Johnston County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Johnston 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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B
Johnston County Around averageWealthier than 88% of counties in North Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Johnston County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $84,644 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $56,263 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.2% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.0% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.0% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Johnston County is about 17% higher than in North Carolina. Income has been growing faster in Johnston County (6.2%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Johnston 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 Johnston County, North Carolina grew by 69.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $84,644 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Johnston County
| Metric | Johnston County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.532 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $67,597 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $55,193 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.4% | 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 Johnston County, it is 0.532, 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 22% more than women's income in Johnston County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 22% wage gap accumulates to roughly $434,140 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Johnston County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 19% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2010, and was narrowest at 15% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,170 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Johnston County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 14.7% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 31 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 4,600 people are unemployed in Johnston County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Johnston County is 31 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Johnston County, North Carolina has fallen from 9.0% to 3.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.2% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.7% in 2022.
Johnston County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Johnston County, NC is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 234,262 residents against a local median of 118,630. The measure that sets Johnston County, NC apart most is median household income: $84,644, 42% above the local median of $59,780. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 6.2%/yr against a local median of 5.0%/yr, 24% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Johnston County, NC is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread $53,188 on median household income, so Johnston County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Johnston County, NC has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnston County, NC | 234,262 | $84,644 #2/6 | 6.2%/yr #1/6 | 3.8% #1/6 | 0.532 #2/6 |
| Wayne County, NC | 118,630 | $59,780 | 5.0%/yr | 4.9% | 0.530 |
| Wake County, NC | 1,178,613 | $105,784 | 5.2%/yr | 4.1% | 0.534 |
| Wilson County, NC | 79,278 | $56,688 | 4.4%/yr | 5.6% | 0.548 |
| Harnett County, NC | 139,132 | $71,432 | 5.2%/yr | 4.4% | 0.556 |
| Sampson County, NC | 59,467 | $52,596 | 4.7%/yr | 5.2% | 0.538 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Johnston County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than North Carolina, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Johnston County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Johnston County, North Carolina?
Johnston County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $84,644, about 17% higher than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How has median household income changed in Johnston County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Johnston County, North Carolina rose 70%, from $49,920 to $84,644. Over the same years, income here outpaced North Carolina as a whole: +70% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Johnston County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Johnston County, North Carolina was $80,083, up 6% from $75,364 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Johnston County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Johnston County, North Carolina was $62,636. By 2024 it had risen 35% to $84,644.
What is the Gini coefficient in Johnston County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Johnston County is 0.532. 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 Johnston County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Johnston County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 19% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2010, and was narrowest at 15% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,170 since 2009.
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