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EMBARGOED UNTIL RELEASE AT 8:30 a.m. EST, Wednesday, November 16, 2022

BEA 22–56

Personal Income by County and Metropolitan Area, 2021

In 2021, personal income increased in 3,075 counties, decreased in 36, and was unchanged in 3, according to estimates released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Personal income increased 7.4 percent in the metropolitan portion of the United States and 7.7 percent in the nonmetropolitan portion (table A). In metropolitan counties, the percent change in personal income ranged from 34.9 percent in Lynn County, TX, to −1.8 percent in Power County, ID. In nonmetropolitan counties, it ranged from 60.9 percent in Throckmorton County, TX, to −12.2 percent in Chouteau County, MT (BEA interactive data).

Map: Personal Income: Percent Change for Counties, 2020-2021

Per capita personal income. In the metropolitan portion of the United States, per capita personal income—personal income divided by population—increased 7.3 percent in 2021, up from 6.0 percent in 2020. In the nonmetropolitan portion of the United States, per capita personal income increased 7.5 percent, down from 7.9 percent. Table 1 presents estimates of per capita personal income by state and county.

The county personal income estimates released today provide more geographic detail on the nation’s personal income for 2021. National estimates of personal income for 2021 were first released in February 2022, followed by preliminary state personal income estimates in March. The personal income estimates released today provide the first glimpse of personal income for 2021 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 15, 2022.

Annual update to county and metropolitan area personal income

The estimates for 2021 incorporate the results of BEA's annual update of county and metropolitan area personal income that was also released today. The annual estimates of county and metropolitan area personal income for 2014 to 2020 were revised. The update incorporates revised source data that are more complete and more detailed than previously available, the results of the September 2022 annual update of the National Income and Product Accounts, and the results of the September 2022 annual update of state personal income.

BEA also released new estimates of per capita personal income for 2021, along with revised estimates for 2010 to 2020. BEA used U.S. Census Bureau (Census) population figures to calculate per capita personal income estimates for 2020 and 2021. For 2010 through 2019, BEA used intercensal population statistics that it developed based on Census’ methodology. See ”Note on Per Capita Personal Income and Population.”

Next release: November 16, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. EST
Personal Income by County and Metropolitan Area, 2022

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

Jeff Newman

301-278-9265

Jeffrey.Newman@bea.gov

Media (BEA)

Connie O'Connell

301-278-9003

Connie.OConnell@bea.gov

Resources

The full economic effects of the COVID–19 pandemic cannot be quantified in these statistics, because the impacts are generally embedded in source data and cannot be separately identified. For more Information about COVID–19 impacts, refer to “Federal Recovery Programs and BEA Statistics” on our website.
Stay informed about BEA developments by reading The BEA Wire, signing up for BEA’s email subscription service, or following BEA on Twitter @BEA_News.
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, and 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 personal income by county and metropolitan area, see BEA’s local area personal income and employment methodologies.

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 county 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 Census 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 decisionmaking. 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.