Personal Income: US Counties

Personal incomes vary greatly among counties across the United States. While in New York County, New York, the average personal income per capita was about $122,000 in 2013, in Telfair, Georgia it was seven times lower at only $17,500. In the poorest 100 counties in the US, per capita income is less than $26,500 ($2,208 per month) on average.

The level of economic well-being strongly correlates with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, the former Food Stamp Program) participation rates on a county-by-county basis. In counties with relatively high incomes, the number of SNAP recipients is generally less than 5 percent of the population, while in low-income counties participation rates reach or exceed 50 percent. For example, in Shannon and Todd counties, South Dakota, the absolute majority of residents receive SNAP benefits (62% and 56% as of 2012, respectively). However, the correlation is not perfect. In some upper-middle-income counties SNAP participation rates are elevated because of high unemployment, among other factors.

Source: US Regional Data (County Wise) - Monthly Update, July 2015