Kent County Income Charts

This section shows the Kent County Delaware economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2021 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, Kent County shows it has a Median earnings of $44,722 which is the second smallest when ranked by median earnings per worker of all the other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Queen Annes County which shows a median earnings of $60,125 (34.4% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $50,459, Kent County is about 12.8% smaller. Also, versus the state of Delaware, median earnings per worker of $51,913, Kent County is about 16.1% smaller.

In Figure 2 a more complete view of income is shown which aggregates income from all members in the household and it has a Median household income of $60,117 which is less than most other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Queen Annes County which depicts a median income of $96,467 (60.5% larger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $64,994, Kent County is about 8.1% smaller. Also, measured against the state of Delaware, median household income of $69,110, Kent County is about 15.0% smaller.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Kent County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it it has the largest proportion of earnings between $15,000 and $19,999 at 34.7% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $50,000 and $74,999 at 6.9% of the total.

Figure 5 has the Average number of hours worked in a typical work week during the year, it has a Avg Hours Worked of 38.5 which is less than most other counties in the area. The county with the highest average hours in the area is Queen Annes County which depicts an average hours of 39.9 (only about 3.6% larger). Dividing median annual worker earnings by the average number of hours worked in a year in Figure 6 shows that it has a Avg Hrly Earnings of $22.34 which is the smallest as measured by average hourly earnings of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Queen Annes County which depicts an average hourly earnings of $28.98 (29.7% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $25.01, Kent County is about 12.0% smaller. Also, measured against the state of Delaware, average hourly earnings of $25.93, Kent County is about 16.1% smaller.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Kent County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Kent County depicts it has a Self Employed of 7.1% which is the second smallest when ranked by percentage of people self employed of all the other counties in the area. The county with the highest percentage of people self employed in the area is Queen Annes County which shows a percentage self employed of 15.5% (about twice as large).

Turning our attention to Figure 8, the median household income by age group, has the percentage of median income-under 25 years less than most other counties in the greater region at $62,503 of the total. Second, it has the second smallest when ranked by median income for those under 25 years of age of all the other counties in the greater region in order of median income-25 to 44 years at $69,926 of the total. Third, it has less than most other counties in the local area when ranked by median income-45 to 64 years at $49,192 of the total.

The next chart (Figure 11) shows the percentage of households that had retirement income over the last 12 months and it has a With Retirement Income of 28.0% which is the second most households with retirement income of all the counties in the greater Kent County region. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Sussex County which depicts a households with retirement income of 36.3% (29.7% larger).

In the next chart, Figure 12, the median family income is shown for families broken down by racial group and has the percentage of overall family income less than most other counties in the greater region at $77,304 of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of white family income at $55,233 of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 New Castle County ($68,428), and #1 Queen Annes County ($79,604) are larger. Third, it has the second smallest when sorted by overall family income of all the other counties in the area in terms of black family income at $48,835 of the total. Also, it has less than most other counties in the greater region when sorted by american indian family income at $85,463 of the total. In addition, it has one of the largest proportions of hawaiian family income at $52,689 of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 New Castle County ($62,308), and #1 Queen Annes County ($88,393) are larger.

Figure 13 shows the cost of living and other consumer spending categories for a variety of cost components from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Kent County shows it has the hightest cost of 110.4 for the cost of grocery items grouping.

Kent County Labor Force Charts

The next two charts look at very recent, monthly trended employment related performance using data estimated by economists at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS tracks unemployment statistics for a large number of areas throughout the country on a month to month basis. However, not every location in the U.S. is tracked by the BLS so the chart will only show the closest location available (which may be the same location.) Figure 14 shows the monthly unemployment rate for the area as well as a comparison to the overall national economy measure for the United States. Note that in March to April 2020, the Covid 19 recession or great recession occurred and affects this metric. . It depicts that from January 2010 to before the disasterous COVID-19 Pandemic the monthly unemployment rate went from 9.6% to 5.8% in March 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 39.6%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 4.5% This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 22.4%. In Figure 15 the monthly labor force participation which are people actively looking for work are also defined as unemployed but do not include people who have given up looking for work. . It depicts that from January 2010 to before the Wuhan virus Pandemic the monthly labor force participation went from 71,691 to 79,448 in March 2020. This represents an increase in the monthly labor force participation of 10.8%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 79,457 This represents an increase in the monthly labor force participation of very little.

The next two charts look at the annual unemployment rate/eligible for unemployment benefits and is based on the American Community survey. Figure 16 shows Kent County depicts it has a Unemployment Rate of 3.7% which is in the middle range of other counties in the local area. The county with the highest unemployment rate in the area is Cumberland County which depicts a rate of 4.4% (20.8% larger). Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Kent County shows it has a Labor Force Participation of 61.6% which is in the mid range of other counties in the local area.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Kent County depicts full time employees approximately 3.6 times bigger as the part time employees.

The next employment related data item is shown in Figure 21 which is the percentage of families with only a single earner in the greater Kent County area. Kent County depicts it has a Single Earner Families of 28.3% which is in the mid range of other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Cumberland County which depicts a single earners rate of 32.7% (15.8% larger). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Kent County depicts it has a Families with No One Working of 21.7% which is the second most families with no one working of all the counties in the greater Kent County region. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Sussex County which depicts a families with no worker of 30.0% (38.2% larger).

Kent County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Kent County community. This performance can be enhanced by government programs such as economic opportunity zone to influence manufacturing, job growth, economic opportunity an hopefully lead to economic recovery after the recent Covid 19 recession. In Figure 23 the total number of people earning less than the poverty level are shown. Kent County depicts it has a Total In Poverty of 22,994 which is the third most total people earning less than the poverty level of all other counties in the greater Kent County region. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is New Castle County which shows a total people earning less than the poverty level of 58,133 (approximately 2.5 times bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Kent County depicts it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 13.2% which is in the mid range of other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Cumberland County which shows a percent of people in poverty of 16.0% (21.1% larger).

The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. Kent County has the largest proportion of asian poverty rate at 56% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next chart looks at the percentage of people in poverty based on their education level in Figure 28 marriage status. Kent County has the largest proportion of highschool graduate and in poverty at 11% of the total and is ranked #1. Figure 29 looks at only those people who make less than the poverty level of income and breaks down there employment status. Kent County has the smallest proportion of people who are in poverty and unemployed at 13.6% of the total. Additionally, Figure 30 looks at the percentage of people who receive some form of public assistance including general assistance, temporary assistance or food stamps (i.e. SNAP.) Kent County depicts it has a Public Assistance Percent of 15.6% which is the third most households with public assistance of all other counties in the greater Kent County region. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Caroline County which depicts a households with public assistance of 17.8% (14.0% larger).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Kent County depicts it has a Gini Index of 41.9% which is the smallest when sorted by the gini index of all the other counties in the area.

Kent County Work Commute Charts

Figure 33 shows a more detailed view of how the population commutes to work for (for example to downtown Kent County or elsewhere.) Kent County has the largest proportion of people who bike at 0% of the total and is ranked #1.

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Kent County has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 730 am to 8am at 9% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 9am to 10am at 3% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next graph in Figure 36 shows the average number of minutes that it takes for people to commute to work. Kent County has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes at 17% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of people with commute time between 10 to 14 minutes at 17% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being New Castle County with 17%.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Kent County depicts it has a Avg Commute Time of 26 which is less than most other counties in the metropolitan area. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Kent County indicates average commute time in minutes for men 22.9% larger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Kent County has one of the largest proportions of no vehicle available at 19% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Cumberland County (20%), and #1 New Castle County (22%) are larger. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Kent County shows it has a Work in city or place where live of 32% which is the second most people who both work and live in the same city of all the counties in the greater Kent County region. The county with the highest people who both work and live in the same city in the area is Cumberland County which indicates a people who both work and live in the same city of 35% (11.1% larger). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 43%, Kent County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, benchmarked against the state of Delaware, people who both work and live in the same city of 23%, Kent County is 36.5% larger.

Kent County Jobs Charts

The next to charts break out the median earnings for major job categories for men and women. Figure 46 shows the median earnings of men for the job categories. Kent County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $77,396 for the earnings-healthcare practitioners and tech occupations category. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Kent County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $61,800 for the earnings-healthcare practitioners and tech occupations classification. The table in Figure 48, shows Kent County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Kent County Self Employment Charts

Figure 49 shows economic activity in terms of the number of people who are self employed in incorporated local business by industry. Kent County shows it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 42% for the self employed management, business, science, and arts businesses category.

Similar to the last chart is Figure 50 which shows the number of people who are self employed but in more detailed industry categories such as manufacturing, retail sales, residential real estate, commercial real estate, health care, exports/imports, and advanced industries, etc. Kent County shows it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 26% for the self employed in construction category.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Kent County shows it has a Self Employment Income of $32,007 which is the smallest when ranked by average annual self employment income of all the other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest average annual self employment income in the area is Caroline County which depicts an average annual self employment income of $41,743 (30.4% larger). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $40,101, Kent County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, compared to the state of Delaware, average annual self employment income of $35,855, Kent County is about 12.0% smaller.

Figure 52 shows the difference between the number of self employed men and self employed women (i.e. entrepreneurs.) Kent County shows total number of self-employed men approximately 2.2 times bigger as the total number of self-employed women.