Wilkes County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Wilkes 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
Wilkes County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Wilkes County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $51,695 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $42,454 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.1% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.1% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.2% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Wilkes County is about 29% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Wilkes County (5.1%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 4% of adults in Wilkes 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 Wilkes County, North Carolina grew by 51.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $51,695 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Wilkes County
| Metric | Wilkes County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.511 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $45,976 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $41,162 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 10.5% | 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 Wilkes 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 12% more than women's income in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 12% wage gap accumulates to roughly $168,490 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Wilkes County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 15% to 10% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 19% in 2014, and was narrowest at 8% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $45 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Wilkes County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.1% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 1,516 people are unemployed in Wilkes County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Wilkes County is 21 minutes, about the same as in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Wilkes County, North Carolina has fallen from 12.0% to 5.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 14.9% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.9% in 2023.
Wilkes County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Wilkes County, NC is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 65,914 residents against a local median of 26,946. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest counties, which makes Wilkes County, NC an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is median household income, 8% below the local median at $51,695 against $56,350. Wilkes County, NC has the 4th highest median household income 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilkes County, NC | 65,914 | $51,695 #4/6 | 5.1%/yr #5/6 | 5.0% #4/6 | 0.511 #1/6 |
| Alexander County, NC | 36,412 | $64,655 | 6.1%/yr | 5.0% | 0.525 |
| Alleghany County, NC | 11,122 | $46,997 | 2.9%/yr | 3.7% | 0.518 |
| Ashe County, NC | 26,946 | $57,366 | 5.4%/yr | 4.8% | 0.512 |
| Grayson County, VA | 15,277 | $47,185 | 5.4%/yr | 3.6% | 0.548 |
| Caldwell County, NC | 80,517 | $56,350 | 5.3%/yr | 5.0% | 0.521 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Wilkes 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 Wilkes County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Wilkes County, North Carolina?
Wilkes 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 $51,695, about 29% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How fast is household income rising in Wilkes County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Wilkes County, North Carolina rose 51%, from $34,224 to $51,695. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +51% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Wilkes County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Wilkes County, North Carolina was $50,496, up 3% from $49,161 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Wilkes County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Wilkes County, North Carolina was $44,983. By 2024 it had risen 15% to $51,695.
What is the Gini coefficient in Wilkes County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Wilkes 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 Wilkes County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Wilkes County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 15% to 10% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 19% in 2014, and was narrowest at 8% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $45 since 2009.
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