Jefferson County, Pennsylvania 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 average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Jefferson County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $58,953 | $78,249 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $48,553 | $62,573 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.7% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.5% | 13.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.1% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Jefferson County is about 25% lower than in Pennsylvania. Income has been growing slower in Jefferson County (3.7%/yr) than in Pennsylvania (4.4%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Jefferson County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Pennsylvania average of 13%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania grew by 59.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $58,953 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Jefferson County
| Metric | Jefferson County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.506 | 0.537 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $56,112 | $71,585 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $43,765 | $57,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 22.0% | 19.2% | 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 0.506, lower than Pennsylvania's 0.537, 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 28% more than women's income in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania. Over a 35-year career, a 28% wage gap accumulates to roughly $432,145 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, Pennsylvania has narrowed from about 27% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2015, and was narrowest at 21% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,013 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Jefferson County | Pennsylvania Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.7% | 15.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 858 people are unemployed in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.
The average commute time in Jefferson County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Pennsylvania.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania has fallen from 7.3% to 4.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.7% in 2013.
Jefferson County, PA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Jefferson County, PA is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 43,864 residents against a local median of 37,179. The measure that sets Jefferson County, PA apart most is unemployment: 4.2%, 26% below the local median of 5.6%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 3.7%/yr against a local median of 4.8%/yr, 22% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so Jefferson County, PA is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 4.3% on unemployment, so Jefferson County, PA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Jefferson County, PA has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County, PA | 43,864 | $58,953 #5/6 | 3.7%/yr #5/6 | 4.2% #2/6 | 0.506 #2/6 |
| Clarion County, PA | 37,179 | $62,370 | 4.8%/yr | 5.1% | 0.532 |
| Forest County, PA | 6,715 | $53,381 | 4.9%/yr | 2.5% | 0.635 |
| Elk County, PA | 30,506 | $65,302 | 3.9%/yr | 5.6% | 0.474 |
| Indiana County, PA | 83,041 | $60,208 | 3.7%/yr | 6.7% | 0.558 |
| Clearfield County, PA | 78,582 | $63,193 | 4.8%/yr | 5.9% | 0.529 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Pennsylvania, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.
How Rich Is Jefferson County, Pennsylvania?
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 $58,953, about 25% lower than the Pennsylvania average of $78,249.
How fast is household income rising in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania rose 60%, from $36,878 to $58,953. Over the same years, income here outpaced Pennsylvania as a whole: +60% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Jefferson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania was $57,112, up 2% from $56,208 in 2022. The Pennsylvania median that year was $76,230.
What was the median household income in Jefferson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania was $49,606. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $58,953.
How strong is the job market in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania?
Unemployment in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania is only 4.2%, well below the Pennsylvania rate of 5.2%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania?
The Gini coefficient in Jefferson County is 0.506. 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, Pennsylvania?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania has narrowed from about 27% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2015, and was narrowest at 21% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,013 since 2009.
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