Harnett County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Harnett 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
Harnett County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Harnett County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $71,432 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,113 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.2% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.8% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.3% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Harnett County is about 1% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Harnett County (5.2%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Harnett 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 Harnett County, North Carolina grew by 67.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $71,432 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Harnett County
| Metric | Harnett County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.556 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $62,776 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,800 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 23.9% | 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 Harnett County, it is 0.556, higher than North Carolina's 0.547, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 31% more than women's income in Harnett County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 31% wage gap accumulates to roughly $524,160 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Harnett County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 28% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2011, and was narrowest at 23% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,431 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Harnett County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.8% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 30 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 2,798 people are unemployed in Harnett County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Harnett County is 30 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Harnett County, North Carolina has fallen from 10.2% to 4.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.3% in 2014.
Harnett County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Harnett County, NC is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 139,132 residents against a local median of 80,150. Nothing separates Harnett County, NC sharply from the counties around it. Each measure below lands within 15% of the local median, close enough that the differences are within what survey sampling alone would produce.
The largest of those small differences is median household income, 7% above the local median at $71,432 against $66,701. Harnett County, NC has the 3rd highest median household income 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harnett County, NC | 139,132 | $71,432 #3/6 | 5.2%/yr #3/6 | 4.4% #4/6 | 0.556 #5/6 |
| Lee County, NC | 65,807 | $66,701 | 4.6%/yr | 3.8% | 0.527 |
| Cumberland County, NC | 338,542 | $61,555 | 4.1%/yr | 6.1% | 0.535 |
| Wake County, NC | 1,178,613 | $105,784 | 5.2%/yr | 4.1% | 0.534 |
| Hoke County, NC | 53,784 | $64,852 | 5.5%/yr | 5.8% | 0.576 |
| Chatham County, NC | 80,150 | $93,685 | 6.1%/yr | 2.9% | 0.538 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Harnett County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with North Carolina, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Harnett County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Harnett County, North Carolina?
Harnett 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 $71,432, about 1% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How has median household income changed in Harnett County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Harnett County, North Carolina rose 68%, from $42,602 to $71,432. Over the same years, income here outpaced North Carolina as a whole: +68% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Harnett County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Harnett County, North Carolina was $68,798, up 6% from $64,743 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Harnett County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Harnett County, North Carolina was $55,599. By 2024 it had risen 28% to $71,432.
What is the Gini coefficient in Harnett County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Harnett County is 0.556. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Harnett County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Harnett County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 28% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2011, and was narrowest at 23% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,431 since 2009.
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