2026 CFLEADS Economic Mobility Summit

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

Around 25,000 people now live across the county. New jobs have been created, especially in growing sectors like construction and wholesale. Meanwhile, housing became significantly more expensive.

Many trends that reshaped the rest of the nation are also present in Fayette County. For example, about 1 in 11 residents now work from home. The local population is also aging. About 27% of residents are over 65.

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

3,000 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.

2,000 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 Fayette County compare to similar counties?

[BULLET] The share of residents who are poor is smaller than in peer counties, and it has fallen significantly in recent years.

[BULLET] The share of poor adults who are elderly or disabled is similar to the share among peers. About 46% of poor adults fall into this group.

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Photo attribution: tap houston, via wikimedia, licensed under BY 2.0. Converted to WebP from the original.