Cleveland County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Cleveland 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
Cleveland County Well below averageLess wealthy than 77% of counties in North Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Cleveland County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $58,567 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $46,744 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.2% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.2% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.5% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Cleveland County is about 19% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Cleveland County (5.2%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Cleveland 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 Cleveland County, North Carolina grew by 54.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $58,567 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Cleveland County
| Metric | Cleveland County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.541 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,238 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $46,135 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 14.9% | 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 Cleveland County, it is 0.541, 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 18% more than women's income in Cleveland County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 18% wage gap accumulates to roughly $283,605 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cleveland County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 24% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,005 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Cleveland County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.8% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 2,463 people are unemployed in Cleveland County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Cleveland County is 21 minutes, about the same as in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Cleveland County, North Carolina has fallen from 13.1% to 5.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 13.8% in 2012.
Cleveland County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Cleveland County, NC is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 100,962 residents against a local median of 87,684. Cleveland 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, 9% above the local median at 5.2% against 4.7%. Cleveland 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland County, NC | 100,962 | $58,567 #4/6 | 5.2%/yr #3/6 | 5.2% #4/6 | 0.541 #5/6 |
| Cherokee County, SC | 56,649 | $50,370 | 4.5%/yr | 6.2% | 0.529 |
| Lincoln County, NC | 92,729 | $78,296 | 6.1%/yr | 3.3% | 0.542 |
| Rutherford County, NC | 64,922 | $51,879 | 4.7%/yr | 6.3% | 0.539 |
| Gaston County, NC | 234,809 | $67,093 | 5.3%/yr | 4.7% | 0.538 |
| Burke County, NC | 87,684 | $59,001 | 5.1%/yr | 4.4% | 0.518 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Cleveland 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 Cleveland County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Cleveland County, North Carolina?
Cleveland 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 $58,567, about 19% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How has median household income changed in Cleveland County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Cleveland County, North Carolina rose 54%, from $38,036 to $58,567. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +54% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Cleveland County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Cleveland County, North Carolina was $55,768, up 10% from $50,730 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Cleveland County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Cleveland County, North Carolina was $43,576. By 2024 it had risen 34% to $58,567.
What is the Gini coefficient in Cleveland County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Cleveland County is 0.541. 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 Cleveland County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cleveland County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 24% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,005 since 2009.
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