Murray County Income Charts

This section shows the Murray County Georgia economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2020 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, Murray County shows it has a Median earnings of $34,980 which is the second smallest in terms of median earnings per worker of all the other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Catoosa County which depicts a median earnings of $44,354 (26.8% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $49,041, Murray County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, benchmarked against the state of Georgia, median earnings per worker of $44,957, Murray County is approximately three-fourths the size.

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 $48,033 which is in the mid range of other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Catoosa County which depicts a median income of $56,235 (17.1% larger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $62,843, Murray County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, measured against the state of Georgia, median household income of $58,700, Murray County is about 22.2% smaller.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Murray County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it has the percentage of earnings less than $10,000 the second smallest in terms of median earnings of less than $10,000 of all the other counties in the local area at 6.0% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of earnings between $15,000 and $19,999 at 48.4% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $75,000 and $99,999 at 2.7% 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 39.4 which is the third most of all other counties in the local area. The county with the highest average hours in the area is Polk County which shows an average hours of 40.2 ( only slightly 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 $17.07 which is the second smallest when sorted by average hourly earnings of all the other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Catoosa County which depicts an average hourly earnings of $22.04 (29.1% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $24.31, Murray County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, in contrast to the state of Georgia, average hourly earnings of $21.94, Murray County is approximately three-fourths the size.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Murray County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Murray County shows it has a Self Employed of 4.2% which is the smallest in terms of percentage of people self employed of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest percentage of people self employed in the area is Fannin County which depicts a percentage self employed of 16.5% (approximately 4.0 times bigger).

Turning our attention to Figure 8, the median household income by age group, has the percentage of median income-under 25 years in the mid range of other counties in the surrounding region at $56,287 of the total. Second, it has in the mid range of other counties in the area in terms of median income-25 to 44 years at $57,125 of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of median income-45 to 64 years at $29,441 of the total.

Figure 9 breaks down the source of income and Murray County has the smallest proportion of self employment income at 9.1% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of social security at 1.8% of the total and is ranked #1.

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 13.4% which is the second smallest in terms of households with retirement income of all the other counties in the area. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Fannin County which shows a households with retirement income of 31.5% (approximately 2.3 times bigger).

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 surrounding region at $55,465 of the total. Second, it has in the middle range of other counties in the local area when sorted by hawaiian family income at $47,458 of the total.

Figure 13 shows the cost of living and other consumer spending categories for a variety of cost components from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Murray County shows it has the hightest cost of 103.4 for the cost of utilities category.

Murray 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 shows that from February 2010 to before the disasterous COVID-19 Pandemic the monthly unemployment rate went from 14.2% to 5.3% in February 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 62.7%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 4.5% This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 15.1%. 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 shows that from February 2010 to before the disasterous COVID-19 Pandemic the monthly labor force participation went from 17,199 to 15,630 in February 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 9.1%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 14,898 This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 4.7%.

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 Murray County shows it has a Unemployment Rate of 4.0% which is the largest of all counties in the greater Murray County region. Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Murray County depicts it has a Labor Force Participation of 60.7% which is the third most participation rates of all other counties in the greater Murray County region.

The Components of Employment Status graph in Figure 18 shows the composition of the labor force broken down by employed, unemployed, and not in the labor force (but 16 years of age or older). Murray County has the largest proportion of employed at 4.0% of the total and is ranked #1.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Murray County shows full time employees substantially 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 Murray County area. Murray County depicts it has a Single Earner Families of 33.3% which is the second most families with a single earner of all the counties in the greater Murray County region. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Gilmer County which depicts a single earners rate of 34.5% (only about 3.6% larger). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Murray County depicts it has a Families with No One Working of 16.5% which is less than most other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Fannin County which depicts a families with no worker of 33.7% (about twice as large).

Murray County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Murray 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. Murray County shows it has a Total In Poverty of 6,118 which is in the mid range of other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Whitfield County which depicts a total people earning less than the poverty level of 16,355 (approximately 2.7 times bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Murray County shows it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 15.6% 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 Gordon County which depicts a percent of people in poverty of 18.0% (15.4% larger).

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. Murray County has the smallest proportion of person in poverty 55 to 64 years at 9% of the total.

The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. Murray County has the percentage of white poverty rate the second smallest in order of white poverty rate of all the other counties in the local area at 6% of the total. Second, it has the second smallest when ranked by white poverty rate of all the other counties in the area when ranked by black poverty rate at 32% of the total.

Figure 27 shows key poverty statistics for groups based on marriage status. Murray County has the percentage of unmarried female with children and in poverty the second smallest as measured by married with children and in poverty of all the other counties in the greater region at 15% of the total.

The next chart looks at the percentage of people in poverty based on their education level in Figure 28 marriage status. Murray County has the smallest proportion of less than highschool in poverty at 10% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of has some college and in poverty at 7% 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. Murray County has the largest proportion of people who are in poverty and unemployed at 19.6% of the total and is ranked #1. 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.) Murray County shows it has a Public Assistance Percent of 15.1% which is the largest of all counties in the greater Murray County region.

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Murray County depicts it has a Gini Index of 41.0% which is the smallest in order of the gini index of all the other counties in the area.

Murray County Work Commute Charts

The following set of charts detail a variety of metrics that have economic impact, economic grow factors and economic development metrics in the Murray County community and has an impact on other factors such as economic growth, population growth, economic recovery, job growth, etc.. Figure 32 shows a high level view of how the population commutes to work (including the percent of people who work from home.) Murray County has the smallest proportion of people who bicycle or walk to work at 1% of the total. Figure 33 shows a more detailed view of how the population commutes to work for (for example to downtown Murray County or elsewhere.) Murray County has the largest proportion of people who drove alone at 90% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of people who carpooled at 9% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of people who work from home at 1% of the total.

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Murray County has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 530 am to 6am at 17% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 7am to 730am at 8% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 730 am to 8am at 6% of the total. Also, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 8am to 830am at 2% of the total. In addition, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 9am to 10am at 1% of the total. Furthermore, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 10am to 11am at 0% of the total. Next it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 12noon to 4pm at 12% 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. Murray County has the smallest proportion of people with commute time of less than 5 minutesutes at 5% of the total. Second, it has the second smallest in order of people with commute time of less than 5 minutes of all the other counties in the metro area when ranked by people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes at 11% of the total. Third, it has less than most other counties in the metro area when sorted by people with commute time between 10 to 14 minutes at 12% of the total. Also, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 20 to 24 minutes at 14% of the total and is ranked #1. In addition, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 25 to 29 minutes at 22% of the total and is ranked #1.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Murray County shows it has a Avg Commute Time of 27 which is in the mid range of other counties in the surrounding region. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Murray County depicts average commute time in minutes for men 50.5% larger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Murray County has the smallest proportion of no vehicle available at 11% of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of 1 vehicle available at 43% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Catoosa County with 44%. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Murray County depicts it has a Work in city or place where live of 14% which is the smallest when sorted by people who both work and live in the same city of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest people who both work and live in the same city in the area is Gordon County which shows a people who both work and live in the same city of 55% (approximately 3.9 times bigger). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 42%, Murray County is approximately a third the size. Also, in contrast to the state of Georgia, people who both work and live in the same city of 40%, Murray County is approximately a third the size.

Murray 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. Murray County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $67,803 for the management, business, and financial occupations grouping. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Murray County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $48,162 for the management, business, and financial occupations grouping. The table in Figure 48, shows Murray County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Murray 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. Murray County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 33% for the self employed in natural resources, construction, and maintenance businesses grouping.

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. Murray County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 27% for the self employed in construction classification.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Murray County depicts it has a Self Employment Income of $45,460 which is at the top of all other counties in the greater Murray County region. Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $39,154, Murray County is 16.1% larger. Also, compared with the state of Georgia, average annual self employment income of $36,677, Murray County is 23.9% larger.

Figure 52 shows the difference between the number of self employed men and self employed women (i.e. entrepreneurs.) Murray County depicts total number of self-employed men approximately 3.6 times bigger as the total number of self-employed women.