White County, Tennessee Income Statistics
White 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
White County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | White County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $54,822 | $69,901 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $40,200 | $53,263 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.5% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.1% | 10.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.2% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in White County is about 22% lower than in Tennessee. Income has been growing faster in White County (5.5%/yr) than in Tennessee (5.2%/yr).
About 5% of adults in White 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 White County, Tennessee grew by 68.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $54,822 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in White County
| Metric | White County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.520 | 0.542 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $51,656 | $61,993 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $37,648 | $50,108 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 27.1% | 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 White County, it is 0.520, 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 37% more than women's income in White County, Tennessee. Over a 35-year career, a 37% wage gap accumulates to roughly $490,280 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in White County, Tennessee has widened from about 24% to 27% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2023, and was narrowest at 8% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,289 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in White County widened by 3.1 points while Tennessee's narrowed by 3.7 points.
Employment
| Metric | White County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.5% | 12.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 689 people are unemployed in White County, Tennessee.
The average commute time in White County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Tennessee.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in White County, Tennessee has fallen from 10.5% to 5.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 12.8% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.6% in 2023.
White County, TN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
White County, TN is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 28,160 residents against a local median of 20,959. White County, TN's unemployment, at 5.6%, runs 49% above the 3.7% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 4.1% on unemployment, so White County, TN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. White 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White County, TN | 28,160 | $54,822 #5/6 | 5.5%/yr #2/6 | 5.6% #4/6 | 0.520 #2/6 |
| Putnam County, TN | 82,558 | $58,838 | 6.1%/yr | 3.7% | 0.556 |
| Van Buren County, TN | 6,437 | $55,402 | 4.3%/yr | 2.3% | 0.492 |
| DeKalb County, TN | 20,959 | $54,540 | 4.8%/yr | 5.6% | 0.537 |
| Warren County, TN | 42,165 | $55,751 | 5.5%/yr | 5.9% | 0.524 |
| Bledsoe County, TN | 15,032 | $54,853 | 4.5%/yr | 1.8% | 0.572 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, White 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 White County, Tennessee.
How Rich Is White County, Tennessee?
White 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 $54,822, about 22% lower than the Tennessee average of $69,901.
How fast is household income rising in White County, Tennessee?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in White County, Tennessee rose 68%, from $32,569 to $54,822. Over the same years, income here outpaced Tennessee as a whole: +68% against +63%.
What was the median household income in White County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in White County, Tennessee was $51,879, up 7% from $48,429 in 2022. The Tennessee median that year was $67,483.
What was the median household income in White County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in White County, Tennessee was $44,413. By 2024 it had risen 23% to $54,822.
What is the Gini coefficient in White County, Tennessee?
The Gini coefficient in White County is 0.520. 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 White County, Tennessee?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in White County, Tennessee has widened from about 24% to 27% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2023, and was narrowest at 8% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,289 since 2009.
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