1st Advantage MortgageIn Breckinridge County, Kentucky, the typical household earns $55,843 a year and the typical rent is $733. 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
- Getting oriented in Breckinridge County
- The Breckinridge County job picture
- Income in Breckinridge County compared with Kentucky
- Housing costs in Breckinridge County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Breckinridge County
- What a median Breckinridge County budget can carry
- Before borrowing in Breckinridge County
- Who lives in Breckinridge County, in numbers
- Who licenses lenders for Breckinridge County residents
- A Breckinridge County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Breckinridge County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Breckinridge County
With an estimated 20,881 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Breckinridge County ranks 54th of 120 in Kentucky for population. Spread over 570 square miles, that works out to roughly 36.7 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Breckinridge County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 3 Census places inside Breckinridge County, Hardinsburg leads by population with about 2,327; 3 of the 3 are incorporated.
The Breckinridge County job picture
The biggest employer of Breckinridge County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 20% of workers, followed by education and health care (20%). Compared with Kentucky, the county leans toward manufacturing (20% against 14%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 29% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home. Only 4.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Breckinridge County share | +/- vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 20.3% | +5.9 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.6% | -4.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | +1.1 pts |
| Construction | 9.0% | +2.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.3% | -0.6 pts |
| Other services | 5.6% | +1.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Income in Breckinridge County compared with Kentucky
Breckinridge County households have a median income of $55,843 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 66th of 120 in Kentucky.
| Household income | Breckinridge County | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.1% | +5.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.5% | -1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.8% | -1.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -2.7 pts |
Some 33% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 26% have six-figure incomes. 21.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.1%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.471 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Breckinridge County median.
Housing costs in Breckinridge County
Renters in Breckinridge County pay a median of $733 a month, 24% below the Kentucky figure of $967. By the Census definition, 43% of Breckinridge County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $156,700, or 2.8 years of median income. Owners occupy 81% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1990.
| Home costs | Breckinridge County | Kentucky | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $733/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $156,700 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 27.7% | 10.7% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Breckinridge 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.
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Breckinridge County's, from 18 to 31 miles away. Meade County leads the group on income ($74,355), Grayson County trails ($50,757), and Breckinridge County out-earns 1 of the six. Some neighbors are in Indiana. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Breckinridge County resident follows Kentucky rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breckinridge County | - | $55,843 | $733/mo | 81% |
| Meade County, KY | 18 mi | $74,355 | $1,026/mo | 74% |
| Hancock County, KY | 20 mi | $65,464 | $740/mo | 77% |
| Grayson County, KY | 23 mi | $50,757 | $658/mo | 75% |
| Perry County, IN | 23 mi | $61,151 | $682/mo | 75% |
| Hardin County, KY | 26 mi | $67,647 | $971/mo | 63% |
| Ohio County, KY | 31 mi | $57,798 | $739/mo | 77% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Breckinridge County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Breckinridge County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 4,787 people, so roughly 77% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $36,991 in Cloverport to $55,795 in Hardinsburg. Median rent ranges from $345 in Cloverport to $766 in Hardinsburg. Live in one of these Breckinridge County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardinsburg | city | 2,327 | $55,795 | $766 | 1 mi |
| Irvington | city | 1,327 | $47,500 | $594 | 11 mi |
| Cloverport | city | 1,133 | $36,991 | $345 | 11 mi |
What a median Breckinridge County budget can carry
Breckinridge County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $4,654 gross per month ($55,843 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $733 uses 16%
- $896: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,361 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Breckinridge County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Before borrowing in Breckinridge County
Based on the Breckinridge County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Keeping the car running. At 29% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Breckinridge County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- 28% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 21% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
Who lives in Breckinridge County, in numbers
College graduates make up 14% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 7.0%, against 6.0% for Kentucky.
| Indicator | Breckinridge County | All of Kentucky | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.2% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.1% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.0% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.4% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.2% |
| 60+ min | 18.8% |
Who licenses lenders for Breckinridge County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Breckinridge County, check the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Kentucky state guide for the statewide picture.
A Breckinridge County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Breckinridge County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Breckinridge County
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Breckinridge County?
$55,843 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $63,726 for Kentucky. It ranks 66th of 120 in the state.
How much is rent in Breckinridge County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $733 a month; 43% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Breckinridge County?
By population: Hardinsburg, Irvington, Cloverport. The county has 3 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Breckinridge County or elsewhere in Kentucky, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Breckinridge 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.