Median household income in Kentucky is $63,726 and median rent is $967 a month, per Census 2020 to 2024 estimates. Compare at least three written offers on APR and total cost, verify the lender's license with the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions, and never pay a fee before funding.
On this page
- Kentucky by the numbers
- What the numbers mean for Kentucky borrowers
- Largest places in Kentucky
- More Kentucky cities and towns
- Counties with the most residents
- How Kentucky earns a living
- More context for Kentucky budgets
- Checking a lender in Kentucky
- Can Kentucky residents use the questionnaire?
- Local guides in Kentucky
- Frequently asked questions
Kentucky by the numbers
Sixteen budget-related measures for Kentucky, set against the national figure and ranked from highest to lowest among the 51 jurisdictions (Census Bureau ACS, 2020 to 2024).
| What we measured | Kentucky | U.S. | Rank (1 = highest) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $63,726 | $80,734 | 47th |
| Households earning $100,000 or more | 30% | 41% | 47th |
| Poverty rate | 16.1% | 12.5% | 5th |
| Jobless rate, 5-year ACS | 4.9% | 5.2% | 28th |
| Rent, median gross (monthly) | $967 | $1,413 | 46th |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 45% | 51% | 41st |
| Median home value | $205,600 | $332,700 | 47th |
| Homes owner-occupied | 68% | 65% | 20th |
| Mortgaged owners paying 30%+ on housing | 23% | 28% | 41st |
| Home value to income ratio | 3.2x | 4.1x | 40th |
| Commutes of 45 minutes or longer | 13% | 17% | 33rd |
| Workers who work from home | 10% | 15% | 40th |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 28% | 36% | 47th |
| Median age | 39.1 | 38.9 | 26th |
| Gini index (inequality) | 0.477 | 0.483 | 17th |
| Share of households under $35,000 | 28% | 21% | 7th |
What the numbers mean for Kentucky borrowers
Roughly one in 3 Kentucky households earns six figures (30%), and 7% clear $200,000, while 28% live on less than $35,000. If your household sits under $30,000 a year, start with credit unions, creditor hardship plans and nonprofit counseling before a personal loan.
On commuting, Kentucky ranks 33rd: 13% of workers need 45 minutes or more to get to work (U.S. 17%). A long drive also means more wear, so a repair fund of even a few hundred dollars can keep a breakdown from becoming a loan.
Typical household income: $63,726 in Kentucky, against $80,734 nationwide (47th highest of 51). Income is the first thing a lender verifies, so have recent pay stubs or tax returns ready before you compare offers.
Rent is a pressure point for 45% of Kentucky renter households, who spend 30 percent or more of income on it (U.S.: 51%). Median gross rent is $967 a month, 46th highest among the 51. When rent rises at renewal, a fixed loan payment can collide with it, so leave room for the next increase.
Largest places in Kentucky
The 12 most populous places in Kentucky, with Census income, rent and home value for each. Linked names have their own local guide on this site.
| Place | County | Residents | Median household income | Median rent | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | Jefferson County | 631,818 | $66,849 | $1,120 | $233,900 |
| Lexington-Fayette urban county | Fayette County | 323,725 | $69,479 | $1,164 | $293,500 |
| Bowling Green | Warren County | 75,388 | $48,873 | $998 | $241,900 |
| Owensboro | Daviess County | 60,302 | $56,357 | $905 | $178,900 |
| Covington | Kenton County | 41,110 | $61,166 | $1,006 | $187,300 |
| Georgetown | Scott County | 39,117 | $80,088 | $1,255 | $265,400 |
| Richmond | Madison County | 37,111 | $50,870 | $917 | $214,900 |
| Florence | Boone County | 32,803 | $71,003 | $1,329 | $210,700 |
| Elizabethtown | Hardin County | 32,576 | $60,760 | $909 | $245,900 |
| Nicholasville | Jessamine County | 32,197 | $68,503 | $1,147 | $226,800 |
| Hopkinsville | Christian County | 30,906 | $49,139 | $902 | $172,100 |
| Independence | Kenton County | 29,392 | $102,361 | $1,250 | $263,700 |
Independence ($102,361) and Henderson ($48,186) mark the high and low ends of median household income among Kentucky places with at least 20,000 residents. 46 places top 10,000 people; 4 top 50,000. Median rent in that group ranges from $771 in Henderson to $1,329 in Florence.
More Kentucky cities and towns
Places ranked 13 to 32 by population.
| City or town | Residents | Median income | Rent (median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeffersontown | 29,199 | $81,506 | $1,320 |
| Frankfort | 28,503 | $53,073 | $944 |
| Henderson | 27,852 | $48,186 | $771 |
| Paducah | 26,845 | $49,915 | $834 |
| Radcliff | 22,864 | $58,559 | $971 |
| Ashland | 21,295 | $52,715 | $872 |
| Erlanger | 19,875 | $75,840 | $970 |
| Madisonville | 19,515 | $53,860 | $838 |
| Winchester | 19,213 | $54,378 | $916 |
| Mount Washington | 18,480 | $96,239 | $1,008 |
| Murray | 18,080 | $44,091 | $870 |
| Burlington | 18,008 | $109,308 | $1,489 |
| Shelbyville | 17,668 | $75,610 | $1,033 |
| St. Matthews | 17,577 | $82,412 | $1,369 |
| Danville | 17,327 | $52,646 | $762 |
| Fort Thomas | 17,169 | $104,350 | $1,126 |
| Berea | 15,786 | $59,495 | $835 |
| Shively | 15,638 | $50,221 | $899 |
| Glasgow | 15,197 | $43,074 | $849 |
| Shepherdsville | 14,533 | $71,476 | $943 |
Measured as a year of median rent against median household income, housing weighs most in Murray (24%) and least in Mount Washington (13%) among these 20 places.
Counties with the most residents
Population and housing costs for the 16 biggest of 120 counties in Kentucky.
| County | Population | Median household income | Median rent | Typical home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 783,022 | $69,866 | $1,149 | $248,400 |
| Fayette County | 323,725 | $69,479 | $1,164 | $293,500 |
| Kenton County | 171,288 | $80,548 | $1,069 | $244,400 |
| Warren County | 140,918 | $65,794 | $1,002 | $258,000 |
| Boone County | 139,841 | $99,414 | $1,373 | $277,300 |
| Hardin County | 111,942 | $67,647 | $971 | $225,800 |
| Daviess County | 103,648 | $68,214 | $918 | $199,900 |
| Madison County | 95,769 | $63,351 | $889 | $232,000 |
| Campbell County | 93,426 | $77,567 | $1,145 | $252,000 |
| Bullitt County | 84,027 | $80,558 | $987 | $247,200 |
| Christian County | 72,069 | $55,494 | $1,040 | $173,600 |
| Oldham County | 69,257 | $122,497 | $1,219 | $393,100 |
| McCracken County | 67,564 | $64,373 | $898 | $188,100 |
| Pulaski County | 65,897 | $51,898 | $803 | $166,900 |
| Laurel County | 62,983 | $57,771 | $813 | $159,500 |
| Scott County | 59,536 | $85,158 | $1,247 | $288,500 |
Median income by county stretches from $22,188 (Owsley County) up to $122,497 (Oldham County). A statewide average hides that spread, which is why the same loan can be comfortable in one county and a stretch in the next.
How Kentucky earns a living
Where Kentucky residents work, by the four largest industries, compared with the U.S. (ACS 2020 to 2024).
| Industry | Share of Kentucky workers | U.S. share | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education, health care and social assistance | 24% | 24% | +0.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14% | 10% | +4.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 12% | 11% | +0.7 pts |
| Professional, scientific and administrative services | 9% | 13% | -3.5 pts |
Relative to the nation, manufacturing is overrepresented in Kentucky (14% vs 10%). If your income comes from self-employment or gig work, gather two years of tax returns and recent bank statements before you compare offers.
More context for Kentucky budgets
Kentucky posts an ACS unemployment rate of 4.9% and a poverty rate of 16.1%, compared with 5.2% and 12.5% for the country. Five-year estimates smooth out booms and slumps, so they describe the economy's shape more than its current mood.
The typical Kentucky home is valued at $205,600 (3.2 times median income), and 68% of households own the place they live in. 23% of mortgaged owners are housing-cost burdened, versus 28% nationally. Before using equity, read how a HELOC compares with a personal loan: the line is secured by the home, the loan usually is not.
Kentucky's Gini index of income inequality is 0.477 (U.S.: 0.483; higher means more unequal), 28% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree, and the median resident is 39.1 years old.
Checking a lender in Kentucky
License checks come first. Kentucky's banking agency, per the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, is the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions, and many consumer lenders also show their state licenses on NMLS Consumer Access.
- Report fee-first offers at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- CFPB complaints reach the lender and are tracked by a federal regulator.
- Confirm the license on NMLS Consumer Access before you upload documents.
Can Kentucky residents use the questionnaire?
Coverage is added state by state. A Kentucky resident who picks the state on step two learns immediately whether a partner is available, and can join the waitlist if not.
Local guides in Kentucky
We publish 1 local guide for Kentucky, each built on Census data for that place.
Frequently asked questions
Which agency licenses lenders in Kentucky?
The state banking agency listed for Kentucky by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors is the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Many lenders' state licenses also appear on NMLS Consumer Access, and the CFPB takes complaints nationwide.
What do households in Kentucky earn?
The Census Bureau puts it at $63,726, which places Kentucky 47th of 51 (U.S.: $80,734).
Is rent high in Kentucky?
Median gross rent is $967 a month, and 45% of renter households spend 30 percent or more of income on rent (ACS 2020 to 2024). Nationally the figures are $1,413 and 51%.
How many Kentucky residents live below the poverty line?
16.1% in the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 estimates, compared with 12.5% nationally. Households under strain should look at free options, such as hardship plans and nonprofit counseling, before a loan.