1st Advantage MortgageBell County (23,509 residents) has a $31,354 median household income and $592 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Bell County offer.
On this page
- Who lives in Bell County
- The Bell County job picture
- Earnings across Bell County households
- Where Bell County households live
- Bell County against other Kentucky counties
- Middlesborough and the rest of Bell County
- Counties near Bell County
- Borrowing situations common in Bell County
- What a median Bell County budget can carry
- Age, degrees and coverage in Bell County
- Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
- Checklist for Bell County applicants
- Beyond Bell County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Bell County
With an estimated 23,509 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Bell County ranks 50th of 120 in Kentucky for population. Density: about 65.5 residents per square mile across 359 square miles of land. Metro status: none; Bell County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. The Census Bureau counts 3 places in the county (2 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Middlesborough, with about 9,123 residents, or 39% of the county.
The Bell County job picture
Education and health care employs 28% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 13%. Relative to Kentucky (24%), education and health care is 3 points bigger in Bell County (28%). Averaged over the five survey years, 10.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 15%; under 15 minutes: 43%.
| Sector | Bell County | Compared with Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.7% | +3.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.2% | -1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.4% | +0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.2% | -0.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.0% | 0.0 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.
Earnings across Bell County households
Median household income in Bell County: $31,354 (51% below Kentucky, $63,726).
| Households earning | Bell County | +/- vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 53.0% | +25.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.0% | -6.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 10.1% | -12.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.0% | -5.2 pts |
Six-figure households (12%) are outnumbered by those under $35,000 (53%) in Bell County. 28.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.1%). None of these numbers decides a Bell County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Where Bell County households live
A typical Bell County rental runs $592 a month including utilities, which is 39% below Kentucky. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 55% in Bell County, 45% statewide. Bell County homes are worth $89,000 at the median, a 2.8-to-1 ratio to income. The ownership rate is 59%. Median construction year: 1979. Nationally, Bell County's $592 rent is 32% below the middle county.
| Housing | Bell County | Kentucky statewide | Bell County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile homes | 24.7% | 10.7% | +14.0 pts |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 23% | +12.4 pts |
| Owners | 59% | 68% | -9.5 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 45% | +9.5 pts |
| Median home value | $89,000 | $205,600 | 57% lower |
| Median gross rent | $592/mo | $967/mo | 39% lower |
With rent burdens at 55%, keep any Bell County loan to the smallest amount that solves the problem.
Bell County against other Kentucky counties
Out of every Kentucky county, Bell County is most unusual on these measures.
- Median household income: $31,354 in Bell County. Only 2 of 120 Kentucky counties are lower. A lean local median makes the size of the loan the most important choice.
- The ACS unemployment rate: 10.1% in Bell County. Only 2 of 120 Kentucky counties are higher. If work is uncertain, keep any loan small and the term short.
- Bell County ranks 4th lowest of 120 Kentucky counties for homeownership: 59%, against 68% statewide. Many renters means few borrowers have home equity to fall back on.
- Few Kentucky counties match Bell County on the share of households earning $100,000 or more: 12% here, 30% for the state, ranking 7th lowest of 120. Most budgets here are modest, so keep payments small.
Middlesborough and the rest of Bell County
Places, by size: the top 3 of 3. Roughly 52% of Bell County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. This guide covers each of the 3 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesborough | city | 9,123 | $31,106 | $598 | 8 mi |
| Pineville | city | 2,064 | $24,547 | $407 | 2 mi |
| Arjay | CDP | 56 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
Counties near Bell County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (15 to 30 miles). All of the six report a higher median household income than Bell County; Claiborne County is highest at $49,379 and Knox County lowest at $32,527. The list crosses into Tennessee, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell County | - | $31,354 | $592/mo | 59% |
| Knox County, KY | 15 mi | $32,527 | $681/mo | 65% |
| Claiborne County, TN | 16 mi | $49,379 | $745/mo | 72% |
| Whitley County, KY | 26 mi | $44,615 | $798/mo | 67% |
| Harlan County, KY | 27 mi | $41,693 | $678/mo | 72% |
| Hancock County, TN | 29 mi | $34,960 | $622/mo | 75% |
| Leslie County, KY | 30 mi | $35,934 | $585/mo | 86% |
Borrowing situations common in Bell County
A few patterns in the Bell County data, and the practical point behind each:
- 25% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Free help first. 29% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Rent squeeze. 55% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
What a median Bell County budget can carry
Here is the Bell County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $31,354 a year is $2,613 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $592, or 23 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $349 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Homeowners in Bell County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
Age, degrees and coverage in Bell County
Bachelor's degree or higher: 16% of Bell County adults. Uninsured, Bell County: 5.3%; Kentucky: 6.0%.
| Residents | Bell County | Difference from Kentucky | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | +2.6 yrs | +0.2 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.8% | -11.8 pts | -6.4 pts |
| No high school diploma | 20.1% | +9.0 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | -0.7 pts | -2.5 pts |
| No vehicle | 10.6% | +3.8 pts | +5.2 pts |
| Work from home | 4.4% | -5.8 pts | -4.3 pts |
| Poverty rate | 28.8% | +12.8 pts | +15.6 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 10.1% | +5.2 pts | +5.7 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Bell County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 42.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.1% |
| 60+ min | 9.4% |
Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Bell County borrowers answers to the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov.
Checklist for Bell County applicants
Steps that save money for Bell County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Bell County-area credit union.
- A Kentucky license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Beyond Bell County
Next step up from Bell County:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Bell County earn?
The median is $31,354; 12% earn $100,000 or more and 53% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Bell County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $592 against $967 statewide, and 55% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Bell County?
By population: Middlesborough, Pineville, Arjay. The county has 3 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Bell County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Bell County residents?
The Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Kentucky; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.