Fentress County Income Charts

This section shows the Fentress County Tennessee economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2019 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, Fentress County shows it has a median earnings per worker of $32,173 which is less than most other counties in the local area. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Morgan County which shows a median earnings of $37,893 (17.8% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $47,712, Fentress County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, benchmarked against the state of Tennessee, median earnings per worker of $41,249, Fentress 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 $35,084 which is the second smallest as measured by median household income of all the other counties in the area. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Cumberland County which shows a median income of $43,893 (25.1% larger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $60,293, Fentress County is approximately half the size. Also, versus the state of Tennessee, median household income of $50,972, Fentress County is approximately three-fourths the size.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Fentress County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it it has the largest proportion of earnings less than $10,000 at 24.8% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $20,000 and $49,999 at 35.6% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $50,000 and $74,999 at 12.0% of the total. Also, it has the second smallest as measured by median earnings of less than $10,000 of all the other counties in the metropolitan area when ranked by earnings of $100,000 more at 2.5% of the total.

Figure 5 has the Average number of hours worked in a typical work week during the year, it has an average hours of 38.2 which is the second smallest in terms of average hours of all the other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest average hours in the area is Scott County which depicts an average hours of 39.7 (only about 3.9% larger). Dividing median annual worker earnings by the average number of hours worked in a year in Figure 6 shows that it has an average hourly earnings of $16.20 which is less than most other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Morgan County which shows an average hourly earnings of $18.93 (16.9% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $23.71, Fentress County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, benchmarked against the state of Tennessee, average hourly earnings of $20.29, Fentress County is approximately three-fourths the size.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Fentress County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Fentress County shows it has a percentage of people self employed of 13.2% which is the second most people self employed of all the counties in the greater Fentress County region. The county with the highest percentage of people self employed in the area is Pickett County which shows a percentage self employed of 14.0% (6.4% larger).

Turning our attention to Figure 8, the median household income by age group, has the percentage of median income-under 25 years in the center range of other counties in the area at $31,743 of the total. Second, it has the second smallest as measured by median income for those under 25 years of age of all the other counties in the local area when ranked by median income-25 to 44 years at $40,172 of the total. Third, it has in the middle range of other counties in the local area when sorted by median income-45 to 64 years at $39,907 of the total. Also, it has one of the largest proportions of median income-65 years and over at $29,128 of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Pickett County ($38,125), and #1 Cumberland County ($42,257) are larger.

Figure 9 breaks down the source of income and Fentress County has the largest proportion of self employment income at 10.2% 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 households with retirement income of 19.1% which is in the center range of other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Pickett County which shows a households with retirement income of 31.3% (63.5% 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 when ranked by overall family income of all the other counties in the metropolitan area at $41,543 of the total. Second, it has the second smallest when sorted by overall family income of all the other counties in the local area in terms of white family income at $41,580 of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of hispanic family income at $32,292 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. Fentress County shows it has the hightest cost of 106.9 for the cost of transportation category.

Fentress 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 January 2010 to before the disasterous COVID Pandemic the monthly unemployment rate went from 14.9% to 4.0% in March 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 73.2%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 5.0% This represents an increase in the monthly unemployment rate of 25.0%. 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 depicts that from January 2010 to before the Wuhan virus Pandemic the monthly labor force participation went from 7,345 to 7,546 in March 2020. This represents an increase in the monthly labor force participation of 2.7%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 7,434 This represents a decrease 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 Fentress County shows it has an unemployment rate of 3.4% which is the second most of all the counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest unemployment rate in the area is Scott County which depicts a rate of 4.7% (37.4% larger). Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Fentress County shows it has a participation rate of 49.3% which is in the mid point 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. Fentress County shows full time employees approximately 2.8 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 Fentress County area. Fentress County shows it has a families with a single earner of 31.5% which is the third most families with a single earner of all other counties in the greater Fentress County region. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Clinton County which shows a single earners rate of 35.0% (11.4% larger). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Fentress County depicts it has a families with no one working of 28.4% which is in the middle range of other counties in the local area. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Cumberland County which depicts a families with no worker of 38.8% (36.3% larger).

Fentress County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Fentress 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. Fentress County indicates it has a total people earning less than the poverty level of 3,855 which is in the mid range of other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Cumberland County which depicts a total people earning less than the poverty level of 8,782 (approximately 2.3 times bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Fentress County indicates it has a percent of people earning less than the poverty level of 21.8% which is in the middle range of other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Clinton County which depicts a percent of people in poverty of 23.0% (only about 5.6% larger).



The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. Fentress County has the percentage of hispanicp poverty rate less than most other counties in the local area at 13% of the total.

Figure 27 shows key poverty statistics for groups based on marriage status. Fentress County has the percentage of unmarried with children and in poverty the second smallest when sorted by married with children and in poverty of all the other counties in the local area at 37% of the total. Second, it has less than most other counties in the local area in terms of unmarried female with children and in poverty at 39% of the total.

The next chart looks at the percentage of people in poverty based on their education level in Figure 28 marriage status. Fentress County has the smallest proportion of less than highschool in poverty at 29% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of highschool graduate and in poverty at 26% 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. Fentress County has the largest proportion of people who are in poverty and unemployed at 7.4% 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.) Fentress County shows it has a households with public assistance of 26.9% which is the second most of all the counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Scott County which depicts a households with public assistance of 30.0% (11.3% larger).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Fentress County shows it has a the gini index of 44.5% which is less than most other counties in the greater region.

Fentress County Work Commute Charts

Figure 33 shows a more detailed view of how the population commutes to work for (for example to downtown Fentress County or elsewhere.) Fentress County has the smallest proportion of people who drove alone at 81% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who carpooled at 12% of the total and is ranked #1.

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Fentress County has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 630 am to 7am at 15% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 7am to 730am at 13% 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 largest proportion of people who leave for work between 9am to 10am at 4% of the total and is ranked #1. In addition, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 4pm to midnight at 11% 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. Fentress County has one of the largest proportions of people with commute time of less than 5 minutesutes at 8% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Clinton County with 9%. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes at 14% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Pickett County (14%), and #1 Clinton County (16%) are larger. Third, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 25 to 29 minutes at 2% of the total.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Fentress County depicts it has an average commute time of 25 which is less than most other counties in the greater region. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Fentress County shows average commute time in minutes for men 50.1% larger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Fentress County has the largest proportion of no vehicle available at 3% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the second smallest when sorted by no vehicle available of all the other counties in the local area in order of 3 vehicles available at 23% of the total. Third, it has less than most other counties in the metro area in terms of 4 vehicles available at 10% of the total. Also, it has in the center range of other counties in the local area in terms of 5 or more vehicles available at 8% of the total. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Fentress County shows it has a people who both work and live in the same city of 26% 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 metropolitan area. The county with the highest people who both work and live in the same city in the area is Clinton County which shows a people who both work and live in the same city of 61% (approximately 2.3 times bigger). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 42%, Fentress County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, in comparison with the state of Tennessee, people who both work and live in the same city of 57%, Fentress County is approximately half the size.

Fentress 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. Fentress County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $245,714 for the earnings-computer, engineering, and science occupations group. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Fentress County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $94,583 for the management, business, and financial occupations group. The table in Figure 48, shows Fentress County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Fentress 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. Fentress County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 47% for the self employed in sales and office related 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. Fentress County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 41% for the self employed in transportation, warehousing, and utilities group.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Fentress County depicts it has an average annual self employment income of $35,056 which is the third most average annual self employment income of all other counties in the greater Fentress County region. The county with the highest average annual self employment income in the area is Clinton County which shows an average annual self employment income of $35,820 ( only slightly larger). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $37,819, Fentress County is about 7.9% smaller. Also, in contrast to the state of Tennessee, average annual self employment income of $37,481, Fentress County is about 6.9% smaller.

Figure 52 shows the difference between the number of self employed men and self employed women (i.e. entrepreneurs.) Fentress County shows total number of self-employed men approximately 2.7 times bigger as the total number of self-employed women.