Cookeville, Tennessee Income Statistics
Cookeville Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
Cookeville Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Cookeville | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $51,936 | $69,901 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $42,201 | $53,263 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.6% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.9% | 10.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.7% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Cookeville is about 26% lower than in Tennessee. Income has been growing faster in Cookeville (6.6%/yr) than in Tennessee (5.2%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Cookeville earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Tennessee average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Cookeville, Tennessee grew by 51.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $51,936 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Cookeville
| Metric | Cookeville | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.584 | 0.542 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $51,434 | $61,993 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $39,760 | $50,108 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 22.7% | 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 Cookeville, it is 0.584, higher than Tennessee's 0.542, 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 29% more than women's income in Cookeville, Tennessee. Over a 35-year career, a 29% wage gap accumulates to roughly $408,590 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cookeville, Tennessee has narrowed from about 31% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 15% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,035 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Cookeville | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.5% | 12.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 688 people are unemployed in Cookeville, Tennessee.
The average commute time in Cookeville is 15 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Tennessee.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Cookeville, Tennessee has fallen from 10.4% to 4.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 13.2% in 2014.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Cookeville, Tennessee has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Tennessee, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Cookeville, Tennessee.
How Rich Is Cookeville, Tennessee?
Cookeville 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 $51,936, about 26% lower than the Tennessee average of $69,901.
Are incomes growing in Cookeville, Tennessee?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Cookeville, Tennessee rose 52%, from $34,189 to $51,936. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Tennessee as a whole: +52% against +63%.
What was the median household income in Cookeville in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Cookeville, Tennessee was $50,320, about the same as in 2022. The Tennessee median that year was $67,483.
What was the median household income in Cookeville in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Cookeville, Tennessee was $41,233. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $51,936.
What is the Gini coefficient in Cookeville, Tennessee?
The Gini coefficient in Cookeville is 0.584. 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 Cookeville, Tennessee?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cookeville, Tennessee has narrowed from about 31% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 15% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,035 since 2009.
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