Benton County, Oregon Income Statistics
Benton 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
Benton County Below averageWealthier than 77% of counties in Oregon
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Benton County | Oregon Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $76,897 | $83,617 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $65,679 | $63,212 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.9% | 5.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 14.1% | 14.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 12.8% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Benton County is about 8% lower than in Oregon. Income has been growing slower in Benton County (4.9%/yr) than in Oregon (5.7%/yr).
About 14% of adults in Benton County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, about the same as the Oregon average of 14%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Benton County, Oregon grew by 64.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $76,897 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Benton County
| Metric | Benton County | Oregon Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.585 | 0.538 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $78,883 | $71,900 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $61,165 | $60,417 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 22.5% | 16.0% | 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 Benton County, it is 0.585, higher than Oregon's 0.538, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 29% more than women's income in Benton County, Oregon. Over a 35-year career, a 29% wage gap accumulates to roughly $620,130 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Benton County, Oregon has narrowed from about 35% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 22% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,588 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Benton County | Oregon Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0% | 5.3% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 20.3% | 19.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 3,542 people are unemployed in Benton County, Oregon.
The average commute time in Benton County is 15 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Oregon.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Benton County, Oregon has fallen from 7.3% to 7.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.7% in 2014 and fell as low as 5.4% in 2019.
Benton County, OR Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Benton County, OR is typical in size for this group, 96,284 residents against a local median of 108,598, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Benton County, OR's unemployment, at 7.0%, runs 16% above the 6.0% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 4.9%/yr against a local median of 5.9%/yr, 16% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, and it is the wrong way: Benton County, OR reads weaker than its neighbours on all of them. The counties themselves spread 3.2% on unemployment, so Benton County, OR sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Benton County, OR 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton County, OR | 96,284 | $76,897 #3/6 | 4.9%/yr #6/6 | 7.0% #5/6 | 0.585 #6/6 |
| Polk County, OR | 89,625 | $86,020 | 5.8%/yr | 5.6% | 0.543 |
| Lincoln County, OR | 50,961 | $63,695 | 5.6%/yr | 8.0% | 0.530 |
| Yamhill County, OR | 108,598 | $89,058 | 6.2%/yr | 4.8% | 0.548 |
| Lane County, OR | 383,903 | $71,321 | 5.9%/yr | 6.4% | 0.542 |
| Linn County, OR | 130,588 | $76,336 | 6.3%/yr | 6.0% | 0.528 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Benton County, Oregon has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Oregon, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Benton County, Oregon.
How Rich Is Benton County, Oregon?
Benton 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 $76,897, about 8% lower than the Oregon average of $83,617.
How fast is household income rising in Benton County, Oregon?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Benton County, Oregon rose 65%, from $46,729 to $76,897. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Oregon as a whole: +65% against +71%.
What was the median household income in Benton County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Benton County, Oregon was $75,979, up 4% from $73,379 in 2022. The Oregon median that year was $80,917.
What was the median household income in Benton County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Benton County, Oregon was $64,845. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $76,897.
How strong is the job market in Benton County, Oregon?
Unemployment in Benton County, Oregon is 7.0%, well above the Oregon rate of 5.3%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Benton County, Oregon?
The Gini coefficient in Benton County is 0.585. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Benton County, Oregon?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Benton County, Oregon has narrowed from about 35% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 22% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,588 since 2009.
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