Harlan County, Nebraska Income Statistics
Harlan 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
Harlan County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Harlan County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $69,654 | $76,615 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $55,077 | $56,814 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.8% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 12.0% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 14.4% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Harlan County is about 9% lower than in Nebraska. Income has been growing faster in Harlan County (5.8%/yr) than in Nebraska (4.3%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Harlan County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Nebraska average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Harlan County, Nebraska grew by 76.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $69,654 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Harlan County
| Metric | Harlan County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.533 | 0.515 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $74,742 | $65,618 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,388 | $52,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 31.2% | 19.5% | 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 Harlan County, it is 0.533, higher than Nebraska's 0.515, so income is less 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 45% more than women's income in Harlan County, Nebraska. Over a 35-year career, a 45% wage gap accumulates to roughly $817,390 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Harlan County, Nebraska has widened from about 26% to 31% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 38% in 2012, and was narrowest at 15% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $13,772 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Harlan County widened by 4.8 points while Nebraska's narrowed by 3.1 points.
Employment
| Metric | Harlan County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.3% | 3.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.5% | 11.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 12 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 18 people are unemployed in Harlan County, Nebraska.
The average commute time in Harlan County is 12 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Nebraska.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Harlan County, Nebraska has fallen from 1.9% to 1.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 2.9% in 2014 and fell as low as 1.1% in 2019.
Harlan County, NE Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Harlan County, NE is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 2,847 residents against a local median of 4,568. Where Harlan County, NE breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 52% above the local median of 3.8%/yr at 5.8%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 1.3% against a local median of 2.4%, 46% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Harlan County, NE is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 2.7%/yr on income growth, so Harlan County, NE sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Harlan County, NE has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlan County, NE | 2,847 | $69,654 #2/6 | 5.8%/yr #1/6 | 1.3% #3/6 | 0.533 #6/6 |
| Phelps County, NE | 9,009 | $68,938 | 3.9%/yr | 1.2% | 0.498 |
| Phillips County, KS | 4,813 | $62,484 | 3.8%/yr | 3.2% | 0.459 |
| Franklin County, NE | 2,846 | $60,274 | 3.2%/yr | 2.7% | 0.512 |
| Furnas County, NE | 4,568 | $61,822 | 5.6%/yr | 1.0% | 0.502 |
| Gosper County, NE | 2,040 | $76,816 | 2.8%/yr | 2.4% | 0.508 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Harlan County, Nebraska has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Nebraska, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Harlan County, Nebraska.
How Rich Is Harlan County, Nebraska?
Harlan 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 $69,654, about 9% lower than the Nebraska average of $76,615.
How fast is household income rising in Harlan County, Nebraska?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Harlan County, Nebraska rose 77%, from $39,416 to $69,654. Over the same years, income here outpaced Nebraska as a whole: +77% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Harlan County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Harlan County, Nebraska was $69,374, up 10% from $62,896 in 2022. The Nebraska median that year was $74,986.
What was the median household income in Harlan County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Harlan County, Nebraska was $51,709. By 2024 it had risen 35% to $69,654.
How strong is the job market in Harlan County, Nebraska?
Unemployment in Harlan County, Nebraska is only 1.3%, well below the Nebraska rate of 3.0%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Harlan County, Nebraska?
The Gini coefficient in Harlan County is 0.533. 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 Harlan County, Nebraska?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Harlan County, Nebraska has widened from about 26% to 31% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 38% in 2012, and was narrowest at 15% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $13,772 since 2009.
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