Benton County Income Charts

This section shows the Benton County Mississippi economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2022 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, Benton County depicts it has a Median earnings of $32,194 which is the smallest when sorted by median earnings per worker of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Fayette County which depicts a median earnings of $52,420 (62.8% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $53,269, Benton County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, benchmarked against the state of Mississippi, median earnings per worker of $41,963, Benton 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 $39,311 which is the smallest as measured by median household income of all the other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Fayette County which shows a median income of $69,729 (77.4% larger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $69,021, Benton County is approximately half the size. Also, measured against the state of Mississippi, median household income of $49,111, Benton County is about 24.9% smaller.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Benton County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it it has the largest proportion of earnings less than $10,000 at 13.0% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of earnings between $10,000 and $14,999 at 13.5% 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 41.5 which is at the top of all other counties in the greater Benton County region. 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 $14.92 which is the smallest when sorted by average hourly earnings of all the other counties in the area. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Fayette County which depicts an average hourly earnings of $25.01 (67.7% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $26.40, Benton County is approximately half the size. Also, in comparison with the state of Mississippi, average hourly earnings of $20.43, Benton County is approximately three-fourths the size.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Benton County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Benton County depicts it has a Self Employed of 6.3% which is the smallest as measured by 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 Fayette County which depicts a percentage self employed of 12.8% (about twice as large).

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 $57,200 of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Union County ($62,009), and #1 Fayette County ($68,252) are larger. Second, it has the smallest proportion of median income-25 to 44 years at $36,571 of the total. Third, it has less than most other counties in the area when sorted by median income-45 to 64 years at $33,627 of the total.

Figure 9 breaks down the source of income and Benton County has the smallest proportion of income from wages at 2.8% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of investment and retirement income at 16.2% 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 25.6% which is the third most households with retirement income of all other counties in the greater Benton County region. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Fayette County which depicts a households with retirement income of 27.1% (6.1% 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 the second smallest in order of overall family income of all the other counties in the surrounding region at $55,933 of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of white family income at $70,787 of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 13 shows the cost of living and other consumer spending categories for a variety of cost components from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Benton County depicts it has the hightest cost of 110.1 for the cost of utilities group.

Benton County Labor Force Charts

The next two charts look at 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 2022, the Covid 19 recession occurred and affects this metric. The monthly unemployment rate shows that from February 2017 to before the Coronavirus Pandemic it went from 5.2% to 6.1% in December 2019. This represents an increase in the monthly unemployment rate of 17.3%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 6.1%. This represents an increase in the monthly unemployment rate of very little. 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. The monthly labor force participation shows that from January 2017 to before the Coronavirus Pandemic it went from 3,011 to 3,106 in November 2019. This represents an increase in the monthly labor force participation of 3.2%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 3,106. 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 Benton County depicts it has a Unemployment Rate of 2.1% which is the smallest as measured by unemployment rate of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest unemployment rate in the area is Hardeman County which depicts a rate of 5.6% (approximately 2.6 times bigger). Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Benton County depicts it has a Labor Force Participation of 52.9% which is the second smallest in order of participation rate of all the other counties in the greater 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). Benton County has the smallest proportion of employed at 2.1% of the total.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Benton County shows full time employees approximately 5.0 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 Benton County area. Benton County shows it has a Single Earner Families of 25.0% which is the second smallest when sorted by families with a single earner of all the other counties in the area. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Marshall County which depicts a single earners rate of 36.2% (44.8% larger). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Benton County depicts it has a Families with No One Working of 23.3% which is the third most families with no one working of all other counties in the greater Benton County region. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Hardeman County which depicts a families with no worker of 25.7% (10.6% larger).

Benton County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Benton 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. Benton County shows it has a Total In Poverty of 1,107 which is the smallest in terms of total people earning less than the poverty level of all the other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Marshall County which depicts a total people earning less than the poverty level of 6,562 ( substantially bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Benton County shows it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 14.5% which is less than most other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Tippah County which shows a percent of people in poverty of 20.6% (42.1% larger).

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. Benton County has the smallest proportion of person in poverty under 12 years at 2% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of person in poverty 12 to 17 years at 31% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the smallest proportion of person in poverty 18 to 34 years at 14% of the total. Also, it has the largest proportion of person in poverty 35 to 54 years at 22% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. Benton County has the percentage of white poverty rate the second smallest in terms of white poverty rate of all the other counties in the surrounding region at 13% of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of hawaiian poverty rate at 40% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Marshall County (45%), and #1 Tippah County (54%) are larger.

Figure 27 shows key poverty statistics for groups based on marriage status. Benton County has one of the largest proportions of unmarried with children and in poverty at 55% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Fayette County (58%), and #1 Marshall County (68%) are larger. Second, it has less than most other counties in the area in order of unmarried female with children and in poverty at 23% of the total.

The next chart looks at the percentage of people in poverty based on their education level in Figure 28 marriage status. Benton County has the smallest proportion of less than highschool in poverty at 12% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of has some college and in poverty at 9% 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.) Benton County shows it has a Public Assistance Percent of 15.1% which is the third most of all other counties in the area. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Hardeman County which depicts a households with public assistance of 20.1% (33.3% larger).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Benton County depicts it has a Gini Index of 42.9% which is the smallest when sorted by the gini index of all the other counties in the area.

Benton County Work Commute Charts

Figure 33 shows a more detailed view of how the population commutes to work for (for example to downtown Benton County or elsewhere.) Benton County has the smallest proportion of people who carpooled at 6% of the total.

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Benton County has the percentage of people who leave for work between 12am to 5am less than most other counties in the surrounding region at 4% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 5am to 530am at 5% of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 6am to 630am at 14% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 630 am to 7am at 12% of the total. In addition, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 7am to 730am at 20% of the total and is ranked #1. Furthermore, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 830 am to 9am at 0% of the total. Next it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 11am to 12noon at 5% of the total. Additionally, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 12noon to 4pm at 3% of the total.

The next graph in Figure 36 shows the average number of minutes that it takes for people to commute to work. Benton 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 when ranked by people with commute time of less than 5 minutes of all the other counties in the metro area in terms of people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes at 6% of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 45 to 59 minutes at 17% of the total and is ranked #1.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Benton County shows it has a Avg Commute Time of 35 which is more than all other counties in the greater Benton County region. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Benton County shows average commute time in minutes for men 68.0% larger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Benton County has the percentage of no vehicle available less than most other counties in the greater region at 14% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of 1 vehicle available at 51% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the smallest proportion of 3 vehicles available at 8% of the total. Also, it has the smallest proportion of 4 vehicles available at 0% of the total. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Benton County depicts it has a Work in city or place where live of 22% which is the second smallest when sorted by people who both work and live in the same city of all the other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest people who both work and live in the same city in the area is Alcorn County which shows a people who both work and live in the same city of 51% (approximately 2.3 times bigger). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 44%, Benton County is approximately half the size. Also, compared with the state of Mississippi, people who both work and live in the same city of 42%, Benton County is approximately half the size.

Benton 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. Benton County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $76,458 for the earnings-computer, engineering, and science occupations classification. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Benton County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $62,321 for the management, business, and financial occupations grouping. The table in Figure 48, shows Benton County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Benton 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. Benton County shows it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 69% 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. Benton County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 56% for the self employed in arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services aggregate.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Benton County depicts it has a Self Employment Income of $22,902 which is the smallest in order of average annual self employment income of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest average annual self employment income in the area is Fayette County which shows an average annual self employment income of $54,999 (approximately 2.4 times bigger). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $42,141, Benton County is approximately half the size. Also, in contrast to the state of Mississippi, average annual self employment income of $34,721, Benton County is approximately three-fourths the size.

Figure 52 shows the difference between the number of self employed men and self employed women (i.e. entrepreneurs.) Benton County shows total number of self-employed men about twice as large as the total number of self-employed women.