MEDIA RELEASE: Budget & Tax Center releases county-by-county economic snapshots for North Carolina

The economic snapshots provide a quick-reference resource for journalists, local officials, and service providers in all 100 counties throughout the state

RALEIGH (June 13, 2018)—The economic picture of counties throughout North Carolina is clearer today with the release of county-by-county data from the Budget & Tax Center in an easy-to-use format. Data is available for all 100 counties in North Carolina.

The Economic Snapshot is an annual publication that lists key economic and social indicators at the county level in North Carolina, providing an overall picture of economic vitality and opportunity for North Carolinians. This data profile includes indicators on employment, poverty and income, affordable housing, health, education, and supports for working families — all of which come from a variety of sources.

Key findings for all 100 counties include:

• The richest 5 percent of North Carolina households have an average income that is 28 times greater than the poorest fifth of households.
• Rent is unaffordable for 48.7 percent of North Carolina renters.
• 21 percent of children in North Carolina lived in poverty in 2017, the most recent data available.

“While we are seeing some very small improvements across the state, there are still systemic barriers preventing many people prospering,” says Brian Kennedy, policy analyst with the NC Budget & Tax Center. “In 44 counties, wages have fallen over the past decade after adjusting for inflation, and in over one-third of the state’s counties, the unemployment rate of workers of color is double that of white workers.”

For detailed data on your county, click here.

For media inquiries and other questions, please contact Brian Kennedy II, a Policy Analyst with the Budget & Tax Center, at briank@ncjustice.org; or Mel Umbarger, Senior Communication Specialist, at mel@ncjustice.org.

The Budget & Tax Center conducts non-partisan analysis of state budget and tax policy and monitors economic conditions in the state. We produce timely and accessible research that contributes to policy discussions and public debate, with the goal of building a broader understanding of the role of policy in supporting economic opportunity for all.