Henderson County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Henderson 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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C
Henderson County Below averageWealthier than 85% of counties in North Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Henderson County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $69,064 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,615 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.7% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.9% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.4% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Henderson County is about 5% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Henderson County (4.7%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Henderson 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 Henderson County, North Carolina grew by 53.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $69,064 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Henderson County
| Metric | Henderson County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.517 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $57,274 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,210 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 15.8% | 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 Henderson County, it is 0.517, 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 19% more than women's income in Henderson County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 19% wage gap accumulates to roughly $317,240 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Henderson County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 21% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2011, and was narrowest at 14% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $517 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Henderson County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.4% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 1,963 people are unemployed in Henderson County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Henderson County is 21 minutes, about the same as in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Henderson County, North Carolina has fallen from 7.7% to 3.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.4% in 2013 and fell as low as 2.5% in 2019.
Henderson County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Henderson County, NC is typical in size for this group, 118,522 residents against a local median of 134,527, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Where Henderson County, NC breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 19% below the local median of 4.3% at 3.5%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.3% on unemployment, so Henderson County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Henderson 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henderson County, NC | 118,522 | $69,064 #3/6 | 4.7%/yr #4/6 | 3.5% #2/6 | 0.517 #1/6 |
| Buncombe County, NC | 274,254 | $74,474 | 6.0%/yr | 4.3% | 0.536 |
| Polk County, NC | 19,891 | $67,030 | 4.5%/yr | 5.1% | 0.541 |
| Transylvania County, NC | 33,685 | $65,479 | 5.1%/yr | 2.8% | 0.523 |
| Greenville County, SC | 547,972 | $77,038 | 5.0%/yr | 4.4% | 0.543 |
| Pickens County, SC | 134,527 | $61,495 | 4.4%/yr | 3.6% | 0.573 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Henderson County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat better than North Carolina, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Henderson County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Henderson County, North Carolina?
Henderson County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $69,064, about 5% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
Are incomes growing in Henderson County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Henderson County, North Carolina rose 54%, from $44,902 to $69,064. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +54% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Henderson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Henderson County, North Carolina was $67,499, up 3% from $65,412 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Henderson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Henderson County, North Carolina was $59,157. By 2024 it had risen 17% to $69,064.
Is it hard to find a job in Henderson County, North Carolina?
Unemployment in Henderson County, North Carolina is only 3.5%, 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 Henderson County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Henderson County is 0.517. 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 Henderson County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Henderson County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 21% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2011, and was narrowest at 14% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $517 since 2009.
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