Monroe County, West Virginia Income Statistics
Monroe 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
Monroe County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Monroe County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $56,106 | $59,640 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $42,498 | $52,420 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.7% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 3.7% | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.7% | 5.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Monroe County is about 6% lower than in West Virginia. Income has been growing faster in Monroe County (5.7%/yr) than in West Virginia (4.3%/yr).
About 4% of adults in Monroe 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 Monroe County, West Virginia grew by 44.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $56,106 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Monroe County
| Metric | Monroe County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.511 | 0.554 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,538 | $61,809 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $38,679 | $47,573 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 33.9% | 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 Monroe County, it is 0.511, 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 51% more than women's income in Monroe County, West Virginia. Over a 35-year career, a 51% wage gap accumulates to roughly $695,065 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Monroe County, West Virginia has widened from about 31% to 34% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 34% in 2020, and was narrowest at 14% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $8,637 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Monroe County widened by 3.1 points while West Virginia's narrowed by 8.2 points.
Employment
| Metric | Monroe County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.4% | 9.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 33 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 231 people are unemployed in Monroe County, West Virginia.
The average commute time in Monroe County is 33 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in West Virginia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Monroe County, West Virginia has fallen from 8.2% to 4.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.4% in 2021.
Monroe County, WV Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Monroe County, WV is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 12,386 residents against a local median of 16,557. Where Monroe County, WV breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 115% above the local median of 2.2% at 4.7%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 5.7%/yr against a local median of 4.4%/yr, 30% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Monroe County, WV is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 2.0% on unemployment, so Monroe County, WV sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Monroe County, WV 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County, WV | 12,386 | $56,106 #4/6 | 5.7%/yr #2/6 | 4.7% #6/6 | 0.511 #2/6 |
| Giles County, VA | 16,557 | $67,311 | 4.4%/yr | 2.1% | 0.498 |
| Summers County, WV | 11,729 | $40,711 | 1.7%/yr | 2.2% | 0.548 |
| Craig County, VA | 4,833 | $71,702 | 8.1%/yr | 2.2% | 0.521 |
| Greenbrier County, WV | 32,386 | $48,009 | 2.4%/yr | 4.2% | 0.545 |
| Montgomery County, VA | 99,089 | $71,288 | 4.7%/yr | 2.9% | 0.623 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Monroe County, West Virginia has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with West Virginia, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Monroe County, West Virginia.
How Rich Is Monroe County, West Virginia?
Monroe 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 $56,106, about 6% lower than the West Virginia average of $59,640.
How has median household income changed in Monroe County, West Virginia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Monroe County, West Virginia rose 44%, from $38,844 to $56,106. Over the same years, income here lagged behind West Virginia as a whole: +44% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Monroe County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Monroe County, West Virginia was $53,379, about the same as in 2022. The West Virginia median that year was $57,884.
What was the median household income in Monroe County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Monroe County, West Virginia was $44,838. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $56,106.
What is the Gini coefficient in Monroe County, West Virginia?
The Gini coefficient in Monroe County is 0.511. 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 Monroe County, West Virginia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Monroe County, West Virginia has widened from about 31% to 34% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 34% in 2020, and was narrowest at 14% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $8,637 since 2009.
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