Small counties registered the fastest growth in personal incomes in 2010, new data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis show.
Personal income grew 3.9 percent for small counties—those with populations of less than 50,000. At the same time, large counties, with populations of at least 250,000, saw personal incomes grow 3.7 percent, matching the growth rate for the nation. Medium-sized counties, with populations between 50,000 and 249,999, recorded personal income growth of 3.6 percent.
Large counties—represent 8 percent of the 3,113 counties in the United States, but account for 68 percent of personal income for the nation. In these 261 counties for 2010:
- Personal income growth ranged from 8.7 percent in Loudoun, VA, to –2.8 percent in St. Joseph, IN.
- Per capita personal income ranged from $111,386 in New York (Manhattan), NY, to $20,946 in Hidalgo, TX.
Medium counties—represent 23 percent of all U.S. counties and account for 22 percent of personal income for the nation. In these 718 counties for 2010:
- Personal income growth ranged from 12.5 percent in Eddy, NM, to –4.4 percent in Christian, KY.
- Per capita personal income ranged from $79,967 in Arlington, VA, to $18,259 in Starr, TX.
Small counties—represent 69 percent of all U.S. counties and account for 10 percent of personal income for the nation. In these 2,134 counties for 2010:
- Personal income growth ranged from 51.6 percent in Hyde, SD, to –18.8 percent in Hand, SD.
- Per capita personal income ranged from $94,672 in Teton, WY, to $16,299 in Crowley, CO.
BEA is accelerating its release of county personal income estimates by 5 months. Data for all of 2011 will be out on November 26. To find out more about how personal incomes fared in 2010 on a county-by-county basis, read the full report.