Unicoi County, Tennessee Income Statistics
Unicoi 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
Unicoi County Well below averageLess wealthy than 76% of counties in Tennessee
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Unicoi County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $52,731 | $69,901 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $44,987 | $53,263 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.1% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.4% | 10.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.3% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Unicoi County is about 25% lower than in Tennessee. Income has been growing slower in Unicoi County (5.1%/yr) than in Tennessee (5.2%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Unicoi 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 Unicoi County, Tennessee grew by 52.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $52,731 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Unicoi County
| Metric | Unicoi County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.539 | 0.542 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,364 | $61,993 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $44,143 | $50,108 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.8% | 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 Unicoi County, it is 0.539, about the same as Tennessee's 0.542, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 23% more than women's income in Unicoi County, Tennessee. Over a 35-year career, a 23% wage gap accumulates to roughly $357,735 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Unicoi County, Tennessee has narrowed from about 36% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 36% in 2011, and was narrowest at 14% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $4,741 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Unicoi County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.0% | 12.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 353 people are unemployed in Unicoi County, Tennessee.
The average commute time in Unicoi County is 21 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Tennessee.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Unicoi County, Tennessee has fallen from 6.4% to 4.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 13.7% in 2015.
Unicoi County, TN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Unicoi County, TN is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 17,742 residents against a local median of 21,867. Unicoi County, TN's unemployment, at 4.3%, runs 30% below the 6.2% typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 4.2% on unemployment, so Unicoi County, TN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Unicoi County, TN has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unicoi County, TN | 17,742 | $52,731 #5/6 | 5.1%/yr #3/6 | 4.3% #2/6 | 0.539 #5/6 |
| Washington County, TN | 136,261 | $62,668 | 4.5%/yr | 4.7% | 0.550 |
| Yancey County, NC | 18,788 | $58,633 | 6.1%/yr | 7.3% | 0.518 |
| Mitchell County, NC | 14,959 | $57,009 | 4.7%/yr | 6.5% | 0.503 |
| Carter County, TN | 56,703 | $50,141 | 5.3%/yr | 6.2% | 0.534 |
| Madison County, NC | 21,867 | $58,302 | 4.8%/yr | 3.1% | 0.538 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Unicoi 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 Unicoi County, Tennessee.
How Wealthy Is Unicoi County, Tennessee?
Unicoi 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 $52,731, about 25% lower than the Tennessee average of $69,901.
How fast is household income rising in Unicoi County, Tennessee?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Unicoi County, Tennessee rose 53%, from $34,553 to $52,731. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Tennessee as a whole: +53% against +63%.
What was the median household income in Unicoi County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Unicoi County, Tennessee was $50,520, up 1% from $49,861 in 2022. The Tennessee median that year was $67,483.
What was the median household income in Unicoi County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Unicoi County, Tennessee was $44,366. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $52,731.
What is the Gini coefficient in Unicoi County, Tennessee?
The Gini coefficient in Unicoi County is 0.539. 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 Unicoi County, Tennessee?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Unicoi County, Tennessee has narrowed from about 36% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 36% in 2011, and was narrowest at 14% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $4,741 since 2009.
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