Willacy County, Texas Income Statistics
Willacy 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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F
Willacy County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Willacy County | Texas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $53,177 | $78,939 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $41,520 | $56,913 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 8.2% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.4% | 13.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.3% | 12.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Willacy County is about 33% lower than in Texas. Income has been growing faster in Willacy County (8.2%/yr) than in Texas (4.6%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Willacy 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 Willacy County, Texas grew by 140.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $53,177 in 2024. That's an average of about 8.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Willacy County
| Metric | Willacy County | Texas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.615 | 0.570 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $56,825 | $66,147 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $34,118 | $53,058 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 40.0% | 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 Willacy County, it is 0.615, 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 67% more than women's income in Willacy County, Texas. Over a 35-year career, a 67% wage gap accumulates to roughly $794,745 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Willacy County, Texas has widened from about 20% to 40% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 41% in 2021, and was narrowest at 9% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $16,675 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Willacy County | Texas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5% | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.1% | 14.4% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 664 people are unemployed in Willacy County, Texas.
The average commute time in Willacy County is 13 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Texas.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
The unemployment rate in Willacy County, Texas has stayed about flat at 7.5% since 2011. Over that period the rate peaked at 15.5% in 2018 and fell as low as 7.3% in 2023.
Willacy County, TX Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Willacy County, TX is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 20,139 residents against a local median of 30,579. Willacy County, TX's income growth, at 8.2%/yr, runs 52% above the 5.4%/yr typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 4.7%/yr on income growth, so Willacy County, TX sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Willacy County, TX has the 2nd highest income growth 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willacy County, TX | 20,139 | $53,177 #3/6 | 8.2%/yr #2/6 | 7.5% #4/6 | 0.615 #6/6 |
| Cameron County, TX | 421,649 | $52,582 | 5.4%/yr | 5.9% | 0.594 |
| Kenedy County, TX | 145 | $37,874 | 7.3%/yr | 1.0% | 0.492 |
| Hidalgo County, TX | 891,846 | $54,369 | 5.2%/yr | 7.6% | 0.613 |
| Brooks County, TX | 6,943 | $48,277 | 10.0%/yr | 19.9% | 0.610 |
| Kleberg County, TX | 30,579 | $62,665 | 5.3%/yr | 7.5% | 0.597 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Willacy County, Texas has an overall wealth index grade of F, making it somewhat worse than Texas, and worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Willacy County, Texas.
How Rich Is Willacy County, Texas?
Willacy County has a wealth index grade of F. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an F grade means residents are well below the U.S. average. The median household income is $53,177, about 33% lower than the Texas average of $78,939.
How fast is household income rising in Willacy County, Texas?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Willacy County, Texas rose 140%, from $22,135 to $53,177. Over the same years, income here outpaced Texas as a whole: +140% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Willacy County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Willacy County, Texas was $45,508, up 5% from $43,171 in 2022. The Texas median that year was $76,528.
What was the median household income in Willacy County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Willacy County, Texas was $38,295. By 2024 it had risen 39% to $53,177.
Is unemployment high in Willacy County, Texas?
Unemployment in Willacy County, Texas is 7.5%, well above the Texas rate of 5.2%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Willacy County, Texas?
The Gini coefficient in Willacy County is 0.615. 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 Willacy County, Texas?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Willacy County, Texas has widened from about 20% to 40% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 41% in 2021, and was narrowest at 9% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $16,675 since 2009.
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