Macon County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Macon 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.
-
D
Macon County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Macon County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $59,398 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $45,469 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.2% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.3% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.0% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Macon County is about 18% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing faster in Macon County (5.2%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Macon 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 Macon County, North Carolina grew by 54.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $59,398 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Macon County
| Metric | Macon County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.511 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $49,355 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,506 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 3.7% | 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 Macon County, it is 0.511, 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 4% more than women's income in Macon County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 4% wage gap accumulates to roughly $64,715 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Macon County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 15% to 4% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,803 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Macon County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.4% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 477 people are unemployed in Macon County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Macon County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Macon County, North Carolina has fallen from 8.2% to 2.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.3% in 2013.
Macon County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Macon County, NC is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 37,947 residents against a local median of 14,014. The measure that sets Macon County, NC apart most is unemployment: 2.8%, 40% below the local median of 4.6%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 6.3% on unemployment, so Macon County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Macon County, NC has the 3rd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macon County, NC | 37,947 | $59,398 #3/6 | 5.2%/yr #5/6 | 2.8% #3/6 | 0.511 #1/6 |
| Rabun County, GA | 17,312 | $69,357 | 7.9%/yr | 1.3% | 0.531 |
| Jackson County, NC | 43,786 | $55,909 | 4.2%/yr | 4.9% | 0.533 |
| Clay County, NC | 11,613 | $57,775 | 6.0%/yr | 2.6% | 0.546 |
| Swain County, NC | 14,014 | $55,019 | 6.5%/yr | 7.6% | 0.535 |
| Towns County, GA | 12,900 | $59,591 | 5.4%/yr | 4.6% | 0.543 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Macon 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 Macon County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Macon County, North Carolina?
Macon 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 $59,398, about 18% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How fast is household income rising in Macon County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Macon County, North Carolina rose 55%, from $38,433 to $59,398. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +55% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Macon County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Macon County, North Carolina was $54,570, up 6% from $51,279 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Macon County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Macon County, North Carolina was $45,809. By 2024 it had risen 30% to $59,398.
How strong is the job market in Macon County, North Carolina?
Unemployment in Macon County, North Carolina is only 2.8%, 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 Macon County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Macon County is 0.511. 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 Macon County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Macon County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 15% to 4% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,803 since 2009.
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