A Deep Dive on the County Level

Within the huge and eclectic mosaic that’s America, every county tells its personal distinctive story, interwoven with threads of hope, ambition, goals, and typically, stark contrasts. However in each state, there exists a county the place these contrasts are most palpable — the place the divide between the opulent and the struggling is not only a mere line however a chasm. These are the counties with the best earnings inequality, and their tales are a mirrored image of the broader American narrative, laying naked the challenges and complexities of the very promise of the American Dream.

Utilizing knowledge sources from the Census Bureau’s 2021 American Group Survey 5-Yr Estimates (the most recent knowledge out there), we analyzed each single U.S. state by way of the county with the best earnings inequality, as measured by its Gini index. The Gini index or Gini coefficient is a measure of inequality of a distribution, on this case earnings, with a worth of 0 expressing whole equality and a worth of 1 whole inequality. The next Gini index signifies higher inequality.

Learn on the discover out the county with the worst earnings inequality in every state in addition to what patterns and themes emerge that may higher inform us about earnings inequality in America basically.

Alabama

County with highest earnings inequality: Pike County

Gini index: 0.5323

Median family earnings: $40,106

Imply family earnings: $65,204

Pike County is centered on the town of Troy, house to Troy College and one other instance of how school cities usually characteristic excessive earnings inequality. Pike County is in southeastern Alabama, somewhat over 50 miles from Montgomery. Incomes are closely divided, with 57.6% of households incomes lower than $50,000 a yr whereas a full 20% of households earn $100,000 or extra. The county’s three largest industries by employment embrace Retail Commerce, accounting for 14.5% of the workforce; Instructional Providers, accounting for 13.1% of the workforce; and Manufacturing, accounting for 11.9%. The county seat — Troy — itself reveals robust earnings stratification, having a big hole between its median family earnings of $36,409 and its imply family earnings of $68,288. What’s extra, 58.7% of Troy households earn lower than $50,000 per yr towards 20.5% who earn $100,000 or extra.

Alaska

County with highest earnings inequality: Yukon-Koyukuk Census Space

Gini index: 0.4752

Median family earnings: $43,405

Imply family earnings: $57,989

Alaska isn’t divided up into counties as is the case in most different U.S. states. As a substitute, it’s composed of a collection of boroughs and Census Areas. In our research of the counties with the best earnings inequality in every state, Alaska’s equal is Yukon-Koyukuk Census Space. This census space covers an enormous quantity of land in central Alaska, boasting an space of practically 148,000 sq. miles. Its two largest cities are Galena and Fort Yukon, each located on the Yukon River, however with Galena far downstream to the southwest of Fort Yukon. The Gini index for Yukon-Koyukuk Census Space — 0.4752 — is lower than the 0.4818 index for the U.S. as a complete, and subsequently this Alaskan census space is relatively much less unequal than many different counties on this research. Therefore, the hole between its median family earnings and imply family earnings is smaller than, for instance, Pike County’s hole; and the latter county, not coincidentally, has the next Gini coefficient.

Arizona

County with highest earnings inequality: Apache County

Gini index: 0.5055

Median family earnings: $34,788

Imply family earnings: $48,645

Apache County covers the northeast nook of Arizona and is formed like a tall rectangle. The vast majority of the county is occupied by a portion of the federally acknowledged Fort Apache Reservation and Navajo Nation. Out of the 50 highest earnings inequality counties in our research, Apache County’s Gini index of 0.5055 ranks 34^th, which suggests it’s towards the much less excessive aspect of inequality. That stated, Apache County is extra unequal than the nationwide Gini index of 0.4818. Slightly than being a county polarized into impoverished households on one hand and super-wealthy households on the opposite, Apache County has excessive earnings inequality as a result of startlingly excessive proportion of households incomes lower than $10,000 — 19.9% — contrasted with the excessive proportion of middle-income households, with 24% incomes $50,000 to $99,999. The highest three industries by employment are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Looking, representing 15.7% of the workforce; Well being Care & Social Help, accounting for 15.4%; and Manufacturing, accounting for 10.9%.

Arkansas

County with highest earnings inequality: Lee County

Gini index: 0.5806

Median family earnings: $29,082

Imply family earnings: $54,648

Lee County is in east-central Arkansas, with its jap border being the Mississippi River. Centered on the county seat of Marianna, Lee County’s Gini coefficient of 0.5806 made it rank No. 6 out of fifty, having one of many highest charges of earnings inequality within the research. Though its common family earnings of $54,648 is much decrease than the U.S.’s corresponding determine of $97,196, it’s the hole between Lee County’s median and imply family earnings — which is over $25,500 — that basically stands out. Greater than two-thirds of households (67.4%) earn lower than $50,000, towards 18.5% that earn $50,000 to $99,999 and 14.1% that earn $100,000 or extra per yr.

California

County with highest earnings inequality: Tehama County

Gini index: 0.5145

Median family earnings: $52,901

Imply family earnings: $79,138

Tehama County is in northern California, centered on the county seat of Crimson Bluff, roughly a two-hour drive north of Sacramento. Tehama County’s Gini index is roughly 7% larger than the U.S. Gini index of 0.4818, however when in comparison with the opposite 49 counties on this research, Tehama County’s earnings inequality is on the decrease finish of the spectrum. Tehama County encompasses a very giant proportion of middle-income households incomes $50,000 to $74,999 — 17.4% of all households. But, on the similar time, Tehama County is house to 47.6% of households incomes lower than $50,000 alongside 23.1% of households incomes $100,000 or extra. The county’s fundamental three industries are Well being Care & Social Help, which employs 13.9% of the workforce; Retail Commerce, which employs 13.2% of the workforce; and Manufacturing, which employs 9.27% of the workforce.

Colorado

County with highest earnings inequality: Pitkin County

Gini index: 0.5480

Median family earnings: $92,708

Imply family earnings: $172,473

The county seat and largest metropolis in Pitkin County is Aspen, one of the crucial well-known and prosperous ski resort cities within the U.S. That Pitkin County is house to a spot like Aspen and has the best earnings inequality of all counties in Colorado highlights a extra common theme of trip and resort areas additionally tending to characteristic higher-than-average earnings inequality. In Pitkin County, the distribution of incomes could be very skewed, with a couple of fifth (21.9%) of households incomes $200,000 or extra per yr. Moreover, the proportion of households that earn lower than $100,000 is roughly 52.4% versus households that earn $100,000 or extra, which is 47.5%.

Connecticut

County with highest earnings inequality: Fairfield County

Gini index: 0.5425

Median family earnings: $101,194

Imply family earnings: $164,837

Connecticut’s highest earnings inequality county — Fairfield County — is the additionally most populous county in Connecticut. Its location makes it notably attention-grabbing, because it stretches from the southwestern nook of the state, proper subsequent to New York Metropolis, eastward to embody 4 of Connecticut’s largest cities, together with Bridgeport, Stamford, Norwalk, and Danbury. Fairfield County accommodates, for instance, the town of Greenwich, which is among the most prosperous locations within the U.S., in addition to bigger city areas which have witnessed a decline in inhabitants and wealth over a number of a long time. An unbelievable 23.9% of households in Fairfield County have a median family earnings of $200,000 or extra. And greater than half (50.5%) of households earn $100,000 or extra a yr.

Delaware

County with highest earnings inequality: Sussex County

Gini index: 0.4594

Median family earnings: $68,886

Imply family earnings: $92,069

In comparison with the nation’s general earnings inequality — with a Gini index of 0.4818 — Sussex County is perhaps probably the most unequal in Delaware, nevertheless it’s much less unequal than America as a complete. You possibly can see this within the breakdown of earnings distribution. Roughly 36.4% of households earn lower than $50,000, adopted by 32.1% of households that earn from $50,000 to $99,999, and lastly, 31.5% of households that earn $100,000 or extra per yr.

Florida

County with highest earnings inequality: Hardee County

Gini index: 0.5343

Median family earnings: $41,395

Imply family earnings: $65,000

Florida has for someday been a state riddled with earnings inequality. And the county with the best earnings inequality is Hardee County, which is situated proper in Central Florida, southeast of the Tampa Bay metro space and northeast of the Cape Coral-Fort Myers space. Its county seat is Wauchula, located on U.S. Route 17 in Florida. Incomes basically in Hardee County are on the decrease aspect, however there’s nonetheless substantial inequality, with greater than half of households (56.6%) incomes lower than $50,000 a yr, whereas 28.3% of households earn between $50,000 and $100,000, and 15.1% of households earn $100,000 or extra.

Georgia

County with highest earnings inequality: Macon County

Gini index: 0.5796

Median family earnings: $33,163

Imply family earnings: $56,218

Out of the 50 counties in our research, Macon County has the seventh highest degree of earnings inequality, with a Gini coefficient of 0.5796, considerably larger than the nationwide Gini coefficient of 0.4818. A staggering 17.7% of households in Macon County earn lower than $10,000 a yr, with 64.5% of households incomes lower than $50,000 a yr. That is in distinction to greater than a fifth of households (21.7%) that earn between $50,000 and $100,000 a yr, plus 13.6% of households that earn $100,000 or extra a yr. In line with Information USA, the highest industries by employment of the county’s workforce are Manufacturing (123.2%), Well being Care & Social Help (13.7%), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Looking (10.2%).

Hawaii

County with highest earnings inequality: Hawaii County

Gini index: 0.4747

Median family earnings: $68,399

Imply family earnings: $91,885

Hawaii’s most unequal county by way of earnings — Hawaii County — truly has the third lowest earnings inequality of the 50 counties in our listing. With a Gini index of 0.4747, earnings inequality in Hawaii County is decrease than the nationwide common. And this usually low inequality is mirrored within the knowledge. Roughly 37.2% of households in Hawaii County earn lower than $50,000, whereas 30.3% of households earn $50,000 to $99,999, and on the prime, 32.5% of households earn $100,000 or extra per yr.

Idaho

County with highest earnings inequality: Madison County

Gini index: 0.4909 (40^th highest)

Median family earnings: $53,498

Imply family earnings: $77,337

The county with the best earnings inequality in Idaho — Madison County — has a degree of inequality very corresponding to the nationwide common. With a Gini index of 0.4909, Madison County is barely barely extra unequal than the U.S. general (Gini index of 0.4818). Slightly below 1 / 4 of all households (24.1%) earn $100,000 or extra per yr, however the largest portion is made up of households incomes $100,000 to $149,999 (16%), limiting the quantity of actually high-earners in Madison County. Just a little beneath half of all households (46.4%) earn lower than $50,000 per yr, whereas 29.7% of households earn $50,000 to $99,999.

Illinois

County with highest earnings inequality: Gallatin County

Gini index: 0.5286 (25^th highest)

Median family earnings:

Imply family earnings: $92,069

Situated within the far southeast of Illinois, Gallatin County is the county with the best earnings inequality in Illinois. Total, it ranks proper smack within the center, 25^th highest out of fifty. Practically half of all households (48.4%) earn lower than $50,000 a yr, whereas greater than a fifth (21.2%) earn $100,000 or extra a yr. The county’s prime industries by employment are Retail Commerce (18.2% of the workforce), Well being Care & Social Help (14.5%), and Manufacturing (12.9%).

Indiana

County with highest earnings inequality: Blackford County

Gini index: 0.4847 (44^th highest)

Median family earnings: $45,080

Imply family earnings: $61,505

The humorous factor in regards to the county with the best earnings inequality in Indiana is that it’s not that unequal. Its Gini index of 0.4847 is barely barely larger than the nationwide determine of 0.4818. There’s a really strong middle-income inhabitants in Blackford County, with 30.3% of households incomes between $50,000 and $100,000 versus the true high-earners, these incomes $100,000 or extra a yr, who make up 16% of all households. Greater than half of all households (53.7%) in Blackford County earn lower than $50,000 a yr.

Iowa

County with highest earnings inequality: Adams County

Gini index: 0.5072 (33^rd highest)

Median family earnings: $57,981

Imply family earnings: $85,877

Within the grand scheme of issues, Iowa’s most unequal county is on the decrease finish of the general rankings. Iowa’s county with the best earnings inequality — Adams County — was 33^rd out of fifty, so it’s not notably infamous. And this is smart, as a result of with a Gini coefficient of 0.5072, Adams County is near the midpoint between zero (full earnings equality) and one (full earnings inequality).

Adams County does characteristic a recurring attribute: Its fundamental industries, by way of proportion of the workforce employed, are a mix of healthcare and first sectors, on this case the breakdown was Well being Care & Social Help (22.2%), Manufacturing (17.1%), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Looking (13.3%).

Kansas

County with highest earnings inequality: Meade County

Gini index: 0.5423 (19^th highest)

Median family earnings: $66,042

Imply family earnings: $113,325

Situated in southwestern Kansas, Meade County is an attention-grabbing entry on our listing of the county with the best earnings inequality in every state. Right here, there’s a stable middle-income phase, with 39.4% of households in Meade County incomes $50,000 to $99,999. On the similar time, there’s a sizable upper-income phase, with 26.4% of households incomes $100,000 or extra — and, notably, 7.8% of all households earned $200,000 or extra.

The highest-employing industries in Meade County are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Looking (17.2% of the workforce), Well being Care & Social Help (15.2% of the workforce), and Instructional Providers (12% of the work power). One other startling knowledge level is the hole between imply and median family earnings in Meade County, equal to a greater than $47,000 distinction.

Kentucky

County with highest earnings inequality: Knox County

Gini index: 0.5503 (13^th highest)

Median family earnings: $29,206

Imply family earnings: $47,979

Situated in Appalachia, in southeastern Kentucky, Knox County is a notable coal-producing city. The most important industries in Knox County by employment are Well being Care & Social Help (18.1%), Retail Commerce (13.9%), and Instructional Providers (12.2%). In the meantime, the best paying industries are Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gasoline Extraction (0.661% of the workforce), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Looking, & Mining 0.486% of the workforce), and Finance & Insurance coverage, & Actual Property & Rental & Leasing 2.99% of the workforce).

Whereas Knox County has the best earnings inequality within the state of Kentucky, this county just isn’t like a Versailles-style ultra-wealthy on one pole and totally poor on the different pole. Roughly 67.2% of households in Knox County earn lower than $50,000 a yr. That is pitted towards 21.6% of households that earn $50,000 to $99,999 a yr and the 11.1% of households that earn $100,000 or extra. This county’s Gini index is sort of excessive, so excessive that the extent of earnings inequality in Knox County enabled it to position 13^th out of fifty.

Louisiana

County with highest earnings inequality: East Carroll Parish

Gini index: 0.6860

Median family earnings: $25,049

Imply family earnings: $60,718

Situated within the northeast nook of Louisiana, with its parish seat within the metropolis of Lake Windfall, East Carroll Parish is definitely the county with the best earnings inequality. Certainly, out of all 50 counties within the research, East Carroll Parish has the second highest Gini index. In comparison with America’s Gini index of 0.4818, East Carroll Parish’s earnings inequality is roughly 42% larger than the nationwide degree. The large $35,669 hole between median and imply family earnings shouldn’t come as a shock when a spot has a Gini coefficient this excessive. Greater than two-thirds (68.6%) of households in East Carroll Parish earn lower than $50,000, whereas one other 18.4% earn between $50,000 and $100,000 and 13.1% earn $100,000 or extra a yr. Well being Care & Social Help (21.7% of the workforce), Public Administration (13.4% of the workforce), Retail Commerce (11.6% of the workforce), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Looking (9.46% of the workforce) are the highest industries by way of employment.

Maine

County with highest earnings inequality: Aroostook County

Gini index: 0.4624

Median family earnings: $47,278

Imply family earnings: $63.636

Out of all 50 counties included in our listing of the counties with the best earnings inequality in every state, Maine’s Aroostook County ranked because the second lowest by way of earnings inequality. Aroostook County’s Gini index of 0.4624 is lower than the U.S. Gini index of 0.4818.

Maryland

County with highest earnings inequality: Talbot County

Gini index: 0.4983

Median family earnings: $79,349

Imply family earnings: $116,514

Talbot County is located on the central Japanese Shore of Maryland, throughout the Chesapeake from cities like Annapolis and Washington, D.C. Though Talbot County’s Gini coefficient of 0.4983 makes it the county with the best earnings inequality in Maryland, within the grand scheme, its inequality isn’t too dangerous (it ranks 37^th out of fifty, and its Gini index is barely barely larger than the U.S. general). As such, the distribution of family incomes is pretty balanced, with 30.7% of households incomes lower than $50,000 per yr, 30.5% incomes between $50,000 and $100,000, and 38.9% incomes $100,000 or extra.

Massachusetts

County with highest earnings inequality: Suffolk County

Gini index: 0.5281

Median family earnings: $80,260

Imply family earnings: $116,843

Suffolk County covers a lot of the Boston space, together with the town of Boston correct, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. Suffolk is the county with the best earnings inequality in Massachusetts, but its incomes notably skew in the direction of the excessive finish. As an example, greater than a 3rd (35.6%) of households earn lower than $50,000, whereas one other 23% of households earn between $50,000 and $100,000 a yr. Nevertheless, each these segments are overshadowed by the 41.4% of households that earn $100,000 or extra per yr.

Michigan

County with highest earnings inequality: Wayne County

Gini index: 0.4906

Median family earnings: $52,830

Imply family earnings: $74,894

Wayne County covers a lot of the Detroit metro space, stretching down within the southwest to West Sumpter, within the northwest to Northville, and the northeast to Grosse Pointe; the county’s jap border is the border with Canada. Though its earnings inequality exceeds each different county in Michigan, Wayne County solely has a Gini index of 0.4906, which isn’t a lot larger than the U.S.’s Gini index of 0.4818. The hole between median and common family earnings isn’t too nice, with 47.6% of households incomes lower than $50,000, 28.4% of households incomes $50,000 to $99,999, and 24% of households incomes $100,000 or extra.

Minnesota

County with highest earnings inequality: Stevens County

Gini index: 0.5123

Median family earnings: $65,750

Imply family earnings: $95,156

Stevens County is situated far on the market, in western, central Minnesota, proper close to the Lake Traverse Reservation. There’s a hole of virtually $30,000 between median family earnings and common family earnings. This distortion of the imply family earnings upward for Stevens County is due primarily to the 28.3% of households that earn at the very least $100,000 a yr or extra. Along with them, 33% of households earn $50,000 to $99,999, whereas 38.6% of households earn lower than $50,000. The three major industries by employment, in response to Information USA, are Well being Care & Social Help (15.8%), Instructional Providers (14.9%), and Manufacturing (13.4%).

Mississippi

County with highest earnings inequality: Humphreys County

Gini index: 0.5727

Median family earnings: $30,327

Imply family earnings: $55,909

Out of all 50 counties included in our listing of the counties with the best earnings inequality in each state, Humphreys County in Mississippi ranked because the eighth highest by way of earnings inequality. Humphreys County’s Gini index of 0.5727 is significantly larger than the U.S. Gini index of 0.4818. In line with Information USA, the highest three industries in Humphreys County by employment are Well being Care & Social Help (15.8% of the workforce), Manufacturing (15.8% of the workforce), and Retail Commerce (10.6% of the workforce). The earnings distribution in Humphreys County could be very lopsided, with practically 70% (69.6%) of households incomes lower than $50,000 a yr, whereas 18% of households earn from $50,000 to $99,999 and one other 12.4% earn $100,000 or extra.

Missouri

County with highest earnings inequality: Adair County

Gini index: 0.5515

Median family earnings: $46,639

Imply family earnings: $71,907

Centered on Kirksville, in northeastern Missouri, Adair County has the best earnings inequality within the state and ranks 12^th out of fifty counties by way of its inequality. The earnings distribution amongst households in Adair County could be very uneven, with 52.6% of households incomes lower than $50,000 per yr, towards 28.1% of households incomes between $50,000 and $100,000 per yr, and 19.4% of households incomes $100,000 or extra.

Montana

County with highest earnings inequality: Judith Basin County

Gini index: 0.5195

Median family earnings: $51,691

Imply family earnings: $74,560

Judith Basin County is about as near the lifeless middle of Montana as a county can get. With its county seat on the city of Stanford, Judith Basin County is fairly removed from Montana’s larger cities, being, as an illustration, roughly 160 miles from Billings, the state’s largest metropolis. Judith Basin County has an intriguing employment breakdown. For instance, the highest occupational position in Judith Basin County is Administration Occupations, accounting for 32.1% of the workforce. On the similar time, the highest trade by employment is Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Looking, which accounts for 41% of the workforce. Revenue inequality in Judith Basin County is fueled by uneven distribution, with 48.7% of households incomes lower than $50,000, whereas on the similar time, greater than a fifth of households (21.5%) earn $100,000 or extra — certainly, virtually 11% of households earn $200,000 or extra.

Nebraska

County with highest earnings inequality: Fillmore County

Gini index: 0.4931

Median family earnings: $66,410

Imply family earnings: $96,007

Named for President Millard Fillmore, Fillmore County has the best earnings inequality within the state, however within the general scheme of issues, its Gini index of 0.4931 signifies that it’s not that unequal. In line with Information USA, the primary industries by employment embrace Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Looking (14.7% of the workforce), Well being Care & Social Help (13.4% of the workforce), and Retail Commerce (11.6% of the workforce). Whereas 28.3% of households earn $100,000 or extra per yr in Fillmore County, that is balanced by the 38.4% of households incomes lower than $50,000 and the 33.3% of households incomes $50,000 to $99,999 a yr.

Nevada

County with highest earnings inequality: Storey County

Gini index: 0.4752

Median family earnings: $66,713

Imply family earnings: $93,984

Storey County is concurrently one of many least populated counties in Nevada and one of many quickest rising economies. In comparison with the opposite counties on our listing and nation basically, Nevada’s most unequal county doesn’t undergo from a excessive charge of earnings inequality. The earnings distribution over all households in Storey County is pretty even, with 37.6% of households incomes lower than $50,000 a yr, 29.9% incomes between $50,000 and $100,000 a yr, and 32.5% incomes $100,000 or extra a yr.

New Hampshire

County with highest earnings inequality: Grafton County

Gini index: 0.4900

Median family earnings: $73,755

Imply family earnings: $102,862

New Hampshire’s county with the best earnings inequality has a Gini index that’s solely barely larger than the U.S.’s Gini index of 0.4818. Nonetheless, with a Gini coefficient of 0.4900, Grafton County has the best earnings inequality within the state. Each median and common family incomes are one the upper aspect. Multiple third of households (35.3%) earn lower than $50,000 per yr, whereas a comparable 34.1% of households earn $100,000 or extra per yr. Within the center is the 30.6% of households that earn $50,000 to $99,999 a yr.

New Jersey

County with highest earnings inequality: Essex County

Gini index: 0.5483

Median family earnings: $67,826

Imply family earnings: $112,403

The county in New Jersey with the best earnings inequality — Essex County — has one of many largest gaps between its common family earnings ($112,403) and median family earnings ($67,826): A distinction of $44,577. This isn’t too shocking as soon as you understand what areas the county covers: Northeastern New Jersey, simply outdoors New York Metropolis, stretching from Newark within the east, to East and West Orange within the middle, to Fairfield within the far northwest. This space contains numerous cities which have grown in each inhabitants and wealth as a result of spillover from the New York Metropolis space, with extra individuals prepared to dwell in North Jersey and work within the Huge Apple reasonably than dwell within the latter; the world additionally contains lots of cities nonetheless recovering or stagnating from deindustrialization. Incomes are polarized between households incomes lower than $50,000 (38.7% of households) and people incomes $100,000 or extra (35.8% of households).

New Mexico

County with highest earnings inequality: Harding County

Gini index: 0.7279

Median family earnings: $35,900

Imply family earnings: $142,117

Harding County is among the least populated counties within the U.S. Situated out within the northeast of New Mexico, Harding County’s Gini index of 0.7279 is the best in the entire research. Little doubt the low inhabitants helps distort the imbalance of earnings distribution in Harding County. Simply shy of two-thirds of households (65.4%) earn lower than $50,000 per yr. In opposition to this there’s the 15.3% of households that earn $50,000 to $99,999 a yr and the 19.3% of households that earn $100,000 or extra a yr. What’s even crazier is that a couple of in 10 households earn $200,000 or extra.

New York

County with highest earnings inequality: New York County

Gini index: 0.5968

Median family earnings: $93,956

Imply family earnings: $172,695

New York County, actually, is simply the borough of Manhattan. Therefore, its extraordinarily excessive median and imply family incomes, and its extremely excessive Gini index of 0.5968, the fourth highest within the research. Family incomes are closely skewed towards the excessive finish, with 47.9% of all households incomes $100,000 or extra a yr. Furthermore, practically 1 / 4 of all households (24.9%) earn $200,000 or extra a yr. In the meantime, 32.1% of households earn lower than $50,000 per yr and squeezed in between is the 20% of households that earn $50,000 to $99,999 per yr.

North Carolina

County with highest earnings inequality: Bertie County

Gini index: 0.5517

Median family earnings: $37,571

Imply family earnings: $59,138

With a Gini coefficient of 0.5517, Bertie County has the best earnings inequality in North Carolina; and out of the 50 counties in our last listing, Bertie County’s inequality was 11^th highest. The county seat is situated at Windsor, with Bertie County’s jap border being delimited by the Albemarle Sound and Chowan Rivers. Each median and common family incomes are very a lot on the low aspect, and an astonishing 19.5% of households earn $15,000 to $24,999. The portion of households that earn lower than $50,000 a yr is 62.7%, whereas greater than a fifth (22.6%) of households earn $50,000 to $100,000 a yr. Lastly, there’s a small although not insignificant proportion of households — 14.6% — that earn $100,000 or extra per yr.

North Dakota

County with highest earnings inequality: Cavalier County

Gini index: 0.5476

Median family earnings: $60,284

Imply family earnings: $105,220

North Dakota’s county with the best earnings inequality is situated up north, alongside the Canadian border, between 120 and 130 miles from Winnepeg. The hole between common family earnings ($105,220) and median family earnings ($60,284) is substantial, at $44,936. There’s roughly the identical proportion of households that earn between $50,000 and $100,000 (30.2%) as households that earn $100,000 or extra a yr (30.7%).

Ohio

County with highest earnings inequality: Noble County

Gini index: 0.5122

Median family earnings: $46,144

Imply family earnings: $70,433

The county with the best earnings inequality in Ohio is Noble County, which is centered on the county seat of Caldwell in addition to on Interstate 77, which runs by means of it north-to-south. The county’s prime industries by employment, in response to Information USA, are Well being Care & Social Help (17.6% of the workforce), Manufacturing (14.9% of the workforce), and Retail Commerce (14% of the workforce). Near a fifth of all households (19.1%) earn $100,000 or extra per yr, whereas greater than half of all households (53.4%) earn lower than $50,000 per yr.

Oklahoma

County with highest earnings inequality: Roger Mills County

Gini index: 0.5496

Median family earnings: $58,385

Imply family earnings: $90,856

About 130 miles west of Oklahoma Metropolis, Roger Mills County lies on the border with the Texas Panhandle. The county’s Gini coefficient of 0.5496 places on among the many prime 15 counties with the best earnings inequality within the research. Roger Mills County has a stable pillar of middle-income earners, with 19.1% of households making $50,000 to $75,000 a yr. Nevertheless, there’s additionally a substantial proportion of households incomes $100,000 or extra — 23.6% of households. In the meantime, 45.8% of households earn lower than $50,000 a yr.

Oregon

County with highest earnings inequality: Wasco County

Gini index: 0.4817

Median family earnings: $57,853

Imply family earnings: $83,885

Wasco County, situated in Oregon, boasts the best earnings inequality of all counties within the state, but its Gini coefficient of 0.4817 is sort of an identical to the nationwide determine of 0.4818. Delving into the numbers reveals a deeper story: Whereas the median family earnings within the county sits at $57,853, the imply swells to a a lot larger $83,885, indicating that there are households with incomes significantly above the typical. That is additional evidenced by the truth that 42.7% of households earn lower than $50,000 yearly, portray an image of a good portion of the inhabitants struggling to make ends meet. In the meantime, 34.4% of households fall into the $50,000 to $99,999 bracket, and a notable 22.9% command incomes of $100,000 or extra a yr.

Pennsylvania

County with highest earnings inequality: Philadelphia County

Gini index: 0.5178

Median family earnings: $52,649

Imply family earnings: $77,454

Like its identify suggests, Philadelphia County is centered upon and covers all the metropolis of Philadelphia. With a Gini index of 0.5178, earnings inequality in Philadelphia County is worse than the U.S.’s general degree, however it’s nonetheless extra equal than many of the 50 counties to make our listing (rating 28^th out of fifty). Just a little over one in 10 households (10.7%) earn lower than $10,000 per yr and 48.1% of households earn lower than $50,000 per yr. That is considerably balanced by the 27.7% of households that earn $50,000 to $99,999 per yr and the 24.1% of households that earn $100,000 or extra.

Rhode Island

County with highest earnings inequality: Bristol County

Gini index: 0.4890

Median family earnings: $95,102

Imply family earnings: $132,141

Just like different New England states, the county with the best earnings inequality in Rhode Island — Bristol County — doesn’t have that dangerous of a Gini index: 0.4890 versus the U.S.’s 0.4818. Bristol County is simply southeast of Windfall, overlaying key cities like Bristol, Warren, and Barrington. The county is definitely a high-income place, with each the median and common family incomes being above their corresponding nationwide figures. As such, slightly below half of all households (47.7%) earn $100,000 or extra a yr, in comparison with 26.3% of households incomes $50,000 to $99,999 and 26.1% of households incomes lower than $50,000 a yr.

South Carolina

County with highest earnings inequality: Charleston County

Gini index: 0.5158

Median family earnings: $70,807

Imply family earnings: $108,070

Charleston County covers excess of simply Charleston or its speedy environs. The county stretches roughly 40 miles northeast of the town of Charleston and covers a large swathe of land to the west. Charleston County has the best earnings inequality of any county in South Carolina, however that is primarily on account of family incomes being skewed in the direction of the upper finish. As an example, roughly the identical proportion of households in Charleston County earn lower than $50,000 a yr (36.2% of households) as do people who earn $100,000 or extra (36% of households). Within the center is 27.8% of households that earn $50,000 to $99,999 per yr.

South Dakota

County with highest earnings inequality: McPherson County

Gini index: 0.5457

Median family earnings: $54,324

Imply family earnings: $86,710

McPherson County is situated in northern South Dakota and lies alongside the border with North Dakota. It’s a small county with solely a pair thousand inhabitants. The distribution of incomes by family is everywhere in McPherson County, with peaks like 15.6% of households incomes $15,000 to $24,999 and 19.4% of households incomes $50,000 to $74,999 in addition to 15.5% of households incomes $100,000 to $149,999 a yr, intermixed with valleys of low percentages. In line with Information USA, the three fundamental industries by employment embrace Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Looking (22.9% of the workforce), Well being Care & Social Help (15.7% of the workforce), and Building (11.2% of the workforce).

Tennessee

County with highest earnings inequality: Hancock County

Gini index: 0.5585

Median family earnings: $29,650

Imply family earnings: $57,955

Reportedly the fourth least populated county in Tennessee, Hancock County has the ninth highest degree of earnings inequality within the research. With its county seat at Sneedville, Hancock County lies in northeastern Tennessee, bordering the western tail of Virginia. The earnings inequality right here is much less pushed by a disproportionate variety of high-earning households, and extra pushed by imbalances between lower-income households and middle-income households. For instance, 26.7% of households in Hancock County earn between $50,000 and $100,000 a yr, however an enormous 63.8% of households earn lower than $50,000 a yr. Certainly, slightly below one fifth of all households (19.6%) earn $15,000 to $24,999 a yr.

Texas

County with highest earnings inequality: Sherman County

Gini index: 0.5881

Median family earnings: $55,667

Imply family earnings: $111,110

Situated within the Texas Panhandle, due north of Amarillo, lies Sherman County. Sporting a Gini index of 0.5881, earnings inequality in Sherman County is the fifth highest within the research. The hole between the typical family earnings ($111,110) and the median family earnings ($55,667) is a gigantic $55,443. And whereas 29.5% of households earn incomes of $50,000 to $99,999 per yr, that determine is definitely matched by the 24.9% of households that earn $100,000 or extra per yr.

Utah

County with highest earnings inequality: Summit County

Gini index: 0.5044

Median family earnings: $116,351

Imply family earnings: $176,064

Summit County is a sprawling entity, stretching far into jap Utah in addition to west, encompassing the prosperous metropolis of Park Metropolis, which like Aspen in Colorado’s most unequal county, is house to world-renowned ski resorts. Due to this fact, Summit County’s excessive earnings inequality is because of incomes being skewed towards the upper aspect. An unbelievable 55.9% of households in Summit County earn $100,000 or extra a yr, in comparison with 24.7% of households that earn $50,000 to $99,999, and simply 19.3% of households that earn lower than $50,000.

Vermont

County with highest earnings inequality: Lamoille County

Gini index: 0.5000

Median family earnings: $66,016

Imply family earnings: $98,015

Situated east the town of Burlington and Lake Champlain, and never too removed from the Canadian border, Lamoille County is Vermont’s most unequal county by way of earnings. Apparently, its Gini index of 0.5000 is correct on the midpoint of the Gini index’s scale from zero to at least one. There’s a substantial hole between common family earnings and median family earnings, of roughly $32,000. That is due largely to the 30.6% of households that earn $100,000 or extra a yr versus the 32.5% that earn between $50,000 and $100,000, and the 36.8% that earn lower than $50,000 a yr.

Virginia

County with highest earnings inequality: Charles Metropolis County

Gini index: 0.5194

Median family earnings: $59,543

Imply family earnings: $87,501

Charles Metropolis County lies alongside the banks of the James River, which varieties its southern border, together with the Chickahominy River forming its jap one. This Virginia county is located in between Richmond and Newport Information. Simply over one quarter of the households in Charles Metropolis County earn $100,000 or extra a yr. That is counterbalanced by practically two-fifths (39.6%) of households that earn lower than $50,000 a yr and one other 35.3% of households that earn between $50,000 and $100,000 a yr. The county’s fundamental industries, in response to Information USA, are Manufacturing (12.5% of the workforce), Retail Commerce (10.9% of the workforce), and Well being Care & Social Help (10.2% of the workforce).

Washington

County with highest earnings inequality: San Juan County

Gini index: 0.5377

Median family earnings: $68,577

Imply family earnings: $110,926

Located within the Salish Sea and at the very least a three-hour drive north by northwest of Seattle, San Juan County has the worst earnings inequality in Washington state. Simply over a 3rd of all households (33.9%) earn $100,000 or extra a yr, and a full 11% of households earn $200,000 or extra. This stands towards 30% of households that earn $50,000 to $99,999 and 36.1% of households that earn lower than $50,000 a yr. In line with Information USA, the first industries by way of employment are Building (13.5% of the workforce), Lodging & Meals Providers (9.46% of the workforce), and Retail Commerce (9.17% of the workforce).

West Virginia

County with highest earnings inequality: Pleasants County

Gini index: 0.5551

Median family earnings: $58,433

Imply family earnings: $97,696

The county with the best earnings inequality in West Virginia — Pleasants County — is in northern West Virginia, alongside the border with Ohio and never removed from the town of Marietta on the Ohio River. With a Gini index of 0.5551, Pleasants County’s degree of earnings inequality is the ten^th highest within the research. A surprisingly excessive proportion of households within the county — 28.5% — earn $100,000 or extra per yr. In the meantime, a comparable proportion of households earn $50,000 to $99,999 — 29.4%. On the low finish, 42.2% of households earn lower than $50,000 a yr.

Wisconsin

County with highest earnings inequality: Sawyer County

Gini index: 0.4921

Median family earnings: $53,011

Imply family earnings: $77,394

Situated in northwestern Wisconsin, Sawyer County partially overlaps with the reservation of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. Though its Gini coefficient of 0.4921 makes Sawyer County the one with the best earnings inequality in Wisconsin, in comparison with the nationwide general, the county’s degree of inequality isn’t too dangerous. Revenue distribution amongst households in Sawyer County takes on a bell-shaped curve: 46% of households earns lower than $50,000; 34% of households earn between $50,000 and $100,000; and 20% of households earn $100,000 or extra per yr.

Wyoming

County with highest earnings inequality: Teton County

Gini index: 0.5297

Median family earnings: $94,498

Imply family earnings: $159,027

Just like Colorado’s most unequal county — Pitkin County, house to Aspen — and Utah’s most unequal county — Summit County, house to Park Metropolis — Teton County is house to the luxurious and distinguished Jackson Gap ski space. The excessive incomes of the inhabitants of this space are a main contributor to the skew of earnings distribution towards the excessive finish. Practically half of all households (47.5%) earn $100,000 or extra, whereas solely 20.5% of households earn lower than $50,000 a yr and 31.9% of households earn $50,000 to $99,999 a yr.