Cherokee County, South Carolina Income Statistics
Cherokee 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
Cherokee County Well below averageLess wealthy than 76% of counties in South Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Cherokee County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $50,370 | $69,383 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $43,822 | $52,934 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.5% | 5.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.2% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.5% | 8.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Cherokee County is about 27% lower than in South Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Cherokee County (4.5%/yr) than in South Carolina (5.0%/yr).
About 4% of adults in Cherokee County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the South Carolina average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Cherokee County, South Carolina grew by 44.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $50,370 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Cherokee County
| Metric | Cherokee County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.529 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $52,321 | $62,655 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $41,849 | $49,387 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.0% | 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 Cherokee County, it is 0.529, lower than South Carolina's 0.547, 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 25% more than women's income in Cherokee County, South Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $366,520 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cherokee County, South Carolina has narrowed from about 29% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2012, and was narrowest at 15% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,273 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Cherokee County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.0% | 11.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 1,593 people are unemployed in Cherokee County, South Carolina.
The average commute time in Cherokee County is 21 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in South Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Cherokee County, South Carolina has fallen from 14.5% to 6.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 15.3% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.9% in 2018.
Cherokee County, SC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Cherokee County, SC is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 56,649 residents against a local median of 100,962. Cherokee County, SC's unemployment, at 6.2%, runs 21% above the 5.2% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.8% on unemployment, so Cherokee County, SC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Cherokee County, SC has the 4th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee County, SC | 56,649 | $50,370 #5/6 | 4.5%/yr #5/6 | 6.2% #4/6 | 0.529 #2/6 |
| Cleveland County, NC | 100,962 | $58,567 | 5.2%/yr | 5.2% | 0.541 |
| Union County, SC | 26,885 | $41,432 | 2.2%/yr | 7.9% | 0.528 |
| Spartanburg County, SC | 347,752 | $66,222 | 4.9%/yr | 4.3% | 0.539 |
| York County, SC | 293,716 | $90,058 | 5.9%/yr | 4.1% | 0.534 |
| Rutherford County, NC | 64,922 | $51,879 | 4.7%/yr | 6.3% | 0.539 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Cherokee County, South Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than South Carolina, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Cherokee County, South Carolina.
How Rich Is Cherokee County, South Carolina?
Cherokee 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 $50,370, about 27% lower than the South Carolina average of $69,383.
How fast is household income rising in Cherokee County, South Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Cherokee County, South Carolina rose 45%, from $34,762 to $50,370. Over the same years, income here lagged behind South Carolina as a whole: +45% against +59%.
What was the median household income in Cherokee County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Cherokee County, South Carolina was $49,064, up 3% from $47,449 in 2022. The South Carolina median that year was $66,973.
What was the median household income in Cherokee County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Cherokee County, South Carolina was $37,865. By 2024 it had risen 33% to $50,370.
How strong is the job market in Cherokee County, South Carolina?
Unemployment in Cherokee County, South Carolina is 6.2%, well above the South Carolina rate of 4.8%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Cherokee County, South Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Cherokee County is 0.529. 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 Cherokee County, South Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cherokee County, South Carolina has narrowed from about 29% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2012, and was narrowest at 15% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,273 since 2009.
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