This article is part of an ongoing, county-by-county, overview of the Rural Capital Area. This article covers household income and the income distribution in Fayette County. This information helps track how well residents can afford basic needs like housing, food, and healthcare as well as relative prosperity compared to other areas.

Median Household Income

As shown in Figure 1, median household income in Fayette County has increased substantially in recent years. Income rose from approximately $50,000 in 2014 to about $76,500 in 2024. Over the years, Fayette County’s median income has stayed a few thousand dollars under the national median coming closest to in in 2015, but since then the gap has widened again slightly. As of 2024, Fayette’s median income was about $5,000 lower than the national median income.

Figure 1: Median Household Income, 2014-2024

Source: Points Consulting using Rural Capital Area Data Hub

Figure 2 illustrates the cumulative change in median household income from 2014 to 2024. Income in Fayette County has grown 53.6% over the 10-year period. This increase is slightly higher than the national trend but slightly slower than the RCA region, where median household income grew 52.1% and 56.0% respectively in the same time period. One potential explanation for this increase in Fayette County is the expansion of industries that tend to offer higher paying jobs. In between 2014 and 2024, construction jobs in Fayette County increased 126.8%.^[1] The median salary for the construction industry in Fayette County in 2024 was $89,400, well above the median income.^[2]

Figure 2: Cumulative Growth in Median Household Income, 2014-2024

Source: Points Consulting using Rural Capital Area Data Hub

Figure 3 shows that most households in Fayette County fall within higher income brackets. In 2024, 40.2% of households earned less than $60,000 annually, while 59.8% earned $60,000 or more. The largest group by far earns between $75,000 and $99,000 and makes up 16.0% of all households. This indicates a strong middle-income base in the County. There is also a significant presence of households earning above $100,000. Households earning between $100,000 and $200,000 make up a quarter (25.5%) of all households, and households making $200,000 or more make up 9.2%.

Figure 3: Fayette County, Household Income Distribution, 2024

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates, Table B19001