Lee County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Lee 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.
-
C
Lee County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Lee County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $66,701 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $46,473 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.6% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.3% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.2% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Lee County is about 8% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Lee County (4.6%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Lee 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 Lee County, North Carolina grew by 53.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $66,701 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Lee County
| Metric | Lee County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.527 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,761 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $45,049 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.7% | 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 Lee County, it is 0.527, 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 Lee County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 22% wage gap accumulates to roughly $339,920 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lee County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 26% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 17% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $301 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Lee County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.7% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 1,207 people are unemployed in Lee County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Lee County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Lee County, North Carolina has fallen from 10.4% to 3.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.6% in 2013.
Lee County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Lee County, NC is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 65,807 residents against a local median of 104,876. The measure that sets Lee County, NC apart most is income growth: 4.6%/yr, 15% below the local median of 5.5%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.1%/yr on income growth, so Lee County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Lee County, NC has the 5th highest income growth 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County, NC | 65,807 | $66,701 #4/6 | 4.6%/yr #5/6 | 3.8% #2/6 | 0.527 #1/6 |
| Chatham County, NC | 80,150 | $93,685 | 6.1%/yr | 2.9% | 0.538 |
| Harnett County, NC | 139,132 | $71,432 | 5.2%/yr | 4.4% | 0.556 |
| Moore County, NC | 104,876 | $84,708 | 6.2%/yr | 4.5% | 0.536 |
| Hoke County, NC | 53,784 | $64,852 | 5.5%/yr | 5.8% | 0.576 |
| Cumberland County, NC | 338,542 | $61,555 | 4.1%/yr | 6.1% | 0.535 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Lee County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with North Carolina, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Lee County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Lee County, North Carolina?
Lee 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 $66,701, about 8% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How has median household income changed in Lee County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Lee County, North Carolina rose 54%, from $43,444 to $66,701. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +54% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Lee County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Lee County, North Carolina was $62,847, up 3% from $61,142 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Lee County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Lee County, North Carolina was $52,466. By 2024 it had risen 27% to $66,701.
What is the Gini coefficient in Lee County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Lee County is 0.527. 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 Lee County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lee County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 26% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 17% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $301 since 2009.
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