McDowell County, North Carolina Income Statistics
McDowell 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
McDowell County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | McDowell County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $57,967 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $46,556 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.7% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.1% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.0% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in McDowell County is about 20% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing faster in McDowell County (5.7%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 5% of adults in McDowell 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 McDowell County, North Carolina grew by 55.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $57,967 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in McDowell County
| Metric | McDowell County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.519 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $52,065 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $46,827 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 10.1% | 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 McDowell County, it is 0.519, 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 11% more than women's income in McDowell County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 11% wage gap accumulates to roughly $183,330 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in McDowell County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 18% to 10% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 1% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,081 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | McDowell County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.0% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 823 people are unemployed in McDowell County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in McDowell County is 22 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in McDowell County, North Carolina has fallen from 10.9% to 4.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 13.8% in 2013.
McDowell County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
McDowell County, NC is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 44,809 residents against a local median of 18,788. The measure that sets McDowell County, NC apart most is unemployment: 4.1%, 36% below the local median of 6.3%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.9% on unemployment, so McDowell County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. McDowell County, NC has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDowell County, NC | 44,809 | $57,967 #4/6 | 5.7%/yr #3/6 | 4.1% #1/6 | 0.519 #4/6 |
| Rutherford County, NC | 64,922 | $51,879 | 4.7%/yr | 6.3% | 0.539 |
| Yancey County, NC | 18,788 | $58,633 | 6.1%/yr | 7.3% | 0.518 |
| Mitchell County, NC | 14,959 | $57,009 | 4.7%/yr | 6.5% | 0.503 |
| Burke County, NC | 87,684 | $59,001 | 5.1%/yr | 4.4% | 0.518 |
| Avery County, NC | 17,672 | $63,446 | 7.5%/yr | 4.8% | 0.576 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, McDowell County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than North Carolina, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in McDowell County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is McDowell County, North Carolina?
McDowell 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 $57,967, about 20% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How has median household income changed in McDowell County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in McDowell County, North Carolina rose 56%, from $37,225 to $57,967. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +56% against +61%.
What was the median household income in McDowell County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in McDowell County, North Carolina was $55,501, up 5% from $53,102 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in McDowell County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in McDowell County, North Carolina was $46,782. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $57,967.
What is the Gini coefficient in McDowell County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in McDowell County is 0.519. 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 McDowell County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in McDowell County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 18% to 10% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 1% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,081 since 2009.
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