1st Advantage MortgageCalloway County households have a median income of $52,706 and median rent of $870 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
- Getting oriented in Calloway County
- How much Calloway County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Calloway County
- What it costs to live in Calloway County
- Calloway County towns compared
- Regional comparison for Calloway County
- What a median Calloway County budget can carry
- Before borrowing in Calloway County
- Who lives in Calloway County, in numbers
- Lender oversight for Calloway County
- Before you sign
- More guides for Calloway County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Calloway County
Roughly 38,224 residents live in Calloway County, Kentucky, 26th by population among the state's 120 counties and county equivalents. It covers 385 square miles of land, or about 99 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Calloway County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 3 Census places inside Calloway County, Murray leads by population with about 18,080; 2 of the 3 are incorporated.
How much Calloway County households make
At $52,706, the typical Calloway County household income is 20% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Calloway County | +/- vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.8% | +5.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.9% | +3.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.9% | -6.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -2.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 21% of Calloway County households make $100,000 or more, and 34% make less than $35,000. Census counts 17.2% of Calloway County residents in poverty, against 16.1% across Kentucky. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.468 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Jobs and commutes in Calloway County
By the Census industry count, 27% of employed Calloway County residents work in education and health care and 13% in manufacturing. Compared with Kentucky, the county leans toward education and health care (27% against 24%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Calloway County workers | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.7% | +2.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.9% | -1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.3% | +1.4 pts |
| Construction | 6.9% | +0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.8% | -2.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Calloway County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What it costs to live in Calloway County
Renters in Calloway County pay a median of $870 a month, 10% below the Kentucky figure of $967. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 41% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $183,200, about 3.5 times the median household income. 64% of Calloway County households own their home and 36% rent.
| Cost | Calloway County | Kentucky figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $870/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $183,200 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 64% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 23% | n/a |
Calloway County towns compared
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Calloway County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 18,502 people, so roughly 52% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Calloway County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murray | city | 18,080 | $44,091 | $870 | 3 mi |
| Hazel | city | 299 | $40,536 | $525 | 8 mi |
| Dexter | CDP | 123 | $54,034 | n/a | 8 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Regional comparison for Calloway County
Six nearby counties, 18 to 30 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Calloway County; Marshall County is highest at $65,831 and Henry County lowest at $50,613. Some neighbors are in Tennessee. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Calloway County resident follows Kentucky rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calloway County | - | $52,706 | $870/mo | 64% |
| Marshall County, KY | 18 mi | $65,831 | $798/mo | 82% |
| Henry County, TN | 20 mi | $50,613 | $761/mo | 74% |
| Graves County, KY | 22 mi | $50,772 | $775/mo | 76% |
| Trigg County, KY | 26 mi | $59,857 | $803/mo | 77% |
| Stewart County, TN | 28 mi | $63,114 | $945/mo | 81% |
| Lyon County, KY | 30 mi | $65,066 | $747/mo | 80% |
What a median Calloway County budget can carry
Calloway County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $4,392 a month: gross income for a household at the Calloway County median
- Less median rent of $870, which is 20% of it
- $711: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $870, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in Calloway County
Where the Calloway County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Manufactured homes. 13% of Calloway County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Who lives in Calloway County, in numbers
31% of Calloway County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 7.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Calloway County | Kentucky | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.2% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.9% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.5% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.0% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.2% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Calloway County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 50.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.3% |
| 60+ min | 3.0% |
Lender oversight for Calloway County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Calloway County resident can confirm its license with the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Kentucky guide.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Calloway County:
- 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.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Calloway County
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Calloway County?
$52,706 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $63,726 for Kentucky. It ranks 71st of 120 in the state.
How much is rent in Calloway County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $870 a month; 41% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Murray?
Yes, along with the other 2 Census places in Calloway County, such as Hazel, Dexter.
Can Calloway 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.
Is there a Calloway County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Kentucky it is the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions.