Aiken County, South Carolina Income Statistics
Aiken 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
Aiken County Below averageWealthier than 71% of counties in South Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Aiken County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $70,949 | $69,383 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,684 | $52,934 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.4% | 5.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.9% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.7% | 8.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Aiken County is about 2% higher than in South Carolina. Income has been growing faster in Aiken County (5.4%/yr) than in South Carolina (5.0%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Aiken County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, about the same as the South Carolina average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Aiken County, South Carolina grew by 59.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $70,949 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Aiken County
| Metric | Aiken County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.547 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $67,564 | $62,655 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,076 | $49,387 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 28.8% | 21.2% | 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 Aiken County, it is 0.547, about the same as South Carolina's 0.547, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 41% more than women's income in Aiken County, South Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 41% wage gap accumulates to roughly $682,080 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Aiken County, South Carolina has widened from about 26% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2023, and was narrowest at 25% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $7,724 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Aiken County widened by 3.0 points while South Carolina's narrowed by 2.3 points.
Employment
| Metric | Aiken County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.6% | 11.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 4,976 people are unemployed in Aiken County, South Carolina.
The average commute time in Aiken County is 22 minutes, about the same as in South Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Aiken County, South Carolina has fallen from 8.3% to 6.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.9% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.6% in 2023.
Aiken County, SC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Aiken County, SC is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 174,097 residents against a local median of 27,456. Where Aiken County, SC breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 31% above the local median of 4.1%/yr at 5.4%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 6.0% against a local median of 4.8%, 27% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Aiken County, SC is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 2.6%/yr on income growth, so Aiken County, SC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Aiken County, SC has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken County, SC | 174,097 | $70,949 #3/6 | 5.4%/yr #1/6 | 6.0% #4/6 | 0.547 #4/6 |
| Barnwell County, SC | 20,521 | $46,693 | 3.9%/yr | 7.0% | 0.544 |
| Edgefield County, SC | 27,456 | $71,945 | 5.3%/yr | 4.8% | 0.588 |
| Saluda County, SC | 19,141 | $51,188 | 2.7%/yr | 3.2% | 0.541 |
| Richmond County, GA | 206,056 | $56,121 | 4.8%/yr | 8.0% | 0.557 |
| Lexington County, SC | 304,957 | $77,064 | 4.1%/yr | 4.4% | 0.523 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Aiken County, South Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with South Carolina, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Aiken County, South Carolina.
How Wealthy Is Aiken County, South Carolina?
Aiken 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 $70,949, about 2% higher than the South Carolina average of $69,383.
How fast is household income rising in Aiken County, South Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Aiken County, South Carolina rose 59%, from $44,597 to $70,949. Over the same years, income here kept pace with South Carolina as a whole: +59% against +59%.
What was the median household income in Aiken County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Aiken County, South Carolina was $68,222, up 9% from $62,698 in 2022. The South Carolina median that year was $66,973.
What was the median household income in Aiken County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Aiken County, South Carolina was $53,969. By 2024 it had risen 31% to $70,949.
Is unemployment high in Aiken County, South Carolina?
Unemployment in Aiken County, South Carolina is 6.0%, well above the South Carolina rate of 4.8%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Aiken County, South Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Aiken County is 0.547. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Aiken County, South Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Aiken County, South Carolina has widened from about 26% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2023, and was narrowest at 25% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $7,724 since 2009.
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