1st Advantage MortgageIn Boyd County, Kentucky, the typical household earns $61,118 a year and the typical rent is $849. 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
- Who lives in Boyd County
- Employment and commuting in Boyd County
- What Boyd County households earn
- Renting and owning in Boyd County
- The communities that make up Boyd County
- Counties near Boyd County
- More Boyd County figures
- Local borrowing considerations for Boyd County
- A Boyd County household budget, worked through
- Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
- Steps before you apply in Boyd County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Boyd County
Boyd County is home to about 47,911 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 21st most populous of 120 county-level areas in Kentucky. It covers 160 square miles of land, or about 300 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 5 Census places inside Boyd County, Ashland leads by population with about 21,295; 2 of the 5 are incorporated.
Employment and commuting in Boyd County
By the Census industry count, 31% of employed Boyd County residents work in education and health care and 15% in retail trade. Compared with Kentucky, the county leans toward education and health care (31% against 24%). The survey's unemployment rate for Boyd County averages 6.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). About 81% drive to work alone and 9% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 8.4% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Boyd County share | +/- vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.8% | +6.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.8% | +3.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.0% | -5.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.8% | +0.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.4% | -0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.7% | -3.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What Boyd County households earn
Boyd County households have a median income of $61,118 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 44th of 120 in Kentucky.
| Household income | Boyd County | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.7% | +4.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.8% | -0.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.1% | -2.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -1.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 26% of Boyd County households make $100,000 or more, and 33% make less than $35,000. Census counts 16.9% of Boyd County residents in poverty, against 16.1% across Kentucky. A household earning below the $61,118 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Boyd County
A typical Boyd County rental runs $849 a month including utilities, which is 12% below Kentucky. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 25% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $130,700, about 2.1 times the median household income. 70% of Boyd County households own their home and 30% rent.
| Home costs | Boyd County | Kentucky | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $849/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $130,700 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.2% | 10.7% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 10% | n/a |
The communities that make up Boyd County
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 60% of Boyd County residents live in one of the 5. Incomes vary by place: $76,450 at the median in Cannonsburg, $38,276 in Catlettsburg. Median rent ranges from $630 in Catlettsburg to $872 in Ashland. No Boyd County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland | city | 21,295 | $52,715 | $872 | 7 mi |
| Westwood | CDP | 4,473 | $73,511 | $853 | 8 mi |
| Catlettsburg | city | 1,557 | $38,276 | $630 | 6 mi |
| Cannonsburg | CDP | 1,129 | $76,450 | $864 | 2 mi |
| Ironville | CDP | 411 | $36,856 | n/a | 7 mi |
Counties near Boyd County
Lawrence County is closest, 19 miles from center to center; the sixth, Cabell County, is 24 miles off. Greenup County leads the group on income ($60,751), Lawrence County trails ($46,772), and Boyd County out-earns 6 of the six. The list crosses into Ohio, West Virginia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boyd County | - | $61,118 | $849/mo | 70% |
| Lawrence County, OH | 19 mi | $58,325 | $848/mo | 72% |
| Greenup County, KY | 20 mi | $60,751 | $860/mo | 80% |
| Carter County, KY | 20 mi | $51,235 | $740/mo | 80% |
| Lawrence County, KY | 20 mi | $46,772 | $760/mo | 78% |
| Wayne County, WV | 21 mi | $58,878 | $915/mo | 79% |
| Cabell County, WV | 24 mi | $55,832 | $923/mo | 64% |
More Boyd County figures
College graduates make up 20% of the adult population. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Boyd County | Kentucky | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.0% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.2% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.4% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.4% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.9% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.4% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Boyd County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.8% |
| 60+ min | 5.0% |
Local borrowing considerations for Boyd County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Boyd County borrowers.
- Renters under pressure. When 48% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Boyd County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Consolidating cards in Boyd County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
A Boyd County household budget, worked through
Boyd County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $5,093 a month: gross income for a household at the Boyd County median
- Housing at the median rent of $849 uses 17%
- At 36%, room after rent is $985 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
The Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Kentucky license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Kentucky guide.
Steps before you apply in Boyd County
Quick steps for Boyd County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Kentucky license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Boyd County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Boyd County?
$61,118 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $63,726 for Kentucky. It ranks 44th of 120 in the state.
Is Boyd County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $849 against $967 statewide, and 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Boyd County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 70% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Boyd County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 5 Census places: Ashland, Westwood, Catlettsburg, Cannonsburg, Ironville.
Are Boyd 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.