A Deep Dive on the County Level

Within the large and eclectic mosaic that’s America, every county tells its personal distinctive story, interwoven with threads of hope, ambition, goals, and generally, 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 isn’t just a mere line however a chasm. These are the counties with the highest income 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 information sources from the Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (the most recent information out there), we analyzed each single U.S. state by way of the county with the best revenue inequality, as measured by its Gini index. The Gini index or Gini coefficient is a measure of inequality of a distribution, on this case revenue, with a price of 0 expressing complete equality and a price of 1 complete inequality. The next Gini index signifies larger inequality.

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

Alabama

County with highest revenue inequality: Pike County

Gini index: 0.5323

Median family revenue: $40,106

Imply family revenue: $65,204

Pike County is centered on town of Troy, house to Troy College and one other instance of how college towns often feature high income inequality. Pike County is in southeastern Alabama, slightly over 50 miles from Montgomery. Incomes are closely divided, with 57.6% of households incomes lower than $50,000 a 12 months whereas a full 20% of households earn $100,000 or extra. The county’s three largest industries by employment embody Retail Commerce, accounting for 14.5% of the workforce; Academic Providers, accounting for 13.1% of the workforce; and Manufacturing, accounting for 11.9%. The county seat — Troy — itself displays robust revenue stratification, having a big hole between its median family revenue of $36,409 and its imply family revenue of $68,288. What’s extra, 58.7% of Troy households earn lower than $50,000 per 12 months in opposition to 20.5% who earn $100,000 or extra.

Alaska

County with highest revenue inequality: Yukon-Koyukuk Census Space

Gini index: 0.4752

Median family revenue: $43,405

Imply family revenue: $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 sequence of boroughs and Census Areas. In our research of the counties with the best revenue 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 almost 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 an entire, 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 revenue and imply family revenue is smaller than, for instance, Pike County’s hole; and the latter county, not coincidentally, has a better Gini coefficient.

Arizona

County with highest revenue inequality: Apache County

Gini index: 0.5055

Median family revenue: $34,788

Imply family revenue: $48,645

Apache County covers the northeast nook of Arizona and is formed like a tall rectangle. Nearly all of the county is occupied by a portion of the federally acknowledged Fort Apache Reservation and Navajo Nation. Out of the 50 highest income 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 facet of inequality. That mentioned, Apache County is extra unequal than the nationwide Gini index of 0.4818. Reasonably than being a county polarized into impoverished households on one hand and super-wealthy households on the opposite, Apache County has excessive revenue inequality as a result of startlingly excessive share of households incomes lower than $10,000 — 19.9% — contrasted with the excessive share of middle-income households, with 24% incomes $50,000 to $99,999. The highest three industries by employment are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Searching, 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 revenue inequality: Lee County

Gini index: 0.5806

Median family revenue: $29,082

Imply family revenue: $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 rates of income inequality within the research. Though its common family revenue 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 revenue — which is over $25,500 — that actually stands out. Greater than two-thirds of households (67.4%) earn lower than $50,000, in opposition to 18.5% that earn $50,000 to $99,999 and 14.1% that earn $100,000 or extra per 12 months.

California

County with highest revenue inequality: Tehama County

Gini index: 0.5145

Median family revenue: $52,901

Imply family revenue: $79,138

Tehama County is in northern California, centered on the county seat of Pink Bluff, roughly a two-hour drive north of Sacramento. Tehama County’s Gini index is roughly 7% greater than the U.S. Gini index of 0.4818, however when in comparison with the opposite 49 counties on this research, Tehama County’s income inequality is on the decrease finish of the spectrum. Tehama County includes a very massive share of middle-income households incomes $50,000 to $74,999 — 17.4% of all households. But, on the identical 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 most important 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 revenue inequality: Pitkin County

Gini index: 0.5480

Median family revenue: $92,708

Imply family revenue: $172,473

The county seat and largest metropolis in Pitkin County is Aspen, some of the 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 revenue inequality of all counties in Colorado highlights a extra normal theme of trip and resort areas additionally tending to function higher-than-average revenue inequality. In Pitkin County, the distribution of incomes may be very skewed, with multiple fifth (21.9%) of households incomes $200,000 or extra per 12 months. Moreover, the share 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 revenue inequality: Fairfield County

Gini index: 0.5425

Median family revenue: $101,194

Imply family revenue: $164,837

Connecticut’s highest income 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 comprises, for instance, 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 many years. An unimaginable 23.9% of households in Fairfield County have a median family revenue of $200,000 or extra. And greater than half (50.5%) of households earn $100,000 or extra a 12 months.

Delaware

County with highest revenue inequality: Sussex County

Gini index: 0.4594

Median family revenue: $68,886

Imply family revenue: $92,069

In comparison with the nation’s total revenue inequality — with a Gini index of 0.4818 — Sussex County is likely to be essentially the most unequal in Delaware, but it surely’s much less unequal than America as an entire. You’ll be able to see this within the breakdown of revenue 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 12 months.

Florida

County with highest revenue inequality: Hardee County

Gini index: 0.5343

Median family revenue: $41,395

Imply family revenue: $65,000

Florida has for someday been a state riddled with income inequality. And the county with the best revenue inequality is Hardee County, which is positioned 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 facet, however there’s nonetheless substantial inequality, with greater than half of households (56.6%) incomes lower than $50,000 a 12 months, 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 revenue inequality: Macon County

Gini index: 0.5796

Median family revenue: $33,163

Imply family revenue: $56,218

Out of the 50 counties in our research, Macon County has the seventh highest stage of revenue inequality, with a Gini coefficient of 0.5796, considerably greater than the nationwide Gini coefficient of 0.4818. A staggering 17.7% of households in Macon County earn less than $10,000 a year, with 64.5% of households incomes lower than $50,000 a 12 months. That is in distinction to greater than a fifth of households (21.7%) that earn between $50,000 and $100,000 a 12 months, plus 13.6% of households that earn $100,000 or extra a 12 months. In keeping with Data 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 & Searching (10.2%).

Hawaii

County with highest revenue inequality: Hawaii County

Gini index: 0.4747

Median family revenue: $68,399

Imply family revenue: $91,885

Hawaii’s most unequal county by way of revenue — Hawaii County — truly has the third lowest revenue inequality of the 50 counties in our record. With a Gini index of 0.4747, revenue inequality in Hawaii County is decrease than the nationwide common. And this typically low inequality is mirrored within the information. 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 high, 32.5% of households earn $100,000 or extra per 12 months.

Idaho

County with highest revenue inequality: Madison County

Gini index: 0.4909 (40^th highest)

Median family revenue: $53,498

Imply family revenue: $77,337

The county with the best revenue inequality in Idaho — Madison County — has a stage of inequality very corresponding to the nationwide common. With a Gini index of 0.4909, Madison County is just barely extra unequal than the U.S. total (Gini index of 0.4818). Just below 1 / 4 of all households (24.1%) earn $100,000 or extra per 12 months, 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. A bit of underneath half of all households (46.4%) earn lower than $50,000 per 12 months, whereas 29.7% of households earn $50,000 to $99,999.

Illinois

County with highest revenue inequality: Gallatin County

Gini index: 0.5286 (25^th highest)

Median family revenue:

Imply family revenue: $92,069

Positioned within the far southeast of Illinois, Gallatin County is the county with the best revenue 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 12 months, whereas greater than a fifth (21.2%) earn $100,000 or extra a 12 months. The county’s high 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 revenue inequality: Blackford County

Gini index: 0.4847 (44^th highest)

Median family revenue: $45,080

Imply family revenue: $61,505

The humorous factor in regards to the county with the best revenue inequality in Indiana is that it’s not that unequal. Its Gini index of 0.4847 is just barely greater than the nationwide determine of 0.4818. There’s a really sturdy 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 12 months, who make up 16% of all households. Greater than half of all households (53.7%) in Blackford County earn lower than $50,000 a 12 months.

Iowa

County with highest revenue inequality: Adams County

Gini index: 0.5072 (33^rd highest)

Median family revenue: $57,981

Imply family revenue: $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 revenue 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 revenue equality) and one (full revenue inequality).

Adams County does function a recurring attribute: Its most important industries, by way of share of the workforce employed, are a mixture 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 & Searching (13.3%).

Kansas

County with highest revenue inequality: Meade County

Gini index: 0.5423 (19^th highest)

Median family revenue: $66,042

Imply family revenue: $113,325

Positioned in southwestern Kansas, Meade County is an attention-grabbing entry on our record of the county with the best revenue inequality in every state. Right here, there’s a stable middle-income section, with 39.4% of households in Meade County incomes $50,000 to $99,999. On the identical time, there’s a sizable upper-income section, 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 & Searching (17.2% of the workforce), Well being Care & Social Help (15.2% of the workforce), and Academic Providers (12% of the work power). One other startling information level is the hole between imply and median family revenue in Meade County, equal to a greater than $47,000 distinction.

Kentucky

County with highest revenue inequality: Knox County

Gini index: 0.5503 (13^th highest)

Median family revenue: $29,206

Imply family revenue: $47,979

Positioned 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 Academic Providers (12.2%). In the meantime, the best paying industries are Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gasoline Extraction (0.661% of the workforce), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Searching, & 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 revenue inequality within the state of Kentucky, this county is just not like a Versailles-style ultra-wealthy on one pole and completely poor on the different pole. Roughly 67.2% of households in Knox County earn lower than $50,000 a 12 months. That is pitted in opposition to 21.6% of households that earn $50,000 to $99,999 a 12 months 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 revenue inequality in Knox County enabled it to put 13^th out of fifty.

Louisiana

County with highest revenue inequality: East Carroll Parish

Gini index: 0.6860

Median family revenue: $25,049

Imply family revenue: $60,718

Positioned within the northeast nook of Louisiana, with its parish seat within the metropolis of Lake Windfall, East Carroll Parish is well the county with the best revenue 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 revenue inequality is roughly 42% greater than the nationwide stage. The massive $35,669 hole between median and imply family revenue 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 12 months. 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 & Searching (9.46% of the workforce) are the highest industries by way of employment.

Maine

County with highest revenue inequality: Aroostook County

Gini index: 0.4624

Median family revenue: $47,278

Imply family revenue: $63.636

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

Maryland

County with highest revenue inequality: Talbot County

Gini index: 0.4983

Median family revenue: $79,349

Imply family revenue: $116,514

Talbot County is located on the central Jap 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 revenue 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 just barely greater than the U.S. total). As such, the distribution of family incomes is pretty balanced, with 30.7% of households incomes lower than $50,000 per 12 months, 30.5% incomes between $50,000 and $100,000, and 38.9% incomes $100,000 or extra.

Massachusetts

County with highest revenue inequality: Suffolk County

Gini index: 0.5281

Median family revenue: $80,260

Imply family revenue: $116,843

Suffolk County covers a lot of the Boston space, together with town of Boston correct, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. Suffolk is the county with the best revenue inequality in Massachusetts, but its incomes notably skew in direction of the excessive finish. As an illustration, 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 12 months. Nevertheless, each these segments are overshadowed by the 41.4% of households that earn $100,000 or extra per 12 months.

Michigan

County with highest revenue inequality: Wayne County

Gini index: 0.4906

Median family revenue: $52,830

Imply family revenue: $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 revenue inequality exceeds each different county in Michigan, Wayne County solely has a Gini index of 0.4906, which isn’t a lot greater than the U.S.’s Gini index of 0.4818. The hole between median and common family revenue 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 revenue inequality: Stevens County

Gini index: 0.5123

Median family revenue: $65,750

Imply family revenue: $95,156

Stevens County is positioned far on the market, in western, central Minnesota, proper close to the Lake Traverse Reservation. There’s a hole of just about $30,000 between median family revenue and common family revenue. This distortion of the imply family revenue upward for Stevens County is due primarily to the 28.3% of households that earn at the least $100,000 a 12 months 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 main industries by employment, in keeping with Data USA, are Well being Care & Social Help (15.8%), Academic Providers (14.9%), and Manufacturing (13.4%).

Mississippi

County with highest revenue inequality: Humphreys County

Gini index: 0.5727

Median family revenue: $30,327

Imply family revenue: $55,909

Out of all 50 counties included in our record of the counties with the best revenue inequality in each state, Humphreys County in Mississippi ranked because the eighth highest by way of revenue inequality. Humphreys County’s Gini index of 0.5727 is significantly greater than the U.S. Gini index of 0.4818. In keeping with Data 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 revenue distribution in Humphreys County may be very lopsided, with almost 70% (69.6%) of households incomes lower than $50,000 a 12 months, 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 revenue inequality: Adair County

Gini index: 0.5515

Median family revenue: $46,639

Imply family revenue: $71,907

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

Montana

County with highest revenue inequality: Judith Basin County

Gini index: 0.5195

Median family revenue: $51,691

Imply family revenue: $74,560

Judith Basin County is about as near the lifeless heart 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 function in Judith Basin County is Administration Occupations, accounting for 32.1% of the workforce. On the identical time, the highest business by employment is Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Searching, 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 identical 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 revenue inequality: Fillmore County

Gini index: 0.4931

Median family revenue: $66,410

Imply family revenue: $96,007

Named for President Millard Fillmore, Fillmore County has the best revenue inequality within the state, however within the total scheme of issues, its Gini index of 0.4931 signifies that it’s not that unequal. In keeping with Knowledge USA, the principle industries by employment embody Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Searching (14.7% of the workforce), Health Care & Social Assistance (13.4% of the workforce), and Retail Commerce (11.6% of the workforce). Whereas 28.3% of households earn $100,000 or extra per 12 months 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 12 months.

Nevada

County with highest revenue inequality: Storey County

Gini index: 0.4752

Median family revenue: $66,713

Imply family revenue: $93,984

Storey County is concurrently one of many least populated counties in Nevada and one of many fastest growing economies. In comparison with the opposite counties on our record and nation basically, Nevada’s most unequal county doesn’t endure from a excessive charge of revenue inequality. The revenue distribution over all households in Storey County is pretty even, with 37.6% of households incomes lower than $50,000 a 12 months, 29.9% incomes between $50,000 and $100,000 a 12 months, and 32.5% incomes $100,000 or extra a 12 months.

New Hampshire

County with highest revenue inequality: Grafton County

Gini index: 0.4900

Median family revenue: $73,755

Imply family revenue: $102,862

New Hampshire’s county with the best revenue inequality has a Gini index that’s solely barely greater than the U.S.’s Gini index of 0.4818. Nonetheless, with a Gini coefficient of 0.4900, Grafton County has the best revenue inequality within the state. Each median and common family incomes are one the upper facet. A couple of third of households (35.3%) earn lower than $50,000 per 12 months, whereas a comparable 34.1% of households earn $100,000 or extra per 12 months. Within the center is the 30.6% of households that earn $50,000 to $99,999 a 12 months.

New Jersey

County with highest revenue inequality: Essex County

Gini index: 0.5483

Median family revenue: $67,826

Imply family revenue: $112,403

The county in New Jersey with the best revenue inequality — Essex County — has one of many greatest gaps between its common family revenue ($112,403) and median family revenue ($67,826): A distinction of $44,577. This isn’t too shocking as soon as you recognize 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 heart, to Fairfield within the far northwest. This space consists of plenty of cities which have grown in each inhabitants and wealth as a result of spillover from the New York Metropolis space, with extra folks keen to dwell in North Jersey and work within the Huge Apple somewhat than dwell within the latter; the realm additionally consists of numerous 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 revenue inequality: Harding County

Gini index: 0.7279

Median family revenue: $35,900

Imply family revenue: $142,117

Harding County is among the least populated counties within the U.S. Positioned out within the northeast of New Mexico, Harding County’s Gini index of 0.7279 is the best in the entire research. Little question the low inhabitants helps distort the imbalance of revenue distribution in Harding County. Simply shy of two-thirds of households (65.4%) earn lower than $50,000 per 12 months. In opposition to this there’s the 15.3% of households that earn $50,000 to $99,999 a 12 months and the 19.3% of households that earn $100,000 or extra a 12 months. What’s even crazier is that multiple in 10 households earn $200,000 or extra.

New York

County with highest revenue inequality: New York County

Gini index: 0.5968

Median family revenue: $93,956

Imply family revenue: $172,695

New York County, genuinely, 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 12 months. Furthermore, almost 1 / 4 of all households (24.9%) earn $200,000 or extra a 12 months. In the meantime, 32.1% of households earn lower than $50,000 per 12 months and squeezed in between is the 20% of households that earn $50,000 to $99,999 per 12 months.

North Carolina

County with highest revenue inequality: Bertie County

Gini index: 0.5517

Median family revenue: $37,571

Imply family revenue: $59,138

With a Gini coefficient of 0.5517, Bertie County has the best revenue inequality in North Carolina; and out of the 50 counties in our remaining record, Bertie County’s inequality was 11^th highest. The county seat is positioned at Windsor, with Bertie County’s jap border being delimited by the Albemarle Sound and Chowan Rivers. Each median and common household incomes are very much on the low side, and an astonishing 19.5% of households earn $15,000 to $24,999. The portion of households that earn lower than $50,000 a 12 months is 62.7%, whereas greater than a fifth (22.6%) of households earn $50,000 to $100,000 a 12 months. Lastly, there’s a small although not insignificant proportion of households — 14.6% — that earn $100,000 or extra per 12 months.

North Dakota

County with highest revenue inequality: Cavalier County

Gini index: 0.5476

Median family revenue: $60,284

Imply family revenue: $105,220

North Dakota’s county with the best revenue inequality is positioned up north, alongside the Canadian border, between 120 and 130 miles from Winnepeg. The hole between common family revenue ($105,220) and median family revenue ($60,284) is substantial, at $44,936. There’s roughly the identical share of households that earn between $50,000 and $100,000 (30.2%) as households that earn $100,000 or extra a 12 months (30.7%).

Ohio

County with highest revenue inequality: Noble County

Gini index: 0.5122

Median family revenue: $46,144

Imply family revenue: $70,433

The county with the highest income inequality in Ohio is Noble County, which is centered on the county seat of Caldwell in addition to on Interstate 77, which runs via it north-to-south. The county’s high industries by employment, in keeping with Data 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 12 months, whereas greater than half of all households (53.4%) earn lower than $50,000 per 12 months.

Oklahoma

County with highest revenue inequality: Roger Mills County

Gini index: 0.5496

Median family revenue: $58,385

Imply family revenue: $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 high 15 counties with the best revenue 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 12 months. 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 12 months.

Oregon

County with highest revenue inequality: Wasco County

Gini index: 0.4817

Median family revenue: $57,853

Imply family revenue: $83,885

Wasco County, positioned in Oregon, boasts the best revenue inequality of all counties within the state, but its Gini coefficient of 0.4817 is nearly equivalent to the nationwide determine of 0.4818. Delving into the numbers reveals a deeper story: Whereas the median family revenue within the county sits at $57,853, the imply swells to a a lot greater $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 12 months.

Pennsylvania

County with highest revenue inequality: Philadelphia County

Gini index: 0.5178

Median family revenue: $52,649

Imply family revenue: $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, income inequality in Philadelphia County is worse than the U.S.’s total stage, however it’s nonetheless extra equal than a lot of the 50 counties to make our record (rating 28^th out of fifty). A bit of over one in 10 households (10.7%) earn lower than $10,000 per 12 months and 48.1% of households earn lower than $50,000 per 12 months. That is considerably balanced by the 27.7% of households that earn $50,000 to $99,999 per 12 months and the 24.1% of households that earn $100,000 or extra.

Rhode Island

County with highest revenue inequality: Bristol County

Gini index: 0.4890

Median family revenue: $95,102

Imply family revenue: $132,141

Much like different New England states, the county with the best revenue 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, just below half of all households (47.7%) earn $100,000 or extra a 12 months, in comparison with 26.3% of households incomes $50,000 to $99,999 and 26.1% of households incomes lower than $50,000 a 12 months.

South Carolina

County with highest revenue inequality: Charleston County

Gini index: 0.5158

Median family revenue: $70,807

Imply family revenue: $108,070

Charleston County covers way over simply Charleston or its speedy environs. The county stretches roughly 40 miles northeast of town of Charleston and covers a large swathe of land to the west. Charleston County has the best revenue inequality of any county in South Carolina, however that is primarily because of family incomes being skewed in direction of the upper finish. As an illustration, roughly the identical proportion of households in Charleston County earn lower than $50,000 a 12 months (36.2% of households) as do those 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 12 months.

South Dakota

County with highest revenue inequality: McPherson County

Gini index: 0.5457

Median family revenue: $54,324

Imply family revenue: $86,710

McPherson County is positioned 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 in all places 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 12 months, intermixed with valleys of low percentages. In keeping with Knowledge USA, the three most important industries by employment embody Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Searching (22.9% of the workforce), Well being Care & Social Help (15.7% of the workforce), and Development (11.2% of the workforce).

Tennessee

County with highest revenue inequality: Hancock County

Gini index: 0.5585

Median family revenue: $29,650

Imply family revenue: $57,955

Reportedly the fourth least populated county in Tennessee, Hancock County has the ninth highest stage of revenue inequality within the research. With its county seat at Sneedville, Hancock County lies in northeastern Tennessee, bordering the western tail of Virginia. The revenue 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 12 months, however an enormous 63.8% of households earn lower than $50,000 a 12 months. Certainly, just below one fifth of all households (19.6%) earn $15,000 to $24,999 a 12 months.

Texas

County with highest revenue inequality: Sherman County

Gini index: 0.5881

Median family revenue: $55,667

Imply family revenue: $111,110

Positioned within the Texas Panhandle, due north of Amarillo, lies Sherman County. Sporting a Gini index of 0.5881, revenue inequality in Sherman County is the fifth highest within the research. The hole between the typical family revenue ($111,110) and the median family revenue ($55,667) is a gigantic $55,443. And whereas 29.5% of households earn incomes of $50,000 to $99,999 per 12 months, that determine is well matched by the 24.9% of households that earn $100,000 or more per year.

Utah

County with highest revenue inequality: Summit County

Gini index: 0.5044

Median family revenue: $116,351

Imply family revenue: $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 revenue inequality is because of incomes being skewed towards the upper facet. An unimaginable 55.9% of households in Summit County earn $100,000 or extra a 12 months, 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 revenue inequality: Lamoille County

Gini index: 0.5000

Median family revenue: $66,016

Imply family revenue: $98,015

Positioned east 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 revenue. 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 revenue and median family revenue, of roughly $32,000. That is due largely to the 30.6% of households that earn $100,000 or extra a 12 months versus the 32.5% that earn between $50,000 and $100,000, and the 36.8% that earn lower than $50,000 a 12 months.

Virginia

County with highest revenue inequality: Charles Metropolis County

Gini index: 0.5194

Median family revenue: $59,543

Imply family revenue: $87,501

Charles Metropolis County lies alongside the banks of the James River, which types 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 12 months. That is counterbalanced by almost two-fifths (39.6%) of households that earn lower than $50,000 a 12 months and one other 35.3% of households that earn between $50,000 and $100,000 a 12 months. The county’s most important industries, in keeping with Data 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 revenue inequality: San Juan County

Gini index: 0.5377

Median family revenue: $68,577

Imply family revenue: $110,926

Located within the Salish Sea and at the least a three-hour drive north by northwest of Seattle, San Juan County has the worst revenue inequality in Washington state. Simply over a 3rd of all households (33.9%) earn $100,000 or extra a 12 months, and a full 11% of households earn $200,000 or extra. This stands in opposition to 30% of households that earn $50,000 to $99,999 and 36.1% of households that earn lower than $50,000 a 12 months. In keeping with Data USA, the first industries by way of employment are Development (13.5% of the workforce), Lodging & Meals Providers (9.46% of the workforce), and Retail Trade (9.17% of the workforce).

West Virginia

County with highest revenue inequality: Pleasants County

Gini index: 0.5551

Median family revenue: $58,433

Imply family revenue: $97,696

The county with the best revenue inequality in West Virginia — Pleasants County — is in northern West Virginia, alongside the border with Ohio and never removed from town of Marietta on the Ohio River. With a Gini index of 0.5551, Pleasants County’s stage of revenue 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 12 months. In the meantime, a comparable share of households earn $50,000 to $99,999 — 29.4%. On the low finish, 42.2% of households earn lower than $50,000 a 12 months.

Wisconsin

County with highest revenue inequality: Sawyer County

Gini index: 0.4921

Median family revenue: $53,011

Imply family revenue: $77,394

Positioned 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 revenue inequality in Wisconsin, in comparison with the nationwide total, the county’s stage 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 12 months.

Wyoming

County with highest revenue inequality: Teton County

Gini index: 0.5297

Median family revenue: $94,498

Imply family revenue: $159,027

Much 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 revenue 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 12 months and 31.9% of households earn $50,000 to $99,999 a 12 months.