Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Mecklenburg 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
Mecklenburg County Around averageAmong the top 5 wealthiest counties in North Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Mecklenburg County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $87,854 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $63,452 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.0% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 18.1% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 16.3% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Mecklenburg County is about 21% higher than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Mecklenburg County (5.0%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 18% of adults in Mecklenburg County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina grew by 57.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $87,854 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Mecklenburg County
| Metric | Mecklenburg County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.532 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $74,624 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $60,641 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.7% | 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 Mecklenburg 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 23% more than women's income in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 23% wage gap accumulates to roughly $489,405 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 21% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2012, and was narrowest at 18% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,366 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Mecklenburg County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 28.5% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 28,642 people are unemployed in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Mecklenburg County is 22 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina has fallen from 9.5% to 4.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.6% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.2% in 2023.
Mecklenburg County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Mecklenburg County, NC is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 1,154,528 residents against a local median of 236,149. Nothing separates Mecklenburg County, NC sharply from the counties around it. Each measure below lands within 15% of the local median, close enough that the differences are within what survey sampling alone would produce.
The largest of those small differences is income growth, 10% below the local median at 5.0%/yr against 5.6%/yr. Mecklenburg County, NC has the 6th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mecklenburg County, NC | 1,154,528 | $87,854 #4/6 | 5.0%/yr #6/6 | 4.3% #4/6 | 0.532 #1/6 |
| Cabarrus County, NC | 236,149 | $88,863 | 5.2%/yr | 4.6% | 0.536 |
| Gaston County, NC | 234,809 | $67,093 | 5.3%/yr | 4.7% | 0.538 |
| Union County, NC | 250,888 | $104,427 | 5.6%/yr | 4.2% | 0.554 |
| York County, SC | 293,716 | $90,058 | 5.9%/yr | 4.1% | 0.534 |
| Lincoln County, NC | 92,729 | $78,296 | 6.1%/yr | 3.3% | 0.542 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Mecklenburg 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 Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Mecklenburg County, North Carolina?
Mecklenburg 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 $87,854, about 21% higher than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
Are incomes growing in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina rose 57%, from $55,932 to $87,854. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +57% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Mecklenburg County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina was $84,454, up 6% from $79,445 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Mecklenburg County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina was $69,605. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $87,854.
Is Mecklenburg County, North Carolina a high-income area?
Yes. 18% of adults in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 6), against 12% (about 1 in 8) in North Carolina. 16% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 10% in North Carolina.
What is the Gini coefficient in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Mecklenburg 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 Mecklenburg County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 21% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2012, and was narrowest at 18% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,366 since 2009.
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