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In 2020, the Park Towns had a per capita income of $36,286, which was higher than all other rural areas. Table 5 below shows that the Park Towns experienced both a higher rate of growth in per capita income from 1970 to 2020 and had a higher per capita income in 2020 than did other rural areas.
Table 5: Change in Per Capita Income in Rural America, 1970–2020 (inflation adjusted)
| Area | 1970 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park Towns | $17,314 | $36,286 | +109.6% |
| Rural America | |||
| USDA Nonmetro U.S. | $16,554 | $28,392 | +71.5% |
| Low Density U.S. | $16,351 | $28,562 | +74.7% |
| USDA Nonmetro NE | $19,111 | $32,648 | +70.8% |
| Low Density NE | $17,963 | $28,853 | +60.6% |
The maps on these pages (Figures 22–25) show comparisons between the Park Towns and the Rural Northeast U.S. and Rural America. The Park Towns saw a rate of growth in per capita income from 1970 to 2020 that was higher than that of areas with the majority of the population of Rural America. In 2020, the per capita income of the Park Towns was higher than that of areas with 70% of the population of the Rural Northeast U.S. and 89% of the Rural America.
Over the last 50 years, the Park Towns experienced growth in per capita income that was greater than that of the majority of New York State, the U.S. and Rural America. In 2020, the Park Towns had a per capita income that was higher than that of most other rural areas.
Per capita income is one economic indicator among many that should be evaluated to understand the economic performance of a region. The rising level of per capita income in the Park Towns is consistent with median household income trends. ❑
Figure 22: Comparison of changes in per capita income from 1970 to 2020 between the Park Towns and the Rural Northeast U.S. counties
From 1970 to 2020, 90% of USDA Nonmetro Northeast U.S. counties had lower growth in per capita income than did the Park Towns. These counties were home to 3.9 million people, 93% of the population of the Rural Northeast U.S.
Northeast U.S. metropolitan counties
72 Rural Northeast U.S. counties with lower growth in per capita income from 1970 to 2020 than that of the Park Town
8 Rural Northeast U.S. counties with higher growth in per capita income from 1970 to 2020 than that of the Park Towns
Figure 23: Comparison of per capita income in 2020 between the Park Towns and the Rural Northeast U.S. counties
In 2020, 74% of USDA Nonmetro Northeast U.S. counties had lower growth in per capita income than did the Park Towns. These counties were home to 3.0 million people, 70% of the population of the Rural Northeast U.S.
Northeast U.S. metropolitan counties
59 Rural Northeast U.S. counties with a per capita income in 2020 that was lower than that of the Park Towns
21 Rural Northeast U.S. counties with a per capita income in 2020 that was higher than that of the Park Towns