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 Lee 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 Lee County has increased substantially in the past few years after some ups and downs from 2014 to 2021. Lee County’s median income has hovered $5-10K under the national median income since 2016, however in 2024, Lee County closed the gap and only sits at about $2K under the nation.

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 Lee County has grown slightly slower than the nation and the RCA region with an overall growth of 49.9% over the 10-year period. However, from 2021 to 2024, income in Lee County grew at a much steeper rate than the nation or region suggesting that growth has picked up over the past decade. One potential explanation for this increase in Lee County is the expansion of industries that tend to offer higher paying jobs. Between 2014 and 2024, construction jobs in Lee County increased 30.4%.^[1] The median salary for the construction industry in Lee County in 2024 was $88,983, well above the median income.^[2] Additionally, the Information industry grew 106.5% and its salary grew 78.9% during the same period in Lee County also contributing to the overall growth in income.

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 Lee County fall within higher income brackets. In 2024, 40.1% of households earned less than $60K annually, while 59.9% earned $60,000 or more. The largest group earns between $100K and $125K and makes up 16.3% of all households. The next two largest brackets are right the next two lowest, 12.1% of households make between $75K and $100K, while 8.9% make between $60K and $75K. This indicates a strong middle-income base in the County.

Figure 3: Lee County, Household Income Distribution, 2024

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