Rusk County, Texas Income Statistics
Rusk 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
Rusk County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Rusk County | Texas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $68,603 | $78,939 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $50,773 | $56,913 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.3% | 13.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.9% | 12.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Rusk County is about 13% lower than in Texas. Income has been growing faster in Rusk County (4.6%/yr) than in Texas (4.6%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Rusk 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 Rusk County, Texas grew by 55.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $68,603 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Rusk County
| Metric | Rusk County | Texas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.595 | 0.570 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $60,349 | $66,147 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $46,133 | $53,058 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 23.6% | 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 Rusk County, it is 0.595, 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 31% more than women's income in Rusk County, Texas. Over a 35-year career, a 31% wage gap accumulates to roughly $497,560 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rusk County, Texas has narrowed from about 36% to 24% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,521 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Rusk County | Texas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.1% | 14.4% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 1,002 people are unemployed in Rusk County, Texas.
The average commute time in Rusk County is 22 minutes, about the same as in Texas.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Rusk County, Texas has fallen from 4.8% to 4.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.3% in 2020 and fell as low as 3.8% in 2023.
Rusk County, TX Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Rusk County, TX is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 52,842 residents against a local median of 65,162. Rusk County, TX sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these counties turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is median household income, 9% above the local median at $68,603 against $63,075. Rusk County, TX has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rusk County, TX | 52,842 | $68,603 #2/6 | 4.6%/yr #3/6 | 4.5% #4/6 | 0.595 #5/6 |
| Gregg County, TX | 125,481 | $67,149 | 4.5%/yr | 3.6% | 0.549 |
| Panola County, TX | 22,726 | $63,075 | 2.8%/yr | 2.5% | 0.573 |
| Cherokee County, TX | 51,885 | $61,269 | 5.2%/yr | 5.2% | 0.596 |
| Nacogdoches County, TX | 65,162 | $53,403 | 4.1%/yr | 7.0% | 0.590 |
| Smith County, TX | 241,737 | $74,135 | 5.4%/yr | 4.4% | 0.554 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Rusk County, Texas has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with Texas, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Rusk County, Texas.
How Rich Is Rusk County, Texas?
Rusk 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 $68,603, about 13% lower than the Texas average of $78,939.
Are incomes growing in Rusk County, Texas?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Rusk County, Texas rose 55%, from $44,153 to $68,603. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Texas as a whole: +55% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Rusk County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Rusk County, Texas was $66,510, up 9% from $61,157 in 2022. The Texas median that year was $76,528.
What was the median household income in Rusk County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Rusk County, Texas was $56,561. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $68,603.
What is the Gini coefficient in Rusk County, Texas?
The Gini coefficient in Rusk County is 0.595. 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 Rusk County, Texas?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rusk County, Texas has narrowed from about 36% to 24% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,521 since 2009.
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