DeSoto ranks 1st in income

A newly released census report confirms that DeSoto County has the highest median income and lowest poverty rate among the eight counties in the Memphis metro area.

Another report, the American Community Survey (ACS), has shown in recent years that DeSoto has a higher income median and lower poverty rate than Shelby County, but that report only covered counties and cities with populations of 65,000 and above.

The six other counties in the Metropolitan Statistical Area all have populations below 65,000.

The Census Bureau's Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates report, released on Jan. 9, includes all counties. The figures are used to make decisions related to federal programs and funding, but the bureau also says the figures should be used with caution since the populations in the areas are so small.

Estimates of small population areas are more likely to be in error than estimates of large population areas.

The report is based on estimates for 2005.

DeSoto County is in the top spot with a median household income of $51,995 and an 8.6 percent poverty rate. Adjoining Tunica County ranks at the bottom with a $26,370 median household income and a 27.7 percent poverty rate.

The median is the midpoint figure. Half of household incomes are above the median and half are below.

The small area estimates do not include breakdowns based on race and other factors such as age and sex.

The ACS estimates for larger areas released last year for 2006 do include breakdowns.

These estimates show that an increasing number of middle and upper income African-Americans moving to DeSoto County are helping to push the county's income statistics upward.

At the same time, the large disparity in incomes between African-American and white residents in Memphis and Shelby County is holding the median income down in Shelby.

The ACS estimates for 2006 show the median income of DeSoto's black households at $37,556, which is higher than the $32,372 national median for African-American households.

Shelby County's median for black residents was $27,978.

DeSoto's median among white households was $56,604 compared to $61,493 in Shelby County. Both were above the $51,429 national median for white households.

In Tennessee, where comparisons are often made between Shelby and Davidson counties, the 2006 estimates show the two counties are close to each other in median household income -- $41,175 in Shelby and $41,994 in Davidson (Nashville).

The breakdown shows: Shelby -- white residents, $61,493; black residents, $27,978; Davidson -- white residents, $47,474; black residents, $30,667.