Jefferson County, New York Income Statistics
Jefferson 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
Jefferson County Below averageLess wealthy than 74% of counties in New York
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Jefferson County | New York Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $66,905 | $86,556 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,736 | $70,316 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.8% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.8% | 16.7% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.8% | 17.1% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Jefferson County is about 23% lower than in New York. Income has been growing slower in Jefferson County (3.8%/yr) than in New York (4.5%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Jefferson County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the New York average of 17%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Jefferson County, New York grew by 54.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $66,905 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Jefferson County
| Metric | Jefferson County | New York Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.508 | 0.557 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $55,478 | $77,531 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,811 | $67,892 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 10.2% | 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 Jefferson County, it is 0.508, 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 11% more than women's income in Jefferson County, New York. Over a 35-year career, a 11% wage gap accumulates to roughly $198,345 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jefferson County, New York has narrowed from about 18% to 10% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 19% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,202 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Jefferson County | New York Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.7% | 15.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 28 | 22 |
Approximately 2,833 people are unemployed in Jefferson County, New York.
The average commute time in Jefferson County is 16 minutes, shorter than the 28 minutes in New York.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Jefferson County, New York has fallen from 8.4% to 4.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.8% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.7% in 2020.
Jefferson County, NY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Jefferson County, NY is typical in size for this group, 115,039 residents against a local median of 117,951, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Jefferson 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, 9% below the local median at 3.8%/yr against 4.1%/yr. Jefferson County, NY 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County, NY | 115,039 | $66,905 #5/6 | 3.8%/yr #6/6 | 4.9% #2/6 | 0.508 #2/6 |
| Oswego County, NY | 117,951 | $69,374 | 4.3%/yr | 7.0% | 0.535 |
| Lewis County, NY | 26,603 | $68,475 | 4.0%/yr | 5.1% | 0.494 |
| Oneida County, NY | 229,092 | $70,832 | 4.5%/yr | 4.6% | 0.530 |
| Onondaga County, NY | 470,361 | $77,376 | 4.1%/yr | 5.2% | 0.531 |
| St. Lawrence County, NY | 100,889 | $62,697 | 4.0%/yr | 5.3% | 0.554 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Jefferson County, New York has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat worse than New York, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Jefferson County, New York.
How Rich Is Jefferson County, New York?
Jefferson 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 $66,905, about 23% lower than the New York average of $86,556.
How fast is household income rising in Jefferson County, New York?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Jefferson County, New York rose 54%, from $43,396 to $66,905. Over the same years, income here lagged behind New York as a whole: +54% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Jefferson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Jefferson County, New York was $65,777, up 3% from $63,710 in 2022. The New York median that year was $85,199.
What was the median household income in Jefferson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Jefferson County, New York was $55,480. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $66,905.
Is unemployment high in Jefferson County, New York?
Unemployment in Jefferson County, New York is only 4.9%, well below the New York rate of 6.4%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Jefferson County, New York?
The Gini coefficient in Jefferson County is 0.508. 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 Jefferson County, New York?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jefferson County, New York has narrowed from about 18% to 10% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 19% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,202 since 2009.
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