1st Advantage MortgageAbout 78% of Crittenden County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $46,656. 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
- Crittenden County, KY: the basics
- Income in Crittenden County compared with Kentucky
- Rent, home values and ownership in Crittenden County
- Work, industries and travel time in Crittenden County
- The communities that make up Crittenden County
- Crittenden County next to its neighbors
- Debt-to-income at Crittenden County's medians
- What the numbers mean for Crittenden County borrowers
- Who lives in Crittenden County, in numbers
- Who licenses lenders for Crittenden County residents
- Four steps for Crittenden County borrowers
- More guides for Crittenden County
- Frequently asked questions
Crittenden County, KY: the basics
Crittenden County is home to about 8,979 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 103rd most populous of 120 county-level areas in Kentucky. It covers 360 square miles of land, or about 25 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Marion is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 2,886 people (32% of the county total). Because Crittenden County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Income in Crittenden County compared with Kentucky
Crittenden County households have a median income of $46,656 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 90th of 120 in Kentucky.
| Band | Crittenden County | Compared with Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 36.9% | +9.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.2% | -1.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.4% | -2.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.4% | -4.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 23% of Crittenden County households make $100,000 or more, and 37% make less than $35,000. 17.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.1%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.456 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Crittenden 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.
Rent, home values and ownership in Crittenden County
A typical Crittenden County rental runs $714 a month including utilities, which is 26% below Kentucky. 20% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 5% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $127,300, about 2.7 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 78%. The median home was built in 1975, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Crittenden County | Kentucky | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $714/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $127,300 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 20% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.4% | 10.7% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Crittenden 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.
Work, industries and travel time in Crittenden County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Crittenden County residents work in education and health care and 19% in manufacturing. Compared with Kentucky, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (8% against 2%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 71% drive to work alone and 18% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 6.0% of the total (6.8% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Crittenden County workers | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.6% | -3.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.9% | +4.6 pts |
| Construction | 11.8% | +5.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.7% | -2.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.4% | +6.6 pts |
| Public administration | 6.8% | +2.5 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
The communities that make up Crittenden County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Crittenden County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 2,993 people, so roughly 67% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 3 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion | city | 2,886 | $39,414 | $688 | 2 mi |
| Crayne | CDP | 71 | $133,125 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Tolu | CDP | 36 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
Crittenden County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Hardin County at 14 miles out to Pope County at 24. Income ranges from $54,271 in Hardin County to $65,066 in Lyon County; all six of these neighbors top Crittenden County's median. The list crosses into Illinois, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crittenden County | - | $46,656 | $714/mo | 78% |
| Hardin County, IL | 14 mi | $54,271 | $379/mo | 80% |
| Livingston County, KY | 18 mi | $58,984 | $926/mo | 81% |
| Caldwell County, KY | 19 mi | $59,583 | $767/mo | 70% |
| Union County, KY | 22 mi | $60,327 | $790/mo | 70% |
| Lyon County, KY | 23 mi | $65,066 | $747/mo | 80% |
| Pope County, IL | 24 mi | $60,050 | $449/mo | 86% |
Debt-to-income at Crittenden County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Crittenden County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $3,888 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $714 uses 18%
- Under a 36% cap, $1,400 total minus rent leaves $686
If your rent is above $714, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
What the numbers mean for Crittenden County borrowers
A few patterns in the Crittenden County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Uninsured care. 10% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Manufactured homes. 12% of Crittenden County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Who lives in Crittenden County, in numbers
Degree holders: 15% of adults over 25. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Crittenden County | Kentucky | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.3% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.6% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.4% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.0% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.7% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.8% |
| 60+ min | 7.2% |
Who licenses lenders for Crittenden County residents
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. The Kentucky guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Crittenden County borrowers
Steps that save money for Crittenden County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Kentucky license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for Crittenden County
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Crittenden County earn?
The median is $46,656; 23% earn $100,000 or more and 37% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Crittenden County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $714 a month; 20% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Crittenden County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 78% of Crittenden County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Crittenden County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Marion, Crayne, Tolu.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Crittenden County or elsewhere in Kentucky, the same rules apply.