1st Advantage MortgageThe median Bath County household earns $56,541, and 25% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Bath County
- Bath County housing compared with Kentucky
- Income in Bath County compared with Kentucky
- Jobs and commutes in Bath County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Bath County
- Bath County and the counties next door
- Room for a loan payment in Bath County
- More Bath County figures
- Reading the Bath County data as a borrower
- A Bath County borrower's checklist
- Kentucky rules that apply in Bath County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Bath County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Bath County's population at 12,851; only 84 of Kentucky's 120 county-level areas are larger. It covers 278 square miles of land, or about 46 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 3 Census places inside Bath County, Owingsville leads by population with about 1,621; 3 of the 3 are incorporated.
Bath County housing compared with Kentucky
A typical Bath County rental runs $659 a month including utilities, which is 32% below Kentucky. By the Census definition, 31% of Bath County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $129,800, about 2.3 times the median household income. 75% of Bath County households own their home and 25% rent. Median construction year: 1984.
| Housing | Bath County | Kentucky statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $659/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $129,800 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 31% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 23% | n/a |
Because most Bath County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Income in Bath County compared with Kentucky
At $56,541, the typical Bath County household income is 14% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 62nd of 120.
| Household income | Bath County | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.6% | +5.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.0% | -3.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.5% | -0.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.9% | -2.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Bath County households make $100,000 or more, and 34% make less than $35,000. 25.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.1%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.540 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Jobs and commutes in Bath County
Manufacturing employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 17%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 20% locally and 14% for Kentucky. The survey's unemployment rate for Bath County averages 2.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). Long commutes are common here: 18% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 9.1% of the total (6.8% statewide).
| Top industries | Bath County share | +/- vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 19.9% | +5.6 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.3% | -7.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.3% | +3.8 pts |
| Construction | 10.1% | +3.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.2% | +0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.0% | -0.9 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Bath County
Here are the 3 most populous of the county's 3 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 19% of Bath County residents live in one of the 3. No Bath County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owingsville | city | 1,621 | $40,053 | $442 | 1 mi |
| Sharpsburg | city | 519 | $30,917 | $340 | 11 mi |
| Salt Lick | city | 274 | $51,146 | $840 | 7 mi |
Bath County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 12 to 24 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Bath County; Nicholas County is highest at $59,531 and Powell County lowest at $40,309.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath County | - | $56,541 | $659/mo | 75% |
| Montgomery County, KY | 12 mi | $56,396 | $830/mo | 68% |
| Fleming County, KY | 15 mi | $49,307 | $715/mo | 75% |
| Menifee County, KY | 17 mi | $45,096 | $675/mo | 75% |
| Rowan County, KY | 17 mi | $54,321 | $825/mo | 62% |
| Nicholas County, KY | 20 mi | $59,531 | $728/mo | 74% |
| Powell County, KY | 24 mi | $40,309 | $747/mo | 68% |
Room for a loan payment in Bath County
Here is the Bath County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $4,712 a month: gross income for a household at the Bath County median
- Less median rent of $659, which is 14% of it
- At 35%, room after rent is $990 a month
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,461 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Bath County's.
More Bath County figures
Degree holders: 12% of adults over 25. About 11% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Bath County | All of Kentucky | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.3% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.5% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.8% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.1% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 25.3% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.5% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Bath County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.9% |
| 60+ min | 11.6% |
Reading the Bath County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Bath County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Health costs. With 11% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Mobile home upkeep. 31% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Free help first. 25% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
A Bath County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Bath County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Kentucky license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Kentucky rules that apply in Bath County
Consumer lenders serving Bath County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Kentucky that is the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Kentucky state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bath County a high-income county?
Its $56,541 median ranks 62nd of 120 Kentucky counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Bath County?
$659 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Bath County?
By population: Owingsville, Sharpsburg, Salt Lick. The county has 3 Census places in all.
Can Bath County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Kentucky county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Where can someone in Bath County check a lender's license?
With the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.