Gilliam County’s 2020 Per Capita Income Ranked First in Oregon
April 19, 2022In 2020, Gilliam County ranked as one of Oregon’s smallest based on population, placing 34th out of 36. Despite a small, rural population base, Gilliam County’s 2020 per capita personal income ranked first among Oregon counties at $67,754, exceeding the state’s $56,312 by $11,442. Gilliam County’s total personal income reached $133.8 million in 2020 with 1,975 residents, while Oregon’s totaled $238.8 billion and its population reached over 4.2 million.
Gilliam County’s total personal income rose by $25.1 million in 2020, an over-the-year gain of 23%. Gilliam County’s net earnings by place of residence grew by $19.3 million. Dividends, interest, and rent fell by $0.1 million, and transfer payments increased by $5.8 million. Gilliam County’s per capita personal income rose by $10,847 in 2020, a one-year increase of 19.1%.
Net earnings by place of residence represented 65% of Gilliam County’s total personal income in 2020, at $86.9 million. On a per capita basis, Gilliam County’s net earnings ranked first in Oregon at $44,022, producing a gap of nearly $11,500 compared with the state. Eight counties held a per capita net earnings advantage over Oregon, including these (in ranked order): Gilliam, Washington, Morrow, Clackamas, Sherman, Multnomah, Hood River, and Deschutes.
Dividends, interest, and rent brought in $17.8 million or 13.3% of Gilliam County’s 2020 personal income. On a per capita basis, Gilliam County ranked 13th among Oregon counties at $9,022, lagging Oregon by nearly $1,400. Eight Oregon counties held a per capita advantage over the state, with more than two-thirds lagging. Deschutes County led the state, with $14,795 per capita coming from dividends, interest, and rent.
Transfer receipts represented about 22% of Gilliam County’s personal income total, reaching $29.1 million. On a per capita basis, Gilliam County ranked 22nd in 2020 at $14,710. Gilliam County exceeded Oregon’s transfer receipts per capita by about $1,300. All but eight of Oregon’s counties held a per capita advantage over the state, with transfer receipts in six metro counties (Benton, Clackamas, Multnomah, Polk, Washington, and Yamhill) and two rural (Hood River and Morrow) lagging.
Farm earnings represented a significant share of Gilliam County’s earnings by place of work, reaching $29.6 million in 2020, a one-year increase of $18.3 million or 161.4%. Farm earnings held a 28% share of Gilliam County’s earnings by place of work, compared with Oregon’s 1.5% or $2.4 billion. Oregon’s farm earnings brought in $577 per capita in 2020, while Gilliam County’s farm earnings per capita reached $14,994. Morrow County’s farm earnings per capita led Oregon, at $18,567, with Sherman County’s $14,241 ranking third.
Between 2010 and 2020, Gilliam County’s per capita income rose by 71.7% or $28,285 while its population increased by 5.1% or close to 100 residents. Gilliam County’s total personal income grew by $59.6 million or about 80.3%, well above Oregon’s 73% increase ($100.6 billion).