Benton County, Washington Income Statistics
Benton 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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B
Benton County Around averageWealthier than 84% of counties in Washington
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Benton County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $89,893 | $98,224 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $67,574 | $73,370 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.9% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 15.8% | 19.3% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 13.0% | 18.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Benton County is about 8% lower than in Washington. Income has been growing slower in Benton County (4.9%/yr) than in Washington (5.6%/yr).
About 16% of adults in Benton County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Washington average of 19%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Benton County, Washington grew by 60.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $89,893 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Benton County
| Metric | Benton County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.554 | 0.534 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $80,283 | $86,137 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $59,632 | $68,506 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 25.7% | 20.5% | 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 Benton County, it is 0.554, higher than Washington's 0.534, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 35% more than women's income in Benton County, Washington. Over a 35-year career, a 35% wage gap accumulates to roughly $722,785 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Benton County, Washington has narrowed from about 36% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2011, and was narrowest at 24% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $59 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Benton County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3% | 5.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.9% | 19.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 5,363 people are unemployed in Benton County, Washington.
The average commute time in Benton County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Washington.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Benton County, Washington has fallen from 6.3% to 5.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.3% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.8% in 2022.
Benton County, WA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Benton County, WA is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 212,794 residents against a local median of 79,928. Where Benton County, WA breaks from the counties next to it is median household income, sitting 21% above the local median of $74,258 at $89,893. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread $18,678 on median household income, so Benton County, WA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Benton County, WA has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton County, WA | 212,794 | $89,893 #1/6 | 4.9%/yr #3/6 | 5.3% #3/6 | 0.554 #3/6 |
| Franklin County, WA | 98,902 | $86,960 | 5.2%/yr | 5.4% | 0.569 |
| Morrow County, OR | 12,300 | $76,057 | 4.2%/yr | 2.4% | 0.540 |
| Grant County, WA | 101,798 | $73,032 | 4.8%/yr | 6.5% | 0.560 |
| Umatilla County, OR | 79,928 | $68,282 | 4.2%/yr | 5.0% | 0.538 |
| Walla Walla County, WA | 62,160 | $74,258 | 5.4%/yr | 6.2% | 0.560 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Benton County, Washington has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Washington, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Benton County, Washington.
How Rich Is Benton County, Washington?
Benton County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $89,893, about 8% lower than the Washington average of $98,224.
How has median household income changed in Benton County, Washington?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Benton County, Washington rose 61%, from $55,876 to $89,893. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Washington as a whole: +61% against +73%.
What was the median household income in Benton County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Benton County, Washington was $87,578, up 4% from $83,912 in 2022. The Washington median that year was $95,216.
What was the median household income in Benton County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Benton County, Washington was $72,307. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $89,893.
What is the Gini coefficient in Benton County, Washington?
The Gini coefficient in Benton County is 0.554. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Benton County, Washington?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Benton County, Washington has narrowed from about 36% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2011, and was narrowest at 24% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $59 since 2009.
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