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EMBARGOED UNTIL RELEASE AT 8:30 a.m. EST, Thursday, November 16, 2023

BEA 23—52

Personal Income by County and Metropolitan Area, 2022

Personal income, in current dollars, increased in 1,964 counties, decreased in 1,107, and was unchanged in 43 counties in 2022, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Personal income increased 2.1 percent in the metropolitan portion of the United States and 1.3 percent in the nonmetropolitan portion (table A). In metropolitan counties, the percent change in personal income ranged from 19.0 percent in Midland County, TX, to −16.8 percent in Crosby County, TX. In nonmetropolitan counties, it ranged from 53.6 percent in Towner County, ND, to −33.6 percent in Issaquena County, MS (BEA interactive data).

Personal Income: Percent Change for Counties, 2021-2022

Per capita personal income. In the metropolitan portion of the United States, per capita personal income—personal income divided by population—increased 1.7 percent in 2022, down from 8.9 percent in 2021. In the nonmetropolitan portion of the United States, per capita personal income increased 1.2 percent, also down from 8.9 percent. Table 1 presents estimates of per capita personal income by state and county.

Table A. Personal Income, Per Capita Personal Income, and Population Percent Change

The county personal income estimates released today provide more geographic detail on the nation’s personal income for 2022. National estimates of personal income for 2022 were first released in February 2023, followed by preliminary state personal income estimates in March. The estimates released today provide the first glimpse of personal income for 2022 in counties and metropolitan statistical areas. Real personal income for states, metropolitan areas, and state metropolitan and nonmetropolitan portions of the United States will be released on December 14, 2023.

Annual update of county and metropolitan area statistics

The estimates for 2022 incorporate the results of BEA’s comprehensive update of personal income by county and metropolitan area that was also released today. The annual estimates of personal income by county and metropolitan area from 1979 to 2021 were revised. These updates incorporate new and revised source data that are more complete and more detailed than previously available, the results of the September 28, 2023, comprehensive update of the National Economic Accounts, and the results of the September 29, 2023, comprehensive update of state personal income. Our online journal, the Survey of Current Business, will include an article in 2024 describing the results of BEA’s comprehensive update of county and metropolitan area statistics.

BEA also released new estimates of per capita personal income for 2022. BEA used U.S. Census Bureau (Census) population figures to calculate per capita personal income estimates for 2020 through 2022. For earlier estimates, BEA used intercensal population statistics that it developed based on Census methodology. See “Note on Per Capita Personal Income and Population.”

Next release: November 14, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. EST
Personal Income by County and Metropolitan Area, 2023

Full Release & County Table (PDF)

County Table (Excel)

Metropolitan Area Table (Excel)

Highlights (PDF)

Interactive Tables

Technical

Paul Medzerian

301-278-9264

REIS@bea.gov

Media

Thomas Dail

301-278-9003

Thomas.Dail@bea.gov

Resources

Stay informed about BEA developments by reading The BEA Wire, signing up for BEA's email subscription service, or following @BEA_News on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Historical time series for these estimates can be accessed in BEA's Interactive Data Application.
Access BEA data by registering for BEA's Data Application Programming Interface.
For more on BEA's statistics, see our online journal, the Survey of Current Business.
For upcoming economic indicators, see BEA's news release schedule.
BEA Regional Facts (BEARFACTS) is a narrative summary of personal income, per capita personal income, components of income, and gross domestic product for counties, metropolitan statistical areas, and states.
For complete information on the sources and methods used to estimate gross domestic product and personal income by state, see BEA's local area personal income and employment methodology.

Definitions

Personal income is the income received by, or on behalf of, all persons from all sources: from participation as laborers in production, from owning a home or business, from the ownership of financial assets, and from government and business in the form of transfers. It includes income from domestic sources as well as the rest of world. It does not include realized or unrealized capital gains or losses.

Personal income is measured before the deduction of personal income taxes and other personal taxes and is reported in current dollars (no adjustment is made for price changes).

County personal income differs slightly from the estimate of U.S. personal income in the National Income and Product Accounts because of differences in coverage, in the methodologies used to prepare the estimates, and in the timing of the availability of source data. In BEA’s state statistics, estimates of personal income for the United States is the sum of the state estimates and the estimate for the District of Columbia.

Per capita personal income is calculated as the total personal income of the residents of a given area divided by the population of the area. In computing per capita personal income, BEA uses U.S. Census Bureau midyear population estimates.

Uses of local area personal income statistics

Local area personal income statistics provide a framework for analyzing current economic conditions in local economies and can serve as a basis for decision-making. For example:

Federal government agencies use the statistics in forecasting models to project energy and water use. The statistics are also used as a basis for allocating funds and determining matching grants to states.
State governments use the statistics to project tax revenues and the need for public services.
Academic regional economists use the statistics for applied research.
Businesses, trade associations, and labor organizations use the statistics for market research.