Robeson County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Robeson 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
Robeson County Well below averageAmong the 5 least wealthy counties in North Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Robeson County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $42,419 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $41,771 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.8% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 3.4% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.5% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Robeson County is about 41% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Robeson County (3.8%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 3% of adults in Robeson 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 Robeson County, North Carolina grew by 49.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $42,419 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Robeson County
| Metric | Robeson County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.573 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $47,428 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $40,668 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 14.3% | 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 Robeson County, it is 0.573, higher than North Carolina's 0.547, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 17% more than women's income in Robeson County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 17% wage gap accumulates to roughly $236,600 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Robeson County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 22% to 14% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $239 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Robeson County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.2% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 2,725 people are unemployed in Robeson County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Robeson County is 21 minutes, about the same as in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Robeson County, North Carolina has fallen from 10.8% to 5.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 12.9% in 2014.
Robeson County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Robeson County, NC is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 116,854 residents against a local median of 33,590. Where Robeson County, NC breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 28% below the local median of 5.3%/yr at 3.8%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.4%/yr on income growth, so Robeson County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Robeson 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robeson County, NC | 116,854 | $42,419 #5/6 | 3.8%/yr #6/6 | 5.9% #3/6 | 0.573 #4/6 |
| Dillon County, SC | 27,862 | $46,591 | 5.3%/yr | 8.9% | 0.560 |
| Hoke County, NC | 53,784 | $64,852 | 5.5%/yr | 5.8% | 0.576 |
| Scotland County, NC | 33,590 | $45,742 | 5.5%/yr | 10.9% | 0.584 |
| Cumberland County, NC | 338,542 | $61,555 | 4.1%/yr | 6.1% | 0.535 |
| Bladen County, NC | 29,571 | $41,756 | 4.1%/yr | 5.4% | 0.562 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Robeson 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 Robeson County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Robeson County, North Carolina?
Robeson 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 $42,419, about 41% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How fast is household income rising in Robeson County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Robeson County, North Carolina rose 49%, from $28,397 to $42,419. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +49% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Robeson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Robeson County, North Carolina was $40,347, up 2% from $39,368 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Robeson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Robeson County, North Carolina was $35,329. By 2024 it had risen 20% to $42,419.
Is it hard to find a job in Robeson County, North Carolina?
Unemployment in Robeson County, North Carolina is 5.9%, well above the North Carolina rate of 4.6%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Robeson County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Robeson County is 0.573. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Robeson County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Robeson County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 22% to 14% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $239 since 2009.
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