1st Advantage MortgageThe median Elliott County household earns $45,776, and 25% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Kentucky license first.
On this page
- Elliott County, KY: the basics
- Income in Elliott County compared with Kentucky
- Jobs and commutes in Elliott County
- Housing costs in Elliott County
- The counties around Elliott County
- Elliott County towns compared
- Room for a loan payment in Elliott County
- Elliott County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Elliott County borrowers
- Four steps for Elliott County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Elliott County, KY: the basics
With an estimated 7,307 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Elliott County ranks 112th of 120 in Kentucky for population. Spread over 234 square miles, that works out to roughly 31.2 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Sandy Hook, with about 456 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county. With so few households sampled, Elliott County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Income in Elliott County compared with Kentucky
Half of Elliott County households take in less than $45,776 a year and half take in more, 28% below the Kentucky median of $63,726. In the state ranking that is 92nd of 120.
| Households earning | Elliott County | +/- vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 40.9% | +13.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.7% | -4.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.9% | -3.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.6% | -5.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 21% of Elliott County households make $100,000 or more, and 41% make less than $35,000. Census counts 25.1% of Elliott County residents in poverty, against 16.1% across Kentucky. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.448 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 Elliott County
By the Census industry count, 20% of employed Elliott County residents work in manufacturing and 17% in construction. Construction stands out: 17% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.5% in Elliott County. 30% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. Households without a car make up 9.3% of the total (6.8% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Elliott County workers | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 20.4% | +6.1 pts |
| Construction | 16.9% | +10.6 pts |
| Education and health care | 14.2% | -10.1 pts |
| Public administration | 10.9% | +6.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.8% | +1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.5% | -1.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Elliott County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Housing costs in Elliott County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $432 in Elliott County versus $967 statewide. By the Census definition, 44% of Elliott County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $123,500, or 2.7 years of median income. 82% of Elliott County households own their home and 18% rent. The median year built is 1987.
| Housing | Elliott County | Kentucky statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $432/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $123,500 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 39% | 23% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Elliott 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.
The counties around Elliott County
Six nearby counties, 14 to 28 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Elliott County; Boyd County is highest at $61,118 and Johnson County lowest at $44,904.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elliott County | - | $45,776 | $432/mo | 82% |
| Carter County, KY | 14 mi | $51,235 | $740/mo | 80% |
| Morgan County, KY | 16 mi | $47,913 | $663/mo | 79% |
| Rowan County, KY | 19 mi | $54,321 | $825/mo | 62% |
| Lawrence County, KY | 20 mi | $46,772 | $760/mo | 78% |
| Johnson County, KY | 24 mi | $44,904 | $708/mo | 68% |
| Boyd County, KY | 28 mi | $61,118 | $849/mo | 70% |
Elliott County towns compared
Just one Census place, Sandy Hook, lies mainly within Elliott County; it holds about 456 people. Live in one of these Elliott County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandy Hook | city | 456 | n/a | $342 | 2 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Elliott County
Here is the Elliott County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Elliott County: $3,815
- Median rent: $432, or 11 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 40% cap, $1,526 total minus rent leaves $1,094
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Elliott County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 9% of adults over 25. 8.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Elliott County | Kentucky statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.9 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 8.7% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 21.2% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.0% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.3% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 25.1% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.5% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.7% |
| 60+ min | 22.7% |
What the numbers mean for Elliott County borrowers
A few patterns in the Elliott County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Keeping the car running. At 30% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Elliott County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- 30% 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 25% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
Four steps for Elliott County borrowers
A short checklist for Elliott County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Kentucky license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Elliott County credit union about member loans.
Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
The Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Kentucky license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Kentucky state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Elliott County a high-income county?
Its $45,776 median ranks 92nd of 120 Kentucky counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Elliott County?
$432 a month at the median, about 11% of median household income.
Should Elliott County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 82% of Elliott County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Elliott County?
By population: Sandy Hook. The county has 1 Census place in all.
Is the fit check different in Elliott County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.