Income inequality within US communities can have broad health impacts, including increased risk of mortality, poor health, and increased cardiovascular disease risks. Inequalities in a community can accentuate differences in social class and status and serve as a social stressor. Communities with greater income inequality can experience a loss of social connectedness, as well as decreases in trust, social support, and a sense of community for all residents. Income inequality in a society has a strong causal connection to health, independent of the income of individuals.

For more information please visit, Income Inequality for Cabarrus County on the Robert Wood Johnson County Health Rankings.

Income Inequality is the ratio of household income at the 80^th percentile to that at the 20^th percentile, i.e., when the incomes of all households in a county are listed from highest to lowest, the 80^th percentile is the level of income at which only 20% of households have higher incomes, and the 20^th percentile is the level of income at which only 20% of households have lower incomes. A higher inequality ratio indicates the greater division between the top and bottom ends of the income spectrum.

To learn more about the Measure Methods, please visit, the Income Inequalities Measure Methods Section, on the Robert Wood Johnson County Health Rankings Website.