John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website
John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website
On a per capita basis, this translates to $19,994 per resident in 2022, up from $13,416 in 2012 and $2,494 in 1970, ranking Dickenson County as the second fastest-growing in per capita government transfers among Virginia counties over the past 10 years.
Meanwhile, Dickenson County had the largest share of income derived from government transfers, making it the most dependent county in the state.
For comparison, the statewide average was 13.3% in 2022, showing a lower dependency than the national average of 17.6%. On a per capita level, this translates to $10,014 per resident, compared to $11,542 nationwide.
Government transfer payments are non-repayable funds provided by federal, state, or local governments to support individuals in need. These payments aim to stabilize economic conditions and provide financial support during hardships. Key programs include Social Security transfers (retirement benefits), Medicare transfers (healthcare for seniors), Medicaid transfers (healthcare for low-income individuals), and income maintenance transfers (financial assistance for basic needs).
In Dickenson County, reliance on government transfers was just 16.1% (or $2,494 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970. This has since increased to a total of 32.6% since 1970. This shift is largely influenced by an aging population increased healthcare costs, and economic transformations that have reshaped income sources across the U.S.
In 2022, the primary government transfer programs in Dickenson County included:
- Social Security: $6,724 per capita (33.6% of total transfers)
- Medicare: $4,850 per capita (24.3% of total transfers)
- Medicaid: $4,949 per capita (24.8% of total transfers)
- Income Maintenance Programs: $2,049 per capita (10.2% of total transfers)
With 24.6% of the population aged 65 and older, Dickenson County has a significant demand for Social Security and Medicare. However, counties with higher poverty rates also show elevated Medicaid and income maintenance participation.
Government transfers have long been a modest financial safety net, historically comprising only a small fraction of Americans' income. However, since the 1970s—sometimes dubbed the “Great Transfer-mation”—dependency has surged from 8.2% (or $2,022 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970 to 17.6% (or $11,542 per capita) in 2022 nationwide.
According to the Economic Innovation Group’s analysis, these trends are not merely short-term responses to economic pressures but rather reflect a profound, long-term transformation in how government support is integrated into American life. The study illustrates that structural shifts—from rising healthcare expenses and demographic changes to stagnant wages—have significantly increased dependency on government transfers.
| County | Dependency on Transfers (%) | Change Since 2012 | Change Since 1970 | Per Capita Amount (2022) | Per Capita Since 2012 | Per Capita Since 1970 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickenson County | 48.7% | +9.8% | +32.6% | $19,994 | $6,578 | $17,500 |
| Lee County | 47% | +10.6% | +23.7% | $18,105 | $6,220 | $15,346 |
| Buchanan County | 44.7% | +9.8% | +34.1% | $20,234 | $6,457 | $18,610 |
| Russell County | 43% | +10.6% | +30% | $17,290 | $5,372 | $15,457 |
| Scott County | 41.8% | +8.2% | +30.9% | $16,552 | $4,781 | $14,969 |
| Brunswick County | 41.1% | +7.8% | +32.5% | $16,903 | $5,593 | $15,600 |
| Patrick County | 39.5% | +6.8% | +30.2% | $15,903 | $4,687 | $14,428 |
| Tazewell County | 39.3% | +10.3% | +26.6% | $17,291 | $5,314 | $15,078 |
| Sussex County | 38.2% | +9.6% | +29.6% | $14,413 | $4,912 | $13,072 |
| Grayson County | 38.1% | +3.8% | +25.3% | $14,843 | $3,178 | $13,115 |
| Dinwiddie County | 37.9% | +8.7% | +29.7% | $17,388 | $4,644 | $15,931 |
| Halifax County | 37.7% | +7.1% | +28.5% | $16,787 | $5,512 | $15,308 |
| Charlotte County | 37.5% | +5.4% | +28.3% | $16,976 | $5,662 | $15,577 |
| Mecklenburg County | 37.4% | +6.4% | +28.8% | $17,040 | $5,110 | $15,727 |
| Nottoway County | 37.3% | +4% | +27.5% | $16,770 | $4,941 | $15,004 |
| Smyth County | 37% | +6.4% | +26.4% | $16,428 | $4,972 | $14,758 |
| Buckingham County | 36.5% | +9.3% | +25.4% | $13,823 | $5,384 | $12,425 |
| Lunenburg County | 35.7% | +5.6% | +25.6% | $13,916 | $3,794 | $12,384 |
| Bland County | 35.5% | +7.8% | +23% | $15,123 | $4,846 | $13,490 |
| Prince Edward County | 35.2% | +7.4% | +26.5% | $13,925 | $5,021 | $12,503 |
| Wythe County | 34.2% | +4.6% | +23.2% | $15,223 | $4,376 | $13,414 |
| Amherst County | 32.4% | +7.4% | +24.4% | $14,496 | $4,917 | $13,237 |
| Essex County | 32% | +6.8% | +21.5% | $16,528 | $5,525 | $14,885 |
| Giles County | 31.3% | +4.8% | +20.3% | $15,487 | $4,627 | $13,610 |
| Northampton County | 30.9% | +4.3% | +18.2% | $19,870 | $7,147 | $17,929 |
| Appomattox County | 30.8% | +4.7% | +21.2% | $14,139 | $4,023 | $12,430 |
| Northumberland County | 30.7% | +4.6% | +17.3% | $18,848 | $5,509 | $16,632 |
| Pulaski County | 30.4% | +3.3% | +22% | $14,611 | $3,506 | $13,106 |
| Richmond County | 30% | +4.4% | +19.1% | $12,814 | $3,487 | $10,981 |
| Middlesex County | 29.7% | +5.6% | +14.1% | $17,882 | $5,517 | $15,351 |
| Westmoreland County | 29.3% | +5.2% | +17.8% | $14,822 | $4,158 | $12,990 |
| Accomack County | 29.1% | +3.5% | +17.5% | $15,776 | $4,721 | $13,904 |
| Highland County | 29% | +4.4% | +15.1% | $14,651 | $3,471 | $12,665 |
| Cumberland County | 28.9% | +2.4% | +18% | $13,408 | $3,460 | $11,794 |
| Craig County | 28.8% | +4.3% | +17.1% | $13,628 | $3,789 | $11,768 |
| Floyd County | 28.7% | +5% | +18% | $14,012 | $4,662 | $12,283 |
| Surry County | 28.3% | +6.7% | +18.8% | $14,837 | $5,545 | $13,423 |
| Page County | 28.2% | +2.9% | +17.7% | $13,840 | $3,962 | $11,998 |
| Nelson County | 26.9% | +5.4% | +15.1% | $17,399 | $6,406 | $15,645 |
| Rockbridge County | 26.7% | +3.7% | +17.7% | $12,931 | $3,424 | $11,420 |
| Franklin County | 26.4% | +3.2% | +18.1% | $13,880 | $4,055 | $12,506 |
| King and Queen County | 26.1% | +3.6% | +16.9% | $14,439 | $4,813 | $12,963 |
| Amelia County | 25.8% | +3.8% | +16.2% | $13,668 | $4,108 | $12,174 |
| Lancaster County | 25.6% | +1.4% | +13.5% | $18,546 | $4,476 | $16,304 |
| Charles City County | 25.5% | +4.8% | +17.9% | $14,560 | $5,146 | $13,427 |
| Mathews County | 25.3% | +5.6% | +11.7% | $17,198 | $5,728 | $14,645 |
| Bedford County | 23.6% | +4.5% | +15% | $12,940 | $3,787 | $11,361 |
| Louisa County | 23.6% | +4.7% | +14.3% | $11,963 | $3,538 | $10,394 |
| Augusta County | 23.4% | +2.9% | +17.2% | $12,368 | $3,123 | $11,093 |
| Bath County | 22.9% | +3.4% | +10.6% | $17,143 | $5,690 | $15,105 |
| Orange County | 22.9% | +4.2% | +15.2% | $13,473 | $3,789 | $11,776 |
| Caroline County | 22.6% | +4.1% | +15.1% | $11,660 | $3,444 | $10,354 |
| Shenandoah County | 22.3% | +1.9% | +13.2% | $12,657 | $3,643 | $10,963 |
| Gloucester County | 22.2% | +5.6% | +15.1% | $12,743 | $4,149 | $11,112 |
| Botetourt County | 21.5% | +4.6% | +12% | $12,819 | $3,999 | $11,077 |
| Greene County | 20.6% | +4.5% | +11.3% | $10,623 | $3,436 | $9,274 |
| King William County | 20.5% | +4.1% | +13.5% | $11,196 | $3,290 | $9,777 |
| Madison County | 20.4% | +3.7% | +11.3% | $11,540 | $3,310 | $9,947 |
| Fluvanna County | 20.3% | +3.6% | +11.3% | $10,816 | $3,247 | $9,327 |
| Warren County | 19.9% | +4.2% | +11.3% | $11,183 | $3,537 | $9,348 |
| Isle of Wight County | 19.5% | +4.4% | +13.4% | $12,467 | $3,550 | $11,222 |
| Culpeper County | 19.4% | +4.4% | +11.5% | $10,828 | $3,379 | $9,310 |
| Chesterfield County | 15.9% | +3.7% | +11.6% | $10,184 | $3,341 | $9,059 |
| Clarke County | 14.8% | +3.6% | +8% | $11,532 | $4,247 | $9,946 |
| King George County | 14.8% | +4.5% | +11.3% | $9,471 | $3,470 | $8,491 |
| Rappahannock County | 14.8% | +2% | +6.2% | $11,764 | $3,238 | $10,178 |
| Powhatan County | 14.5% | +1.7% | +7.2% | $9,860 | $2,968 | $8,684 |
| Hanover County | 14.2% | +2.4% | +9.4% | $10,262 | $3,234 | $9,118 |
| Stafford County | 13.9% | +4.8% | +10.3% | $9,052 | $3,516 | $8,186 |
| Henrico County | 13.5% | +2.4% | +10.3% | $10,380 | $3,269 | $9,521 |
| Prince William County | 12% | +4% | +9.6% | $7,645 | $2,901 | $6,994 |
| Fauquier County | 11.5% | +2.9% | +6.3% | $9,494 | $3,073 | $8,201 |
| New Kent County | 10.9% | +1% | +3.7% | $11,160 | $3,770 | $9,750 |
| Goochland County | 9.8% | +0.6% | +2.9% | $11,441 | $2,241 | $10,160 |
| Fairfax County | 7.6% | +1.9% | +5.7% | $7,726 | $2,675 | $7,026 |
| Loudoun County | 5.7% | +1.6% | +1.9% | $5,534 | $2,080 | $4,426 |
| Arlington County | 5.4% | +1.4% | +2.7% | $6,090 | $1,985 | $4,872 |
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