The greatest percentage of increase in out-commuting from 1980 to 1990 was to Dane County. Only one industry in Lafayette County generates annual average wages higher than the statewide average. This is generally due to the nature of the county economy, essentially based on agriculture and agricultural services. For all industries, earnings in Lafayette County are roughly three-quarters of the statewide average. This is due to the fact that most high-paying industries are underrepresented in the countywide economy.
Income includes wages earned, dividends from investments, and transfer payments from the government.
Per capita income can be influenced by the number of wage earners, average family size, and the median age of residents. Per capita income can also determine the type of services and housing available. That represents a drop from 1990, in which the county was ranked 35th. The large gap between annual average wages and per capita personal income is based on the decline in farm income, worsened in 1995 during flooding and crop failure. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Information System.