1st Advantage MortgageAbout 64% of Bourbon County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $61,354. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Bourbon County by the numbers
- Housing costs in Bourbon County
- Household income in Bourbon County
- Work, industries and travel time in Bourbon County
- Regional comparison for Bourbon County
- Bourbon County towns compared
- Who lives in Bourbon County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Bourbon County
- A Bourbon County household budget, worked through
- Four steps for Bourbon County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Bourbon County by the numbers
With an estimated 20,240 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Bourbon County ranks 56th of 120 in Kentucky for population. It covers 290 square miles of land, or about 70 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 2 places in the county (2 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Paris, with about 10,160 residents, or 50% of the county.
Housing costs in Bourbon County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $822 in Bourbon County versus $967 statewide. 37% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 25% spend half or more. Home values center on $229,300, or 3.7 years of median income. Owners occupy 64% of homes. The median home was built in 1979, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Bourbon County | Kentucky figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $822/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $229,300 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 64% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 10% | n/a |
Household income in Bourbon County
The median household income in Bourbon County is $61,354; statewide it is $63,726, so Bourbon County runs 4% below Kentucky as a whole. In the state ranking that is 41st of 120.
| Households earning | Bourbon County | +/- vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.1% | +0.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.6% | -0.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.3% | +0.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.0% | -0.3 pts |
Some 28% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 30% have six-figure incomes. 14.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.1%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.464 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Bourbon County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Work, industries and travel time in Bourbon County
The biggest employer of Bourbon County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by manufacturing (15%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 9% locally and 2% for Kentucky. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Bourbon County workers | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.1% | -2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.9% | +0.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.4% | +1.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.9% | +7.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.3% | -1.7 pts |
| Construction | 6.7% | +0.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Bourbon County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Regional comparison for Bourbon County
Nicholas County is closest, 14 miles from center to center; the sixth, Scott County, is 21 miles off. Income ranges from $56,396 in Montgomery County to $85,158 in Scott County; 4 of these neighbors top Bourbon County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bourbon County | - | $61,354 | $822/mo | 64% |
| Nicholas County, KY | 14 mi | $59,531 | $728/mo | 74% |
| Clark County, KY | 16 mi | $64,348 | $938/mo | 71% |
| Fayette County, KY | 18 mi | $69,479 | $1,164/mo | 54% |
| Harrison County, KY | 18 mi | $66,442 | $765/mo | 71% |
| Montgomery County, KY | 20 mi | $56,396 | $830/mo | 68% |
| Scott County, KY | 21 mi | $85,158 | $1,247/mo | 72% |
Bourbon County towns compared
2 Census places fall mainly inside Bourbon County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 10,839 residents, leaving about 46% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Bourbon County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | city | 10,160 | $55,839 | $832 | 3 mi |
| North Middletown | city | 679 | $48,000 | $913 | 7 mi |
Who lives in Bourbon County, in numbers
College graduates make up 26% of the adult population. About 3% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Bourbon County | Kentucky statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.3% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.1% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.5% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.0% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.3% |
| 60+ min | 5.5% |
Before borrowing in Bourbon County
Based on the Bourbon County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Consolidating cards in Bourbon County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
A Bourbon County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Bourbon County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $5,113 gross per month ($61,354 / 12)
- 16% goes to median rent ($822)
- Under a 35% cap, $1,789 total minus rent leaves $967
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,479 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Bourbon County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Four steps for Bourbon County borrowers
A short checklist for Bourbon County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Bourbon County-area credit union.
- Verify the Kentucky license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
Bourbon County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Kentucky guide.
Related local guides
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Bourbon County earn?
The median is $61,354; 30% earn $100,000 or more and 28% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Bourbon County rent compare with Kentucky?
$822 locally versus $967 for the state, 15% below.
Which towns does the Bourbon County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 2 Census places: Paris, North Middletown.
Are Bourbon County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Bourbon County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Kentucky it is the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions.