Oconee County, South Carolina Income Statistics
Oconee 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
Oconee County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Oconee County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $63,288 | $69,383 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $50,798 | $52,934 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.3% | 5.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.2% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.8% | 8.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Oconee County is about 9% lower than in South Carolina. Income has been growing faster in Oconee County (5.3%/yr) than in South Carolina (5.0%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Oconee 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 Oconee County, South Carolina grew by 54.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $63,288 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Oconee County
| Metric | Oconee County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.558 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,280 | $62,655 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,720 | $49,387 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 22.1% | 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 Oconee County, it is 0.558, higher than South Carolina's 0.547, 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 28% more than women's income in Oconee County, South Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 28% wage gap accumulates to roughly $474,600 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Oconee County, South Carolina has narrowed from about 26% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2011, and was narrowest at 18% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,860 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Oconee County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.9% | 11.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 2,101 people are unemployed in Oconee County, South Carolina.
The average commute time in Oconee County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in South Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Oconee County, South Carolina has fallen from 11.5% to 5.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 12.9% in 2012 and fell as low as 5.5% in 2019.
Oconee County, SC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Oconee County, SC is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 80,589 residents against a local median of 26,939. Oconee County, SC's unemployment, at 5.9%, runs 62% above the 3.6% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 4.6% on unemployment, so Oconee County, SC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Oconee County, SC 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oconee County, SC | 80,589 | $63,288 #2/6 | 5.3%/yr #3/6 | 5.9% #5/6 | 0.558 #4/6 |
| Stephens County, GA | 27,012 | $54,840 | 5.0%/yr | 5.4% | 0.530 |
| Rabun County, GA | 17,312 | $69,357 | 7.9%/yr | 1.3% | 0.531 |
| Pickens County, SC | 134,527 | $61,495 | 4.4%/yr | 3.6% | 0.573 |
| Franklin County, GA | 24,234 | $52,500 | 4.4%/yr | 5.9% | 0.561 |
| Hart County, GA | 26,939 | $59,345 | 5.9%/yr | 3.4% | 0.539 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Oconee 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 Oconee County, South Carolina.
How Wealthy Is Oconee County, South Carolina?
Oconee 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 $63,288, about 9% lower than the South Carolina average of $69,383.
Are incomes growing in Oconee County, South Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Oconee County, South Carolina rose 54%, from $41,105 to $63,288. Over the same years, income here lagged behind South Carolina as a whole: +54% against +59%.
What was the median household income in Oconee County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Oconee County, South Carolina was $60,180, up 6% from $56,723 in 2022. The South Carolina median that year was $66,973.
What was the median household income in Oconee County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Oconee County, South Carolina was $49,649. By 2024 it had risen 27% to $63,288.
What is the Gini coefficient in Oconee County, South Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Oconee County is 0.558. 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 Oconee County, South Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Oconee County, South Carolina has narrowed from about 26% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2011, and was narrowest at 18% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,860 since 2009.
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