Jefferson County, Texas Income Statistics
Jefferson 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
Jefferson County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Jefferson County | Texas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $60,035 | $78,939 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,334 | $56,913 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.7% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.9% | 13.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.6% | 12.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Jefferson County is about 24% lower than in Texas. Income has been growing slower in Jefferson County (3.7%/yr) than in Texas (4.6%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Jefferson County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Texas average of 13%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Jefferson County, Texas grew by 44.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $60,035 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Jefferson County
| Metric | Jefferson County | Texas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.591 | 0.570 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,952 | $66,147 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,211 | $53,058 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 22.2% | 19.8% | 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 Jefferson County, it is 0.591, higher than Texas's 0.570, 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 Jefferson County, Texas. Over a 35-year career, a 29% wage gap accumulates to roughly $480,935 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jefferson County, Texas has narrowed from about 32% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 22% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $787 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Jefferson County | Texas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 3.4% | 14.4% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 7,000 people are unemployed in Jefferson County, Texas.
The average commute time in Jefferson County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Texas.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Jefferson County, Texas has fallen from 9.5% to 6.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.7% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.9% in 2019.
Jefferson County, TX Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Jefferson County, TX is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 253,852 residents against a local median of 85,306. Where Jefferson County, TX breaks from the counties next to it is median household income, sitting 21% below the local median of $76,037 at $60,035. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread $37,869 on median household income, so Jefferson County, TX sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Jefferson County, TX has the 6th highest median household income 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County, TX | 253,852 | $60,035 #6/6 | 3.7%/yr #6/6 | 6.3% #4/6 | 0.591 #5/6 |
| Orange County, TX | 85,306 | $72,306 | 4.3%/yr | 6.0% | 0.572 |
| Hardin County, TX | 57,642 | $76,037 | 4.0%/yr | 5.4% | 0.562 |
| Chambers County, TX | 51,498 | $105,539 | 5.2%/yr | 7.2% | 0.568 |
| Liberty County, TX | 103,380 | $67,670 | 4.0%/yr | 7.1% | 0.630 |
| Galveston County, TX | 358,877 | $87,798 | 4.1%/yr | 5.7% | 0.561 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Jefferson County, Texas has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Texas, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Jefferson County, Texas.
How Rich Is Jefferson County, Texas?
Jefferson 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 $60,035, about 24% lower than the Texas average of $78,939.
How has median household income changed in Jefferson County, Texas?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Jefferson County, Texas rose 44%, from $41,586 to $60,035. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Texas as a whole: +44% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Jefferson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Jefferson County, Texas was $59,940, up 4% from $57,360 in 2022. The Texas median that year was $76,528.
What was the median household income in Jefferson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Jefferson County, Texas was $51,099. By 2024 it had risen 17% to $60,035.
What is the Gini coefficient in Jefferson County, Texas?
The Gini coefficient in Jefferson County is 0.591. 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 Jefferson County, Texas?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jefferson County, Texas has narrowed from about 32% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 22% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $787 since 2009.
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