Columbia County, New York Income Statistics
Columbia 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
Columbia County Around averageWealthier than 80% of counties in New York
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Columbia County | New York Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $82,826 | $86,556 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $64,673 | $70,316 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.2% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 16.3% | 16.7% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 15.3% | 17.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Columbia County is about 4% lower than in New York. Income has been growing slower in Columbia County (4.2%/yr) than in New York (4.5%/yr).
About 16% of adults in Columbia County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, about the same as the New York average of 17%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Columbia County, New York grew by 50.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $82,826 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Columbia County
| Metric | Columbia County | New York Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.535 | 0.557 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $74,277 | $77,531 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $66,016 | $67,892 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 11.1% | 12.4% | 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 Columbia County, it is 0.535, lower than New York's 0.557, 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 13% more than women's income in Columbia County, New York. Over a 35-year career, a 13% wage gap accumulates to roughly $289,135 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Columbia County, New York has narrowed from about 25% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 9% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $4,452 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Columbia County | New York Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 17.4% | 15.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 28 | 22 |
Approximately 1,653 people are unemployed in Columbia County, New York.
The average commute time in Columbia County is 21 minutes, shorter than the 28 minutes in New York.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Columbia County, New York has fallen from 7.6% to 5.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.9% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.9% in 2019.
Columbia County, NY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Columbia County, NY is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 61,100 residents against a local median of 160,332. Columbia County, NY sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these counties turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is income growth, 5% below the local median at 4.2%/yr against 4.4%/yr. Columbia County, NY has the 5th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia County, NY | 61,100 | $82,826 #4/6 | 4.2%/yr #5/6 | 5.4% #6/6 | 0.535 #4/6 |
| Berkshire County, MA | 129,358 | $76,040 | 4.7%/yr | 5.4% | 0.519 |
| Rensselaer County, NY | 160,332 | $87,745 | 4.4%/yr | 5.3% | 0.509 |
| Albany County, NY | 317,009 | $85,884 | 4.4%/yr | 5.0% | 0.529 |
| Greene County, NY | 47,409 | $78,318 | 5.5%/yr | 3.9% | 0.538 |
| Dutchess County, NY | 298,059 | $99,515 | 4.0%/yr | 5.2% | 0.543 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Columbia County, New York has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than New York, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Columbia County, New York.
How Rich Is Columbia County, New York?
Columbia 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 $82,826, about 4% lower than the New York average of $86,556.
How fast is household income rising in Columbia County, New York?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Columbia County, New York rose 50%, from $55,148 to $82,826. Over the same years, income here lagged behind New York as a whole: +50% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Columbia County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Columbia County, New York was $84,090, up 1% from $83,574 in 2022. The New York median that year was $85,199.
What was the median household income in Columbia County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Columbia County, New York was $69,261. By 2024 it had risen 20% to $82,826.
What is the Gini coefficient in Columbia County, New York?
The Gini coefficient in Columbia County is 0.535. 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 Columbia County, New York?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Columbia County, New York has narrowed from about 25% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 9% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $4,452 since 2009.
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