Chowan 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 Chowan County, North Carolina grew by 52.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $56,822 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Chowan County
| Metric | Chowan County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.522 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,593 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $42,527 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 22.1% | 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 Chowan County, it is 0.522, 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 28% more than women's income in Chowan County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 28% wage gap accumulates to roughly $422,310 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Chowan County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 33% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 19% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $390 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Chowan County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.0% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 263 people are unemployed in Chowan County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Chowan County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Chowan County, North Carolina has fallen from 12.4% to 4.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 13.3% in 2016.
Chowan County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Chowan County, NC is typical in size for this group, 13,836 residents against a local median of 13,244, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Where Chowan County, NC breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 28% below the local median of 5.7% at 4.1%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 9.3% on unemployment, so Chowan County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Chowan 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chowan County, NC | 13,836 | $56,822 #4/6 | 4.3%/yr #4/6 | 4.1% #2/6 | 0.522 #2/6 |
| Perquimans County, NC | 13,244 | $69,399 | 5.5%/yr | 3.6% | 0.534 |
| Washington County, NC | 10,812 | $43,154 | 4.1%/yr | 12.9% | 0.576 |
| Gates County, NC | 10,369 | $64,008 | 2.8%/yr | 5.8% | 0.515 |
| Bertie County, NC | 17,166 | $49,724 | 5.9%/yr | 5.1% | 0.558 |
| Pasquotank County, NC | 40,823 | $65,195 | 4.5%/yr | 5.7% | 0.538 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Chowan 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 Chowan County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Chowan County, North Carolina?
Chowan 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 $56,822, about 22% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How fast is household income rising in Chowan County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Chowan County, North Carolina rose 52%, from $37,265 to $56,822. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +52% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Chowan County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Chowan County, North Carolina was $58,277, up 14% from $51,048 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Chowan County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Chowan County, North Carolina was $44,378. By 2024 it had risen 28% to $56,822.
What is the Gini coefficient in Chowan County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Chowan County is 0.522. 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 Chowan County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Chowan County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 33% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 19% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $390 since 2009.
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