Southampton County, Virginia Income Statistics
Southampton 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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C
Southampton County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Southampton County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $70,441 | $93,527 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $58,347 | $68,139 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.1% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.8% | 18.3% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.7% | 17.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Southampton County is about 25% lower than in Virginia. Income has been growing slower in Southampton County (4.1%/yr) than in Virginia (4.3%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Southampton 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 Southampton County, Virginia grew by 49.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $70,441 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Southampton County
| Metric | Southampton County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.543 | 0.544 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $70,236 | $78,585 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $54,921 | $62,626 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.8% | 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 Southampton County, it is 0.543, about the same as Virginia's 0.544, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 28% more than women's income in Southampton County, Virginia. Over a 35-year career, a 28% wage gap accumulates to roughly $536,025 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Southampton County, Virginia has narrowed from about 23% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2020, and was narrowest at 18% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,962 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Southampton County | Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.4% | 18.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 27 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 454 people are unemployed in Southampton County, Virginia.
The average commute time in Southampton County is 27 minutes, longer than the 23 minutes in Virginia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Southampton County, Virginia has fallen from 6.3% to 5.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.6% in 2012 and fell as low as 4.1% in 2019.
Southampton County, VA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Southampton County, VA is typical in size for this group, 17,965 residents against a local median of 16,931, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. The measure that sets Southampton County, VA apart most is median household income: $70,441, 40% above the local median of $50,149. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 4.1%/yr against a local median of 6.0%/yr, 31% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: median household income runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so Southampton County, VA is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread $19,890 on median household income, so Southampton County, VA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Southampton County, VA has the highest median household income of the 4 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton County, VA | 17,965 | $70,441 #1/4 | 4.1%/yr #3/4 | 5.4% #2/4 | 0.543 #2/4 |
| Sussex County, VA | 10,765 | $65,425 | 7.1%/yr | 4.1% | 0.600 |
| Hertford County, NC | 19,906 | $45,535 | 3.6%/yr | 5.9% | 0.569 |
| Northampton County, NC | 16,931 | $50,149 | 6.0%/yr | 8.1% | 0.531 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Southampton 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 Southampton County, Virginia.
How Rich Is Southampton County, Virginia?
Southampton 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 $70,441, about 25% lower than the Virginia average of $93,527.
Are incomes growing in Southampton County, Virginia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Southampton County, Virginia rose 49%, from $47,182 to $70,441. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Virginia as a whole: +49% against +55%.
What was the median household income in Southampton County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Southampton County, Virginia was $67,445, up 1% from $66,884 in 2022. The Virginia median that year was $91,420.
What was the median household income in Southampton County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Southampton County, Virginia was $63,085. By 2024 it had risen 12% to $70,441.
Is unemployment high in Southampton County, Virginia?
Unemployment in Southampton County, Virginia is 5.4%, well above the Virginia rate of 4.1%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Southampton County, Virginia?
The Gini coefficient in Southampton County is 0.543. 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 Southampton County, Virginia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Southampton County, Virginia has narrowed from about 23% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 27% in 2020, and was narrowest at 18% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,962 since 2009.
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