McPherson County, Nebraska Income Statistics
McPherson 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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C
McPherson County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | McPherson County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $76,615 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $38,160 | $56,814 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 1.5% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.9% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.7% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in McPherson County is about 29% lower than in Nebraska. Income has been growing slower in McPherson County (1.5%/yr) than in Nebraska (4.3%/yr).
About 8% of adults in McPherson County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Nebraska average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in McPherson County, Nebraska grew by 7.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $54,736 in 2024. That's an average of about 1.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in McPherson County
| Metric | McPherson County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.527 | 0.515 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $39,860 | $65,618 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $24,614 | $52,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 38.2% | 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 McPherson County, it is 0.527, 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 62% more than women's income in McPherson County, Nebraska. Over a 35-year career, a 62% wage gap accumulates to roughly $533,610 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in McPherson County, Nebraska has widened from about 14% to 38% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 45% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $10,746 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in McPherson County widened by 24.3 points while Nebraska's narrowed by 3.1 points.
Employment
| Metric | McPherson County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.0% | 3.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 18.1% | 11.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 12 | 16 | 22 |
The average commute time in McPherson County is 12 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Nebraska.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in McPherson County, Nebraska has fallen from 1.2% to 1.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 2.9% in 2012 and fell as low as 1.0% in 2015.
McPherson County, NE Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
McPherson County, NE is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 475 residents against a local median of 647. McPherson County, NE's income growth, at 1.5%/yr, runs 60% below the 3.8%/yr typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 1.0% against a local median of 2.1%, 52% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so McPherson County, NE is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 6.4%/yr on income growth, so McPherson County, NE sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. McPherson County, NE 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McPherson County, NE | 475 | $54,736 #5/6 | 1.5%/yr #6/6 | 1.0% #1/6 | 0.527 #5/6 |
| Hooker County, NE | 647 | $49,778 | 3.8%/yr | 3.9% | 0.494 |
| Logan County, NE | 773 | $73,778 | 4.8%/yr | 1.0% | 0.529 |
| Lincoln County, NE | 33,802 | $65,832 | 2.9%/yr | 3.6% | 0.507 |
| Thomas County, NE | 564 | $63,970 | 2.1%/yr | 2.1% | 0.423 |
| Arthur County, NE | 484 | $75,833 | 8.4%/yr | 1.0% | 0.527 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, McPherson County, Nebraska has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Nebraska, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in McPherson County, Nebraska.
How Rich Is McPherson County, Nebraska?
McPherson County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $54,736, about 29% lower than the Nebraska average of $76,615.
How has median household income changed in McPherson County, Nebraska?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in McPherson County, Nebraska rose 8%, from $50,833 to $54,736. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Nebraska as a whole: +8% against +60%.
What was the median household income in McPherson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in McPherson County, Nebraska was $65,357, up 11% from $59,078 in 2022. The Nebraska median that year was $74,986.
What was the median household income in McPherson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in McPherson County, Nebraska was $53,863. By 2024 it had risen 2% to $54,736.
Is unemployment high in McPherson County, Nebraska?
Unemployment in McPherson County, Nebraska is only 1.0%, 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 McPherson County, Nebraska?
The Gini coefficient in McPherson County is 0.527. 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 McPherson County, Nebraska?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in McPherson County, Nebraska has widened from about 14% to 38% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 45% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $10,746 since 2009.
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