Americans on the whole were doing well financially heading into 2020, with major markers like unemployment reaching 50-year lows. The pandemic changed all that: During the second quarter of the 2020 fiscal year, our nation's real GDP fell by a whopping 31.4%, a number that hasn't been seen since the Great Depression. Since then the GDP has recovered, the first quarter of 2022 was 11% above the fourth quarter of 2019.
While GDP has recovered since the height of the pandemic, wage growth has not kept pace with inflation. In 2021 average hourly wages increased 4.7% while there was 7% inflation, meaning the worker's purchasing power dropped by 2.4%.
Where you live can make a big impact on your financial situation. The highest earning county in the U.S. earns $147,111, while the lowest earns $22,292. Stacker compiled a list of the lowest-earning counties in Florida using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the Census' 2020 5-year estimate median household income.
Roman Eugeniusz // Wikimedia Commons
1 / 50#50. Manatee County
- Median household income: $59,963
--- 3.9% above state average, 7.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 26.9%
--- #704 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.4%
--- #2,246 highest among all counties nationwide
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
2 / 50#49. Sumter County
- Median household income: $59,618
--- 3.3% above state average, 8.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 23.0%
--- #1,126 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.9%
--- #2,219 highest among all counties nationwide
Nadezda Murmakova // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Lee County
- Median household income: $59,608
--- 3.3% above state average, 8.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 25.5%
--- #825 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.2%
--- #2,217 highest among all counties nationwide
Zhukova Valentyna // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Brevard County
- Median household income: $59,359
--- 2.9% above state average, 8.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 26.6%
--- #724 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.1%
--- #2,187 highest among all counties nationwide
#46. Indian River County
- Median household income: $57,945
--- 0.4% above state average, 10.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 25.7%
--- #802 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.4%
--- #2,080 highest among all counties nationwide
Georgia Guercio // Wikimedia Commons
6 / 50#45. Flagler County
- Median household income: $57,536
--- 0.3% below state average, 11.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 24.5%
--- #941 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.6%
--- #2,046 highest among all counties nationwide
#44. Duval County
- Median household income: $56,769
--- 1.6% below state average, 12.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 24.2%
--- #968 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.9%
--- #1,958 highest among all counties nationwide
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8 / 50#43. Bay County
- Median household income: $56,483
--- 2.1% below state average, 13.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.4%
--- #1,376 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.2%
--- #1,936 highest among all counties nationwide
#42. Pinellas County
- Median household income: $56,419
--- 2.2% below state average, 13.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 25.5%
--- #835 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.4%
--- #1,930 highest among all counties nationwide
#41. Lake County
- Median household income: $55,792
--- 3.3% below state average, 14.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 22.5%
--- #1,196 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.7%
--- #1,879 highest among all counties nationwide
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
11 / 50#40. Osceola County
- Median household income: $55,538
--- 3.8% below state average, 14.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.5%
--- #1,520 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.8%
--- #1,856 highest among all counties nationwide
Georgia Guercio // Wikimedia Commons
12 / 50#39. St. Lucie County
- Median household income: $55,237
--- 4.3% below state average, 15.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.7%
--- #1,324 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.1%
--- #1,821 highest among all counties nationwide
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
13 / 50#38. Union County
- Median household income: $55,139
--- 4.4% below state average, 15.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.4%
--- #2,072 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.6%
--- #1,818 highest among all counties nationwide
#37. Leon County
- Median household income: $54,675
--- 5.2% below state average, 15.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 24.5%
--- #932 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.7%
--- #1,768 highest among all counties nationwide
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15 / 50#36. Miami-Dade County
- Median household income: $53,975
--- 6.5% below state average, 17.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 24.8%
--- #905 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.5%
--- #1,698 highest among all counties nationwide
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
16 / 50#35. Pasco County
- Median household income: $53,431
--- 7.4% below state average, 17.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 22.7%
--- #1,164 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.5%
--- #1,634 highest among all counties nationwide
#34. Escambia County
- Median household income: $53,023
--- 8.1% below state average, 18.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.2%
--- #1,410 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.2%
--- #1,596 highest among all counties nationwide
#33. Charlotte County
- Median household income: $52,724
--- 8.6% below state average, 18.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.8%
--- #1,637 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.2%
--- #1,561 highest among all counties nationwide
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
19 / 50#32. Volusia County
- Median household income: $52,407
--- 9.2% below state average, 19.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.6%
--- #1,506 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.2%
--- #1,537 highest among all counties nationwide
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
20 / 50#31. Lafayette County
- Median household income: $51,734
--- 10.3% below state average, 20.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.4%
--- #2,247 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 19.4%
--- #1,427 highest among all counties nationwide
#30. Polk County
- Median household income: $51,535
--- 10.7% below state average, 20.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.5%
--- #1,690 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.5%
--- #1,393 highest among all counties nationwide
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22 / 50#29. Gulf County
- Median household income: $50,640
--- 12.2% below state average, 22.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.5%
--- #1,352 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.6%
--- #1,279 highest among all counties nationwide
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23 / 50#28. Hernando County
- Median household income: $50,280
--- 12.9% below state average, 22.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.9%
--- #1,979 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.5%
--- #1,246 highest among all counties nationwide
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24 / 50#27. Alachua County
- Median household income: $50,089
--- 13.2% below state average, 22.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 22.5%
--- #1,196 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.6%
--- #1,221 highest among all counties nationwide
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25 / 50#26. Jefferson County
- Median household income: $49,081
--- 14.9% below state average, 24.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.3%
--- #1,391 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.7%
--- #1,110 highest among all counties nationwide
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
26 / 50#25. Franklin County
- Median household income: $48,814
--- 15.4% below state average, 24.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.0%
--- #1,784 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.0%
--- #1,078 highest among all counties nationwide
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
27 / 50#24. Gilchrist County
- Median household income: $47,381
--- 17.9% below state average, 27.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.1%
--- #2,306 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.2%
--- #944 highest among all counties nationwide
#23. Marion County
- Median household income: $46,587
--- 19.3% below state average, 28.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.0%
--- #2,330 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.2%
--- #874 highest among all counties nationwide
#22. Suwannee County
- Median household income: $46,280
--- 19.8% below state average, 28.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.0%
--- #2,643 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.6%
--- #841 highest among all counties nationwide
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30 / 50#21. Okeechobee County
- Median household income: $46,097
--- 20.1% below state average, 29.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.5%
--- #2,042 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.9%
--- #825 highest among all counties nationwide
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
31 / 50#20. Citrus County
- Median household income: $45,689
--- 20.8% below state average, 29.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.7%
--- #2,395 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.5%
--- #789 highest among all counties nationwide
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
32 / 50#19. Columbia County
- Median household income: $44,818
--- 22.3% below state average, 31.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.1%
--- #1,948 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.5%
--- #713 highest among all counties nationwide
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33 / 50#18. Highlands County
- Median household income: $43,708
--- 24.3% below state average, 32.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.8%
--- #2,670 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.4%
--- #622 highest among all counties nationwide
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34 / 50#17. Bradford County
- Median household income: $43,580
--- 24.5% below state average, 32.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.4%
--- #2,591 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 17.8%
--- #614 highest among all counties nationwide
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35 / 50#16. Dixie County
- Median household income: $41,674
--- 27.8% below state average, 35.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.9%
--- #2,882 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.1%
--- #458 highest among all counties nationwide
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36 / 50#15. Gadsden County
- Median household income: $41,135
--- 28.7% below state average, 36.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.4%
--- #2,818 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.8%
--- #426 highest among all counties nationwide
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37 / 50#14. Jackson County
- Median household income: $40,754
--- 29.4% below state average, 37.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.9%
--- #2,775 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 17.3%
--- #399 highest among all counties nationwide
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
38 / 50#13. Hardee County
- Median household income: $40,165
--- 30.4% below state average, 38.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.6%
--- #2,704 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.8%
--- #363 highest among all counties nationwide
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39 / 50#12. Putnam County
- Median household income: $40,068
--- 30.6% below state average, 38.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.9%
--- #2,882 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.1%
--- #357 highest among all counties nationwide
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
40 / 50#11. Glades County
- Median household income: $39,709
--- 31.2% below state average, 38.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.5%
--- #2,226 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.9%
--- #337 highest among all counties nationwide
Georgia Guercio // Wikimedia Commons
41 / 50#10. Holmes County
- Median household income: $39,215
--- 32.0% below state average, 39.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 10.6%
--- #2,986 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.2%
--- #311 highest among all counties nationwide
Michael Rivera // Wikimedia Commons
42 / 50#9. Liberty County
- Median household income: $39,121
--- 32.2% below state average, 39.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.6%
--- #2,419 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 17.8%
--- #309 highest among all counties nationwide
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
43 / 50#8. Levy County
- Median household income: $38,951
--- 32.5% below state average, 40.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 10.3%
--- #3,003 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.3%
--- #297 highest among all counties nationwide
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
44 / 50#7. Hamilton County
- Median household income: $38,300
--- 33.6% below state average, 41.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 10.4%
--- #2,993 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.2%
--- #273 highest among all counties nationwide
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
45 / 50#6. Taylor County
- Median household income: $38,295
--- 33.6% below state average, 41.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.4%
--- #2,603 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.3%
--- #272 highest among all counties nationwide
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46 / 50#5. Calhoun County
- Median household income: $38,037
--- 34.1% below state average, 41.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 10.2%
--- #3,009 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.6%
--- #259 highest among all counties nationwide
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
47 / 50#4. Washington County
- Median household income: $37,260
--- 35.4% below state average, 42.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 9.6%
--- #3,043 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.0%
--- #226 highest among all counties nationwide
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
48 / 50#3. Hendry County
- Median household income: $36,978
--- 35.9% below state average, 43.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.0%
--- #2,756 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.6%
--- #213 highest among all counties nationwide
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
49 / 50#2. DeSoto County
- Median household income: $36,360
--- 37.0% below state average, 44.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 9.0%
--- #3,063 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.9%
--- #186 highest among all counties nationwide
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
50 / 50#1. Madison County
- Median household income: $35,240
--- 38.9% below state average, 45.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 9.8%
--- #3,027 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 23.8%
--- #151 highest among all counties nationwide
