Jackson County, West Virginia Income Statistics
Jackson 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.
-
D
Jackson County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Jackson County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $59,206 | $59,640 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $55,233 | $52,420 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.7% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.3% | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.4% | 5.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Jackson County is about 1% lower than in West Virginia. Income has been growing faster in Jackson County (4.7%/yr) than in West Virginia (4.3%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Jackson County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the West Virginia average of 8%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Jackson County, West Virginia grew by 38.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $59,206 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Jackson County
| Metric | Jackson County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.534 | 0.554 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $64,238 | $61,809 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $45,169 | $47,573 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 29.7% | 23.0% | 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 Jackson County, it is 0.534, lower than West Virginia's 0.554, 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 42% more than women's income in Jackson County, West Virginia. Over a 35-year career, a 42% wage gap accumulates to roughly $667,415 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jackson County, West Virginia has widened from about 25% to 30% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 40% in 2016, and was narrowest at 20% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $8,276 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Jackson County widened by 5.1 points while West Virginia's narrowed by 8.2 points.
Employment
| Metric | Jackson County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.5% | 9.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 25 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 565 people are unemployed in Jackson County, West Virginia.
The average commute time in Jackson County is 25 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in West Virginia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Jackson County, West Virginia has fallen from 8.5% to 5.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.8% in 2012 and fell as low as 3.4% in 2020.
Jackson County, WV Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Jackson County, WV is typical in size for this group, 27,705 residents against a local median of 25,043, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. The measure that sets Jackson County, WV apart most is income growth: 4.7%/yr, 31% above the local median of 3.6%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $59,206 against a local median of $49,849, 19% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Jackson County, WV is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 1.1%/yr on income growth, so Jackson County, WV sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Jackson County, WV has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County, WV | 27,705 | $59,206 #2/6 | 4.7%/yr #1/6 | 5.1% #4/6 | 0.534 #4/6 |
| Roane County, WV | 13,786 | $45,941 | 3.9%/yr | 8.9% | 0.567 |
| Wirt County, WV | 5,053 | $49,849 | 3.6%/yr | 4.9% | 0.498 |
| Mason County, WV | 25,043 | $49,807 | 3.4%/yr | 3.8% | 0.574 |
| Putnam County, WV | 57,177 | $80,154 | 4.5%/yr | 3.1% | 0.530 |
| Wood County, WV | 83,389 | $58,016 | 3.5%/yr | 5.3% | 0.529 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Jackson County, West Virginia has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat better than West Virginia, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Jackson County, West Virginia.
How Rich Is Jackson County, West Virginia?
Jackson 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 $59,206, about 1% lower than the West Virginia average of $59,640.
How fast is household income rising in Jackson County, West Virginia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Jackson County, West Virginia rose 39%, from $42,725 to $59,206. Over the same years, income here lagged behind West Virginia as a whole: +39% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Jackson County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Jackson County, West Virginia was $54,783, up 1% from $54,060 in 2022. The West Virginia median that year was $57,884.
What was the median household income in Jackson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Jackson County, West Virginia was $48,991. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $59,206.
What is the Gini coefficient in Jackson County, West Virginia?
The Gini coefficient in Jackson County is 0.534. 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 Jackson County, West Virginia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Jackson County, West Virginia has widened from about 25% to 30% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 40% in 2016, and was narrowest at 20% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $8,276 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 →