Highland County, Virginia Income Statistics
Highland 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.
-
C
Highland County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Highland County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $66,934 | $93,527 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $45,962 | $68,139 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.2% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.8% | 18.3% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.4% | 17.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Highland County is about 28% lower than in Virginia. Income has been growing faster in Highland County (5.2%/yr) than in Virginia (4.3%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Highland County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Virginia average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Highland County, Virginia grew by 54.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $66,934 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Highland County
| Metric | Highland County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.482 | 0.544 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $66,947 | $78,585 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $38,980 | $62,626 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 41.8% | 20.3% | 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 Highland County, it is 0.482, lower than Virginia's 0.544, 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 72% more than women's income in Highland County, Virginia. Over a 35-year career, a 72% wage gap accumulates to roughly $978,845 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Highland County, Virginia has widened from about -4% to 42% in 2024. Over that period the gap in 2010 women out-earned men by 13%. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $29,536 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Highland County widened by 46.1 points while Virginia's narrowed by 3.2 points.
Employment
| Metric | Highland County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 21.1% | 18.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 124 people are unemployed in Highland County, Virginia.
The average commute time in Highland County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in Virginia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Highland County, Virginia has risen from 1.0% to 11.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 16.1% in 2021.
Highland County, VA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Highland County, VA is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 2,296 residents against a local median of 7,784. The measure that sets Highland County, VA apart most is unemployment: 11.9%, 88% above the local median of 6.3%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 5.2%/yr against a local median of 3.7%/yr, 41% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Highland County, VA is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 10.5% on unemployment, so Highland County, VA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Highland County, VA has the 6th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highland County, VA | 2,296 | $66,934 #2/6 | 5.2%/yr #2/6 | 11.9% #6/6 | 0.482 #1/6 |
| Bath County, VA | 4,100 | $58,076 | 3.7%/yr | 1.3% | 0.564 |
| Pendleton County, WV | 6,043 | $64,690 | 7.3%/yr | 6.3% | 0.520 |
| Pocahontas County, WV | 7,784 | $42,788 | 2.4%/yr | 11.8% | 0.568 |
| Augusta County, VA | 78,033 | $81,598 | 4.8%/yr | 2.4% | 0.497 |
| Randolph County, WV | 27,576 | $53,346 | 3.6%/yr | 7.4% | 0.555 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Highland County, Virginia has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat worse than Virginia, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Highland County, Virginia.
How Rich Is Highland County, Virginia?
Highland County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $66,934, about 28% lower than the Virginia average of $93,527.
Are incomes growing in Highland County, Virginia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Highland County, Virginia rose 55%, from $43,302 to $66,934. Over the same years, income here kept pace with Virginia as a whole: +55% against +55%.
What was the median household income in Highland County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Highland County, Virginia was $61,731, up 6% from $58,124 in 2022. The Virginia median that year was $91,420.
What was the median household income in Highland County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Highland County, Virginia was $53,856. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $66,934.
Is unemployment high in Highland County, Virginia?
Unemployment in Highland County, Virginia is 11.9%, well above the Virginia rate of 4.1%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Highland County, Virginia?
The Gini coefficient in Highland County is 0.482. 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 Highland County, Virginia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Highland County, Virginia has widened from about -4% to 42% in 2024. Over that period the gap in 2010 women out-earned men by 13%. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $29,536 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →