Highland County Income Charts

This section shows the Highland County Virginia economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2021 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, Highland County depicts it has a Median earnings of $36,731 which is the second smallest in terms of median earnings per worker of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Augusta County which depicts a median earnings of $44,584 (21.4% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $50,459, Highland County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, measured against the state of Virginia, median earnings per worker of $54,896, Highland 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 $51,831 which is in the mid range of other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Augusta County which depicts a median income of $65,076 (25.6% larger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $64,994, Highland County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, in comparison with the state of Virginia, median household income of $76,398, Highland County is approximately three-fourths the size.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Highland County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it has the smallest proportion of earnings less than $10,000 at 3.6% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $50,000 and $74,999 at 2.6% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $75,000 and $99,999 at 3.7% 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 35.7 which is the smallest when sorted by average hours of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest average hours in the area is Bath County which depicts an average hours of 40.3 (12.9% 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 $19.79 which is in the mid range of other counties in the local area. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Staunton city and County which shows an average hourly earnings of $21.81 (10.2% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $25.01, Highland County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, versus the state of Virginia, average hourly earnings of $27.00, Highland County is approximately three-fourths the size.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Highland County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Highland County depicts it has a Self Employed of 12.4% which is the largest of all counties in the greater Highland County region.

Turning our attention to Figure 8, the median household income by age group, has the percentage of median income-under 25 years the second smallest in order of median income for those under 25 years of age of all the other counties in the metro area at $45,938 of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of median income-25 to 44 years at $71,333 of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Augusta County ($75,658), and #1 Staunton city and County ($78,796) are larger. Third, it has the largest proportion of median income-45 to 64 years at $50,421 of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 9 breaks down the source of income and Highland County has the largest proportion of self employment income at 31.3% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of investment and retirement income at 19.6% 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 39.0% which is more than all other counties in the greater Highland County region.

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 in the center range of other counties in the surrounding region at $58,487 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. Highland County depicts it has the hightest cost of 100.0 for the cost of utilities category.

Highland 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 Coronavirus Pandemic the monthly unemployment rate went from 7.6% to 3.3% in March 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 56.6%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 2.6% This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 21.2%. 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 January 2010 to before the disasterous COVID-19 Pandemic the monthly labor force participation went from 1,387 to 1,162 in March 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 16.2%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 1,176 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 Highland County shows it has a Unemployment Rate of 5.1% which is the largest of all counties in the greater Highland County region. Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Highland County depicts it has a Labor Force Participation of 45.2% which is the smallest as measured by participation rate of all the other counties in the local area.

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). Highland County has the largest proportion of employed at 5.1% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of unemployed at 54.8% 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. Highland County depicts full time employees approximately 2.4 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 Highland County area. Highland County shows it has a Single Earner Families of 32.5% which is the second most families with a single earner of all the counties in the greater Highland County region. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Randolph County which depicts a single earners rate of 33.9% (only about 4.2% larger). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Highland County shows it has a Families with No One Working of 33.1% which is the second most families with no one working of all the counties in the greater Highland County region. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Bath County which shows a families with no worker of 39.6% (19.7% larger).

Highland County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Highland 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. Highland County shows it has a Total In Poverty of 223 which is the smallest when ranked by total people earning less than the poverty level of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Augusta County which shows a total people earning less than the poverty level of 6,374 ( markedly bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Highland County shows it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 10.2% which is the second smallest when ranked by percent of people earning less than the poverty level of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Pocahontas County which depicts a percent of people in poverty of 18.9% (about twice as large).

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. Highland County has the largest proportion of person in poverty 12 to 17 years at 38% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the second smallest in order of person in poverty under 12 years of all the other counties in the local area in terms 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. Highland County has the largest proportion of american indian poverty rate at 41% 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. Highland County has the smallest proportion of less than highschool in poverty at 8% 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. Highland County has the largest proportion of people who are in poverty and unemployed at 32.7% 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.) Highland County depicts it has a Public Assistance Percent of 4.9% which is the smallest as measured by households with public assistance of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Pocahontas County which depicts a households with public assistance of 19.6% (approximately 4.0 times bigger).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Highland County shows it has a Gini Index of 38.5% which is the smallest in terms of the gini index of all the other counties in the greater region.

Highland 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 Highland 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.) Highland County has the largest proportion of people who take public transportation to work at 8% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who bicycle or walk to work at 13% of the total and is ranked #1. Figure 33 shows a more detailed view of how the population commutes to work for (for example to downtown Highland County or elsewhere.) Highland County has the smallest proportion of people who drove alone at 72% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of people who carpooled at 6% of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of people who walked at 8% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the largest proportion of people who work from home at 13% of the total and is ranked #1.

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Highland 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 smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 5am to 530am at 4% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 6am to 630am at 6% of the total. Also, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 8am to 830am at 10% of the total and is ranked #1. In addition, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 830 am to 9am at 10% of the total and is ranked #1. Furthermore, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 9am to 10am at 1% of the total. Next it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 10am to 11am at 4% of the total and is ranked #1. Additionally, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 11am to 12noon 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. Highland County has the percentage of people with commute time of less than 5 minutesutes in the mid point range of other counties in the local area at 14% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 10 to 14 minutes at 19% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 30 to 34 minutes at 1% of the total. Also, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 35 to 39 minutes at 1% of the total. In addition, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 60 to 89 minutes at 8% of the total and is ranked #1.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Highland County depicts it has a Avg Commute Time of 28 which is the second most average commute time of all the counties in the greater Highland County region. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Highland County depicts average commute time in minutes for men 27.1% larger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Highland County has the percentage of no vehicle available in the mid range of other counties in the surrounding region at 12% of the total. Second, it has less than most other counties in the local area when sorted by 1 vehicle available at 34% of the total. Third, it has one of the largest proportions of 2 vehicles available at 33% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Pendleton County (34%), and #1 Bath County (35%) are larger. Also, it has one of the largest proportions of 3 vehicles available at 14% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Augusta County with 15%. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Highland County depicts it has a Work in city or place where live of 36% which is the second smallest in order of people who both work and live in the same city of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest people who both work and live in the same city in the area is Bath County which shows a people who both work and live in the same city of 60% (66.7% larger). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 43%, Highland County is about 18.3% smaller. Also, measured against the state of Virginia, people who both work and live in the same city of 35%, Highland County is only slightly larger.

Highland 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. Highland County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $69,286 for the earnings-education, legal, community service, arts, media occupations classification. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Highland County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $50,972 for the management, business, and financial occupations group. The table in Figure 48, shows Highland County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Highland 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. Highland County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 67% 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. Highland County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 33% for the self employed in construction aggregate.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Highland County depicts it has a Self Employment Income of $17,700 which is the second 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 Pocahontas County which shows an average annual self employment income of $46,217 (approximately 2.6 times bigger). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $40,101, Highland County is approximately half the size. Also, in comparison with the state of Virginia, average annual self employment income of $39,365, Highland County is approximately half the size.

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