How do Central Valley household earnings compare to other California counties? See here

Five central San Joaquin Valley counties are listed among the 26 lowest earning counties in the state, according to a recent analysis by Stacker, a data analytics site which compiled a list using data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The analysis ranked counties 50 of California’s 58 counties by the Census’ 2020 5-year estimated median household income. (Stacker didn’t provide information on why they didn’t rank all 58 counties.) 

Central San Joaquin Valley counties that ranked on the list include: Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced, Tulare. Out of the list of 50 counties, these Central Valley counties ranged between the 12th to 26th lowest earning counties in the state. 

The nearby Mariposa County also ranked among the ten lowest earning counties in the state. 

With each county, Stacker detailed how the median household income compares with state and national averages, including the percentage of households earning more than $100,000 or less than $15,000.. 

How do Central San Joaquin Valley counties rank as earners? 

Madera County has a median household income of $61,924, placing them 21.3% below the state average and 4.7% below the national average. Twenty-six percent of households in Madera County earn over $100,00, while 9.3% of households earn less than $15,000. 

Meanwhile, Kings County has a median household income of $61,556, which is 21.8% below the state average, and 5.3% below the national average. About a quarter, or 24.9%, of households earn over $100,000, while 9% of households earn less than $15,000. 

Fresno County, ranked 18th on the list, with a median household income of $57,109. The county earning is 27.4% below the state average, and 12.1% below the national average, with 26.2% of households earning over $100,000, while 12.1% of households earn less than $15,000. 

A March 2022 analysis by Fresnoland found that only those employed in two of the top 10 most common occupations locally — healthcare and educational professionals — earn enough to afford $1,315 each month for a two-bedroom apartment. The analysis also found that about 60% of Fresno renters are considered “cost burdened,” meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on rent.

Tulare and Merced counties rank among lowest earners in San Joaquin Valley

Merced County, Tulare County, and the nearby Mariposa County rank among some of the lowest earning counties.

Merced County, where the median house income is $56,330, ranks 16th on the list. These earnings are 28.4% below the state average, and 13.3% below the national average; 23.3% of households earn over $100,000, while 10.7% of households earn less than $15,000. 

According to Stacker, Tulare County is the lowest earning county in the Central San Joaquin Valley, coming in as 12th on the list. The median household income in Tulare County is $52,534, which is 33.2% below state average and 19.2% below national average; 22.1% of Tulare County households earn over $100,000, while 11.6% earn less than $15,000. 

However, earnings were even lower in some nearby mountain communities. 

Mariposa County, which encompasses the western Sierra Foothills, ranked 8th on the list. The median household income in Mariposa County is $50,960, which is 35.2% below the state average and 21.6% below the national average. Only 18.2% of Mariposa County Households earn over $100,000, while 11.7% of Mariposa County households earn less than $15,000.

Overall, the lowest earning county in the state, according to the Stacker analysis, is Trinity County in northern California, where the median household income is $41,780.