What Is BEA Personal Income by County and MSA?
BEA Personal Income by County and MSA is one of the most comprehensive and longest-running economic datasets produced by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. It measures the total income received by residents of every county and Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in the United States – covering wages and salaries, proprietors' earnings, dividends, interest, rents, and government transfer payments. With records stretching back to 1969, this dataset offers an unmatched historical window into how income has grown, shifted, and diverged across American communities over more than five decades.
Why BEA Personal Income by County and MSA Is Essential
Income data at the national level tells only part of the story. BEA Personal Income by County and MSA reveals the full picture – showing exactly which counties and metros are thriving, which are stagnating, and how income composition differs from place to place. This granularity makes it a foundational dataset for a wide range of professional and research applications:
- Market analysis — identifying consumer demand potential and purchasing power at the local level
- Economic development — assessing regional competitiveness and target investment where it's needed most
- Fiscal and social policy — evaluating the reach and effectiveness of transfer payments and government programs
- Real estate and site selection — understanding income trends in target markets before making major capital decisions
- Academic research — studying income inequality, regional convergence, and long-run economic growth
Access BEA Personal Income by County and MSA on Social Explorer
Social Explorer provides BEA Personal Income by County and MSA data spanning 1969–2025, available at the county, MSA, and state levels. This makes it one of the most geographically and historically extensive income datasets available on any public or subscription platform.
Social Explorer brings BEA Personal Income by County and MSA data together with hundreds of complementary datasets – including Regional Price Parities, the Consumer Price Index, housing affordability metrics, and Census demographic data – so you can build a complete picture of economic conditions in any community across the country. Map trends, run comparisons, and export exactly the variables you need.
Sign up for a free trial of Social Explorer to start exploring BEA personal income by county and MSA data, create custom visualizations, and derive insights that drive smarter decisions.