Wealth Index
Less wealthy than 81% of counties in Texas
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.
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Karnes County | Texas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $57,911 | $76,510 | $78,145 |
| Median Personal Income | $47,672 | $58,415 | $61,726 |
| Average income growth | 3.6% | 4.8% | 5.1% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.9% | 12.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Karnes County is about 24% lower than in Texas. Income has been growing slower in Karnes County (3.6%/yr) than in Texas (4.8%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Karnes County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Texas average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2023 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Karnes County, Texas grew by 65.2% from 2009 to 2023, reaching $57,911 in 2023. That's an average of about 3.6% per year.
Economic Inequality in Karnes County | Gender Pay Gap | Gini Coefficient
| Metric | Karnes County | Texas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.675 | 0.587 | 0.570 |
| Male Median Income | $47,569 | $64,517 | $67,746 |
| Female Median Income | $47,835 | $51,419 | $54,793 |
| Gender Pay Gap | -0.6% | 20.3% | 19.1% |
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 Karnes County, it is 0.675, higher than Texas's 0.587, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.570, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Women's income is about 1% more than men's income in Karnes County, Texas.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Karnes County, Texas has narrowed from about 22% to -1% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $8,815 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Karnes County | Texas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.0% | 12.8% | 13.4% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 243 people are unemployed in Karnes County, Texas.
The average commute time in Karnes County is 16 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Texas.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Karnes County, Texas has risen from 4.2% to 4.6% in 2023.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Karnes 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 Karnes County, Texas.
How Rich Is Karnes County, Texas?
Karnes 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 $57,911, about 24% lower than the Texas average of $76,510.
What is the current median household income in Karnes County, Texas?
As of 2023, the median household income in Karnes County, Texas is $57,911.
What was the median household income in Karnes County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Karnes County, Texas was $57,911.
What was the median household income in Karnes County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Karnes County, Texas was $52,566.
What is the Gini coefficient in Karnes County, Texas?
The Gini coefficient in Karnes County is 0.675. 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 0.570, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Karnes County, Texas?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Karnes County, Texas has narrowed from about 22% to -1% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $8,815 since 2009.