1st Advantage MortgageBreathitt County households have a median income of $34,808 and median rent of $548 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Kentucky before sharing details.
On this page
- Breathitt County at a glance
- Renting and owning in Breathitt County
- What Breathitt County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Breathitt County
- Counties near Breathitt County
- Breathitt County towns compared
- Breathitt County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Breathitt County
- What a median Breathitt County budget can carry
- Licensing and complaints for Breathitt County
- A Breathitt County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Breathitt County
- Frequently asked questions
Breathitt County at a glance
Roughly 13,276 residents live in Breathitt County, Kentucky, 80th by population among the state's 120 counties and county equivalents. It covers 492 square miles of land, or about 27 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Breathitt County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 1 Census place inside Breathitt County, Jackson leads by population with about 2,015.
Renting and owning in Breathitt County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $548 in Breathitt County versus $967 statewide. 50% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 16% spend half or more. Home values center on $70,300, or 2.0 years of median income. The ownership rate is 77%. Half the housing stock was built before 1989.
| Measure | Breathitt County | Kentucky | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $548/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $70,300 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 41.3% | 10.7% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Breathitt County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
What Breathitt County households earn
Breathitt County households have a median income of $34,808 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 114th of 120 in Kentucky.
| Income band | Share in Breathitt County | Difference from Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 50.2% | +22.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.3% | -6.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.3% | -9.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.1% | -6.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 14% of Breathitt County households make $100,000 or more, and 50% make less than $35,000. 33.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.1%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.491 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $34,808 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Breathitt County
By the Census industry count, 32% of employed Breathitt County residents work in education and health care and 11% in retail trade. Compared with Kentucky, the county leans toward education and health care (32% against 24%). The survey's unemployment rate for Breathitt County averages 9.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). About 72% drive to work alone and 21% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 15.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Breathitt County | Gap to Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 32.3% | +8.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | -0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.7% | -4.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | 0.0 pts |
| Construction | 7.3% | +1.0 pts |
| Public administration | 6.9% | +2.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Counties near Breathitt County
Distances run center to center, from Wolfe County at 18 miles out to Knott County at 23. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Breathitt County; Perry County is highest at $42,181 and Owsley County lowest at $22,188.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breathitt County | - | $34,808 | $548/mo | 77% |
| Wolfe County, KY | 18 mi | $30,417 | $501/mo | 74% |
| Magoffin County, KY | 18 mi | $33,080 | $730/mo | 75% |
| Perry County, KY | 20 mi | $42,181 | $798/mo | 70% |
| Owsley County, KY | 22 mi | $22,188 | $448/mo | 70% |
| Lee County, KY | 23 mi | $37,568 | $603/mo | 78% |
| Knott County, KY | 23 mi | $41,761 | $756/mo | 73% |
Breathitt County towns compared
Just one Census place, Jackson, lies mainly within Breathitt County; it holds about 2,015 people. None of the 1 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | city | 2,015 | $32,683 | $495 | 5 mi |
Breathitt County households compared
Degree holders: 15% of adults over 25. About 3% go without health insurance.
| Breathitt County | Kentucky | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.3% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 19.7% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.2% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 15.2% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 33.1% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.3% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Breathitt County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.9% |
| 60+ min | 14.9% |
Local borrowing considerations for Breathitt County
Where the Breathitt County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Long drives. With 21% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Breathitt County budgets.
- 41% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Assistance before credit. With a 33% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Breathitt County loan.
- 50% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
What a median Breathitt County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Breathitt County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Breathitt County: $2,901
- Median rent: $548, or 19 cents of every gross dollar
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $496 left for all other debt payments
- $699: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Licensing and complaints for Breathitt County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Breathitt County resident can confirm its license with the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Kentucky: Kentucky personal loans.
A Breathitt County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Breathitt County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Kentucky license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Breathitt County
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Breathitt County household make?
About $34,808 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 45% below the Kentucky median.
How does Breathitt County rent compare with Kentucky?
$548 locally versus $967 for the state, 43% below.
I live in a small Breathitt County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Jackson.
Can Breathitt 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 Breathitt 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.