Lake County, Oregon Income Statistics
Lake 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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D
Lake County Well below averageAmong the 5 least wealthy counties in Oregon
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Lake County | Oregon Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $61,953 | $83,617 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,498 | $63,212 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 7.9% | 5.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.0% | 14.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.3% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Lake County is about 26% lower than in Oregon. Income has been growing faster in Lake County (7.9%/yr) than in Oregon (5.7%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Lake County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Oregon average of 14%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Lake County, Oregon grew by 63.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $61,953 in 2024. That's an average of about 7.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Lake County
| Metric | Lake County | Oregon Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.524 | 0.538 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $59,079 | $71,900 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $46,805 | $60,417 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.8% | 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 Lake County, it is 0.524, lower than Oregon's 0.538, 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 26% more than women's income in Lake County, Oregon. Over a 35-year career, a 26% wage gap accumulates to roughly $429,590 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lake County, Oregon has widened from about 17% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2010, and was narrowest at 3% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,981 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Lake County widened by 4.3 points while Oregon's narrowed by 7.1 points.
Employment
| Metric | Lake County | Oregon Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% | 5.3% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.4% | 19.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 7 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 141 people are unemployed in Lake County, Oregon.
The average commute time in Lake County is 7 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Oregon.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Lake County, Oregon has fallen from 13.7% to 4.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 13.7% in 2012.
Lake County, OR Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Lake County, OR is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 8,267 residents against a local median of 26,277. Where Lake County, OR breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 51% above the local median of 5.2%/yr at 7.9%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 4.1% against a local median of 5.9%, 30% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Lake County, OR is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 5.3%/yr on income growth, so Lake County, OR sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Lake County, OR has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake County, OR | 8,267 | $61,953 #3/6 | 7.9%/yr #2/6 | 4.1% #2/6 | 0.524 #3/6 |
| Modoc County, CA | 8,600 | $59,671 | 4.9%/yr | 7.6% | 0.568 |
| Klamath County, OR | 70,242 | $58,700 | 4.3%/yr | 7.0% | 0.555 |
| Crook County, OR | 26,277 | $82,119 | 9.6%/yr | 5.9% | 0.515 |
| Deschutes County, OR | 206,229 | $93,904 | 7.1%/yr | 4.4% | 0.517 |
| Harney County, OR | 7,499 | $56,838 | 5.2%/yr | 3.7% | 0.541 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Lake County, Oregon has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Oregon, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Lake County, Oregon.
How Rich Is Lake County, Oregon?
Lake County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $61,953, about 26% lower than the Oregon average of $83,617.
How fast is household income rising in Lake County, Oregon?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Lake County, Oregon rose 64%, from $37,863 to $61,953. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Oregon as a whole: +64% against +71%.
What was the median household income in Lake County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Lake County, Oregon was $61,658, up 11% from $55,369 in 2022. The Oregon median that year was $80,917.
What was the median household income in Lake County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Lake County, Oregon was $44,291. By 2024 it had risen 40% to $61,953.
Is unemployment high in Lake County, Oregon?
Unemployment in Lake County, Oregon is only 4.1%, well below the Oregon rate of 5.3%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Lake County, Oregon?
The Gini coefficient in Lake County is 0.524. 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 Lake County, Oregon?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lake County, Oregon has widened from about 17% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2010, and was narrowest at 3% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,981 since 2009.
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