Perry County, Tennessee Income Statistics
Perry 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
Perry County Well below averageLess wealthy than 74% of counties in Tennessee
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Perry County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $56,499 | $69,901 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,987 | $53,263 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 8.1% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.8% | 10.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.2% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Perry County is about 19% lower than in Tennessee. Income has been growing faster in Perry County (8.1%/yr) than in Tennessee (5.2%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Perry 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 Perry County, Tennessee grew by 77.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $56,499 in 2024. That's an average of about 8.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Perry County
| Metric | Perry County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.534 | 0.542 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,397 | $61,993 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,425 | $50,108 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.1% | 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 Perry County, it is 0.534, 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 21% more than women's income in Perry County, Tennessee. Over a 35-year career, a 21% wage gap accumulates to roughly $349,020 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Perry County, Tennessee has narrowed from about 22% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 35% in 2017, and was narrowest at 9% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,448 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Perry County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.3% | 12.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 224 people are unemployed in Perry County, Tennessee.
The average commute time in Perry County is 23 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in Tennessee.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Perry County, Tennessee has fallen from 14.4% to 5.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 15.4% in 2012.
Perry County, TN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Perry County, TN is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 8,697 residents against a local median of 16,168. Where Perry County, TN breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 59% above the local median of 3.7% at 5.8%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 8.1%/yr against a local median of 5.2%/yr, 54% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Perry County, TN is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 4.7% on unemployment, so Perry County, TN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Perry County, TN 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perry County, TN | 8,697 | $56,499 #3/6 | 8.1%/yr #1/6 | 5.8% #4/6 | 0.534 #3/6 |
| Decatur County, TN | 11,579 | $45,279 | 2.4%/yr | 7.2% | 0.545 |
| Lewis County, TN | 12,992 | $55,909 | 5.2%/yr | 3.7% | 0.521 |
| Humphreys County, TN | 19,214 | $60,904 | 5.0%/yr | 6.9% | 0.542 |
| Wayne County, TN | 16,168 | $51,543 | 5.3%/yr | 3.4% | 0.579 |
| Hickman County, TN | 25,436 | $67,534 | 7.5%/yr | 2.4% | 0.521 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Perry 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 Perry County, Tennessee.
How Rich Is Perry County, Tennessee?
Perry 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 $56,499, about 19% lower than the Tennessee average of $69,901.
How fast is household income rising in Perry County, Tennessee?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Perry County, Tennessee rose 77%, from $31,864 to $56,499. Over the same years, income here outpaced Tennessee as a whole: +77% against +63%.
What was the median household income in Perry County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Perry County, Tennessee was $50,429, down 11% from $56,822 in 2022. The Tennessee median that year was $67,483.
What was the median household income in Perry County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Perry County, Tennessee was $48,958. By 2024 it had risen 15% to $56,499.
Is it hard to find a job in Perry County, Tennessee?
Unemployment in Perry County, Tennessee is 5.8%, well above the Tennessee rate of 4.6%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Perry County, Tennessee?
The Gini coefficient in Perry County is 0.534. 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 Perry County, Tennessee?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Perry County, Tennessee has narrowed from about 22% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 35% in 2017, and was narrowest at 9% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,448 since 2009.
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