Rowan County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Rowan 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
Rowan County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Rowan County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $65,782 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $51,497 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.0% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.8% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.5% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Rowan County is about 9% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Rowan County (5.0%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Rowan 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 Rowan County, North Carolina grew by 45.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $65,782 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Rowan County
| Metric | Rowan County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.538 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,632 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $50,179 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 14.4% | 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 Rowan County, it is 0.538, 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 17% more than women's income in Rowan County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 17% wage gap accumulates to roughly $295,855 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rowan County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 25% to 14% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2011, and was narrowest at 13% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,673 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Rowan County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.4% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 3,826 people are unemployed in Rowan County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Rowan County is 22 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Rowan County, North Carolina has fallen from 10.1% to 5.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 12.8% in 2013.
Rowan County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Rowan County, NC is typical in size for this group, 149,851 residents against a local median of 173,005, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Where Rowan County, NC breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 28% above the local median of 4.2% at 5.3%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 0.7% on unemployment, so Rowan County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Rowan County, NC has the 6th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rowan County, NC | 149,851 | $65,782 #4/6 | 5.0%/yr #3/6 | 5.3% #6/6 | 0.538 #5/6 |
| Cabarrus County, NC | 236,149 | $88,863 | 5.2%/yr | 4.6% | 0.536 |
| Davie County, NC | 44,122 | $75,112 | 4.8%/yr | 4.7% | 0.526 |
| Davidson County, NC | 173,005 | $65,085 | 4.9%/yr | 4.1% | 0.530 |
| Iredell County, NC | 196,543 | $81,685 | 5.3%/yr | 4.2% | 0.541 |
| Stanly County, NC | 64,639 | $60,751 | 4.1%/yr | 4.0% | 0.536 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Rowan 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 Rowan County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Rowan County, North Carolina?
Rowan 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 $65,782, about 9% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
Are incomes growing in Rowan County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Rowan County, North Carolina rose 45%, from $45,278 to $65,782. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +45% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Rowan County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Rowan County, North Carolina was $63,338, up 6% from $59,730 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Rowan County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Rowan County, North Carolina was $51,526. By 2024 it had risen 28% to $65,782.
What is the Gini coefficient in Rowan County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Rowan County is 0.538. 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 Rowan County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rowan County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 25% to 14% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2011, and was narrowest at 13% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,673 since 2009.
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