Gray County Income Charts

This section shows the Gray County Kansas economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2022 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, Gray County depicts it has a Median earnings of $46,509 which is the third most median earnings of all other counties in the greater Gray County region. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Meade County which indicates a median earnings of $52,818 (13.6% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $53,269, Gray County is about 14.5% smaller. Also, in contrast to the state of Kansas, median earnings per worker of $49,534, Gray County is about 6.5% 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 $70,321 which is the most of all counties in the greater Gray County region. Comparing median household income to the United States average of $69,021, Gray County is only slightly larger. Also, in comparison with the state of Kansas, median household income of $64,521, Gray County is 9.0% larger.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Gray County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it it has the largest proportion of earnings between $20,000 and $49,999 at 27.9% of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 5 has the Average number of hours worked in a typical work week during the year, it has a Avg Hours Worked of 42.4 which is the third most of all other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest average hours in the area is Hodgeman County which depicts an average hours of 44.9 (only about 5.9% 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 $21.09 which is the second most average hourly earnings of all the counties in the greater Gray County region. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Meade County which depicts an average hourly earnings of $24.30 (15.2% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $26.40, Gray County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, in comparison with the state of Kansas, average hourly earnings of $24.30, Gray County is about 15.2% smaller.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Gray County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Gray County shows it has a Self Employed of 27.4% which is the second most people self employed of all the counties in the greater Gray County region. The county with the highest percentage of people self employed in the area is Hodgeman County which depicts a percentage self employed of 28.1% (only about 2.7% larger).

Turning our attention to Figure 8, the median household income by age group, it has one of the largest proportions of median income-under 25 years at $71,447 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Hodgeman County with $88,000. Second, it has the largest proportion of median income-25 to 44 years at $96,875 of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the second smallest when ranked by median income for those under 25 years of age of all the other counties in the metro area in terms of median income-45 to 64 years at $39,327 of the total.

Figure 9 breaks down the source of income and Gray County has the largest proportion of income from wages at 22.1% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of social security at 0.3% 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 11.6% which is the smallest as measured by 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 Haskell County which shows a households with retirement income of 16.1% (38.0% larger).

In the next chart, Figure 12, the median family income is shown for families broken down by racial group and it has the largest proportion of overall family income at $86,944 of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has less than most other counties in the local area as measured by hawaiian family income at $54,792 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. Gray County depicts it has the hightest cost of 98.5 for the cost of miscellaneous items grouping.

Gray 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 February 2010 to before the Wuhan Coronavirus Pandemic the monthly unemployment rate went from 3.2% to 2.1% in February 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 34.4%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 2.5% This represents an increase in the monthly unemployment rate of 19.0%. 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 virus Pandemic the monthly labor force participation went from 3,468 to 3,186 in March 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 8.1%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 2,985 This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 6.3%.

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 Gray County shows it has a Unemployment Rate of 1.3% which is the second smallest when sorted by unemployment rate of all the other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest unemployment rate in the area is Finney County which shows a rate of 3.8% (approximately 3.0 times bigger). Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Gray County depicts it has a Labor Force Participation of 69.9% which is in the mid range of other counties in the metropolitan area.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Gray County shows full time employees approximately 4.5 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 Gray County area. Gray County shows it has a Single Earner Families of 23.7% which is the smallest when ranked by families with a single earner of all the other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Haskell County which depicts a single earners rate of 44.2% (about twice as large). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Gray County depicts it has a Families with No One Working of 5.8% which is the smallest in order of families with no one working of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Hodgeman County which depicts a families with no worker of 10.9% (about twice as large).

Gray County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Gray 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. Gray County depicts it has a Total In Poverty of 261 which is the second smallest when ranked by total people earning less than the poverty level of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Finney County which depicts a total people earning less than the poverty level of 4,955 ( very much bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Gray County depicts it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 4.7% which is the smallest as measured by percent of people earning less than the poverty level of all the other counties in the area. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Seward County which shows a percent of people in poverty of 13.8% (approximately 3.0 times bigger).

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. Gray County has the smallest proportion of person in poverty under 12 years at 6% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of person in poverty 18 to 34 years at 10% of the total.

The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. Gray County has the smallest proportion of hawaiian poverty rate at 8% of the total.

Figure 27 shows key poverty statistics for groups based on marriage status. Gray County has the smallest proportion of married with children and in poverty at 17% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of unmarried with children and in poverty at 22% of the total.

The next chart looks at the percentage of people in poverty based on their education level in Figure 28 marriage status. Gray County has the smallest proportion of less than highschool in poverty at 4% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of highschool graduate and in poverty at 3% of the total. Figure 29 looks at only those people who make less than the poverty level of income and breaks down there employment status. Gray County has one of the largest proportions of people who are in poverty and unemployed at 19.5% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Hodgeman County with 19.7%. 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.) Gray County shows it has a Public Assistance Percent of 0.9% which is the smallest when sorted by households with public assistance of all the other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Finney County which shows a households with public assistance of 10.9% ( very much bigger).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Gray County depicts it has a Gini Index of 38.9% which is the second smallest in terms of the gini index of all the other counties in the greater region.

Gray County Work Commute Charts

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

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Gray County has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 12am to 5am at 7% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 530 am to 6am at 11% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 7am to 730am at 25% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 12noon to 4pm at 1% of the total.

The next graph in Figure 36 shows the average number of minutes that it takes for people to commute to work. Gray County has the percentage of people with commute time of less than 5 minutesutes the second smallest when ranked by people with commute time of less than 5 minutes of all the other counties in the greater region at 20% of the total. Second, it has less than most other counties in the greater region as measured by people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes at 9% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 10 to 14 minutes at 6% of the total. Also, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 20 to 24 minutes at 9% of the total and is ranked #1. In addition, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 35 to 39 minutes at 5% of the total and is ranked #1. Furthermore, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 45 to 59 minutes at 1% of the total.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Gray County depicts it has a Avg Commute Time of 17 which is the second most average commute time of all the counties in the greater Gray County region. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Gray County shows average commute time in minutes for men 33.6% larger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Gray County has the percentage of no vehicle available the second smallest as measured by no vehicle available of all the other counties in the local area at 11% of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of 4 vehicles available at 8% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Hodgeman County with 13%. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Gray County shows it has a Work in city or place where live of 39% which is the smallest in order of 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 Seward County which shows a people who both work and live in the same city of 77% (about twice as large). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 44%, Gray County is about 13.0% smaller. Also, benchmarked against the state of Kansas, people who both work and live in the same city of 54%, Gray County is approximately three-fourths the size.

Gray 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. Gray County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $118,500 for the earnings-computer, engineering, and science occupations category. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Gray County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $71,111 for the earnings-healthcare practitioners and tech occupations classification. The table in Figure 48, shows Gray County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Gray 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. Gray County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 54% for the self employed management, business, science, and arts businesses group.

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. Gray County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 39% for the self employed in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining group.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Gray County depicts it has a Self Employment Income of $68,566 which is the second most average annual self employment income of all the counties in the greater Gray County region. The county with the highest average annual self employment income in the area is Haskell County which depicts an average annual self employment income of $91,248 (33.1% larger). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $42,141, Gray County is 62.7% larger. Also, versus the state of Kansas, average annual self employment income of $36,127, Gray County is about twice as large.

Figure 52 shows the difference between the number of self employed men and self employed women (i.e. entrepreneurs.) Gray County indicates total number of self-employed men approximately 3.4 times bigger as the total number of self-employed women.