DeKalb County, Tennessee Income Statistics
DeKalb 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
DeKalb County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | DeKalb County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $54,540 | $69,901 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $42,907 | $53,263 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.8% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.5% | 10.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.2% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in DeKalb County is about 22% lower than in Tennessee. Income has been growing slower in DeKalb County (4.8%/yr) than in Tennessee (5.2%/yr).
About 7% of adults in DeKalb County 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 DeKalb County, Tennessee grew by 60.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $54,540 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in DeKalb County
| Metric | DeKalb County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.537 | 0.542 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $52,334 | $61,993 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $39,237 | $50,108 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 25.0% | 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 DeKalb County, it is 0.537, lower than Tennessee's 0.542, 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 33% more than women's income in DeKalb County, Tennessee. Over a 35-year career, a 33% wage gap accumulates to roughly $458,395 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in DeKalb County, Tennessee has widened from about 0% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2023, and in 2010 women out-earned men by 3%. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $13,033 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in DeKalb County widened by 24.8 points while Tennessee's narrowed by 3.7 points.
Employment
| Metric | DeKalb County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.6% | 12.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 533 people are unemployed in DeKalb County, Tennessee.
The average commute time in DeKalb County is 22 minutes, about the same as in Tennessee.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in DeKalb County, Tennessee has fallen from 9.6% to 5.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.7% in 2014 and fell as low as 4.7% in 2021.
DeKalb County, TN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
DeKalb County, TN is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 20,959 residents against a local median of 28,160. Where DeKalb County, TN breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 52% above the local median of 3.7% at 5.6%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.2% on unemployment, so DeKalb County, TN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. DeKalb County, TN 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb County, TN | 20,959 | $54,540 #6/6 | 4.8%/yr #5/6 | 5.6% #5/6 | 0.537 #4/6 |
| Cannon County, TN | 14,818 | $59,227 | 4.0%/yr | 2.8% | 0.542 |
| Smith County, TN | 20,389 | $67,553 | 5.5%/yr | 2.7% | 0.516 |
| Warren County, TN | 42,165 | $55,751 | 5.5%/yr | 5.9% | 0.524 |
| Putnam County, TN | 82,558 | $58,838 | 6.1%/yr | 3.7% | 0.556 |
| White County, TN | 28,160 | $54,822 | 5.5%/yr | 5.6% | 0.520 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, DeKalb County, 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 DeKalb County, Tennessee.
How Rich Is DeKalb County, Tennessee?
DeKalb 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 $54,540, about 22% lower than the Tennessee average of $69,901.
How has median household income changed in DeKalb County, Tennessee?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in DeKalb County, Tennessee rose 61%, from $33,946 to $54,540. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Tennessee as a whole: +61% against +63%.
What was the median household income in DeKalb County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in DeKalb County, Tennessee was $48,720, up 2% from $47,897 in 2022. The Tennessee median that year was $67,483.
What was the median household income in DeKalb County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in DeKalb County, Tennessee was $44,337. By 2024 it had risen 23% to $54,540.
What is the Gini coefficient in DeKalb County, Tennessee?
The Gini coefficient in DeKalb County is 0.537. 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 DeKalb County, Tennessee?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in DeKalb County, Tennessee has widened from about 0% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2023, and in 2010 women out-earned men by 3%. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $13,033 since 2009.
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