Thomas County, Nebraska Income Statistics
Thomas 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
Thomas County Around averageAmong the top 5 wealthiest counties in Nebraska
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Thomas County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $63,970 | $76,615 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,357 | $56,814 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 2.1% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 3.7% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 0.7% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Thomas County is about 17% lower than in Nebraska. Income has been growing slower in Thomas County (2.1%/yr) than in Nebraska (4.3%/yr).
About 4% of adults in Thomas 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 Thomas County, Nebraska grew by 55.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $63,970 in 2024. That's an average of about 2.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Thomas County
| Metric | Thomas County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.423 | 0.515 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $49,374 | $65,618 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $55,555 | $52,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | -12.5% | 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 Thomas County, it is 0.423, lower than Nebraska's 0.515, 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.
Women's income is about 13% more than men's income in Thomas County, Nebraska. Over a 35-year career, a 13% wage gap accumulates to roughly $216,335 in unearned income for male workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Thomas County, Nebraska has narrowed from about 14% to -13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 42% in 2016, and in 2021 women out-earned men by 13%. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $11,199 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Thomas County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.1% | 3.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.7% | 11.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 10 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 7 people are unemployed in Thomas County, Nebraska.
The average commute time in Thomas County is 10 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Nebraska.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Thomas County, Nebraska has risen from 1.0% to 2.1% in 2024.
Thomas County, NE Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Thomas County, NE is typical in size for this group, 564 residents against a local median of 647, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Where Thomas County, NE breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 61% above the local median of 1.3% at 2.1%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 2.1%/yr against a local median of 4.0%/yr, 48% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income inequality runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Thomas County, NE is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 2.9% on unemployment, so Thomas County, NE sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Thomas County, NE has the 5th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas County, NE | 564 | $63,970 #3/6 | 2.1%/yr #5/6 | 2.1% #5/6 | 0.423 #1/6 |
| Logan County, NE | 773 | $73,778 | 4.8%/yr | 1.0% | 0.529 |
| Blaine County, NE | 422 | $67,806 | 4.0%/yr | 1.3% | 0.491 |
| Hooker County, NE | 647 | $49,778 | 3.8%/yr | 3.9% | 0.494 |
| McPherson County, NE | 475 | $54,736 | 1.5%/yr | 1.0% | 0.527 |
| Brown County, NE | 2,869 | $54,532 | 4.6%/yr | 1.7% | 0.513 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Thomas County, Nebraska has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Nebraska, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Thomas County, Nebraska.
How Rich Is Thomas County, Nebraska?
Thomas 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 $63,970, about 17% lower than the Nebraska average of $76,615.
How fast is household income rising in Thomas County, Nebraska?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Thomas County, Nebraska rose 56%, from $41,111 to $63,970. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Nebraska as a whole: +56% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Thomas County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Thomas County, Nebraska was $66,000, up 2% from $64,444 in 2022. The Nebraska median that year was $74,986.
What was the median household income in Thomas County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Thomas County, Nebraska was $57,333. By 2024 it had risen 12% to $63,970.
What is the Gini coefficient in Thomas County, Nebraska?
The Gini coefficient in Thomas County is 0.423. 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 Thomas County, Nebraska?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Thomas County, Nebraska has narrowed from about 14% to -13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 42% in 2016, and in 2021 women out-earned men by 13%. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $11,199 since 2009.
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