Whitman County, Washington Income Statistics
Whitman 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
Whitman County Well below averageLeast wealthy county in Washington
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Whitman County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $55,150 | $98,224 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $57,101 | $73,370 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.7% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.0% | 19.3% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.2% | 18.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Whitman County is about 44% lower than in Washington. Income has been growing slower in Whitman County (4.7%/yr) than in Washington (5.6%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Whitman 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 Whitman County, Washington grew by 68.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $55,150 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Whitman County
| Metric | Whitman County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.609 | 0.534 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $65,563 | $86,137 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $56,048 | $68,506 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 14.5% | 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 Whitman County, it is 0.609, higher than Washington's 0.534, 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 17% more than women's income in Whitman County, Washington. Over a 35-year career, a 17% wage gap accumulates to roughly $333,025 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Whitman County, Washington has narrowed from about 27% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 12% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,067 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Whitman County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9% | 5.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.3% | 19.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 1,752 people are unemployed in Whitman County, Washington.
The average commute time in Whitman County is 13 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Washington.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Whitman County, Washington has risen from 4.9% to 6.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.0% in 2018.
Whitman County, WA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Whitman County, WA is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 47,000 residents against a local median of 22,455. Whitman County, WA's unemployment, at 6.9%, runs 32% above the 5.3% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $55,150 against a local median of $69,757, 21% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, and it is the wrong way: Whitman County, WA reads weaker than its neighbours on all of them. The counties themselves spread 2.9% on unemployment, so Whitman County, WA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Whitman County, WA 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitman County, WA | 47,000 | $55,150 #6/6 | 4.7%/yr #5/6 | 6.9% #6/6 | 0.609 #6/6 |
| Garfield County, WA | 2,351 | $67,898 | 3.7%/yr | 6.3% | 0.529 |
| Columbia County, WA | 4,012 | $69,757 | 6.7%/yr | 3.9% | 0.505 |
| Spokane County, WA | 548,846 | $78,612 | 5.7%/yr | 5.3% | 0.530 |
| Asotin County, WA | 22,455 | $72,889 | 6.1%/yr | 5.0% | 0.532 |
| Latah County, ID | 41,044 | $65,983 | 5.7%/yr | 6.8% | 0.571 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Whitman County, Washington has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Washington, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Whitman County, Washington.
How Rich Is Whitman County, Washington?
Whitman 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 $55,150, about 44% lower than the Washington average of $98,224.
How fast is household income rising in Whitman County, Washington?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Whitman County, Washington rose 69%, from $32,656 to $55,150. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Washington as a whole: +69% against +73%.
What was the median household income in Whitman County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Whitman County, Washington was $52,667, up 7% from $49,368 in 2022. The Washington median that year was $95,216.
What was the median household income in Whitman County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Whitman County, Washington was $41,899. By 2024 it had risen 32% to $55,150.
Is unemployment high in Whitman County, Washington?
Unemployment in Whitman County, Washington is 6.9%, well above the Washington rate of 5.0%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Whitman County, Washington?
The Gini coefficient in Whitman County is 0.609. 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 Whitman County, Washington?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Whitman County, Washington has narrowed from about 27% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 12% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,067 since 2009.
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