2026 CFLEADS Economic Mobility Summit

Perry County is a different place than it was a decade ago.

Around 27,000 people now live across the county. New jobs have been created, especially in growing sectors like social services and health care.

Many trends that reshaped the rest of the nation are also present in Perry County. For example, nearly 1 in 12 residents now work from home. The local population is also aging. About 18% of residents are over 65.

Median household incomes in Perry County have shifted little over the past decade, and many local families are struggling to make ends meet.

6,000 residents live just above the poverty line. This group is often called near-poor, similar to the group that some researchers label ALICE, for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These households typically earn incomes between about $35,000 and $70,000 a year for a family of four.

7,000 residents live in poverty. These households typically earn incomes less than about $35,000 a year for a family of four.

So, how does poverty in Perry County compare to similar counties?

[BULLET] The share of residents who are poor is larger than in peer counties, and it has remained about the same in recent years.

[BULLET] The share of poor adults who are elderly or disabled is similar to the share among peers. About 48% of poor adults fall into this group.

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Photo attribution: Appbirdky, via wikimedia, licensed under BY-SA 4.0. Converted to WebP from the original.