1st Advantage MortgageIn Fulton County, Kentucky, the typical household earns $38,217 a year and the typical rent is $570. 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
- Getting oriented in Fulton County
- Fulton County at the extremes
- How Fulton County residents earn a living
- What it costs to live in Fulton County
- Income in Fulton County compared with Kentucky
- Fulton County, Obion County and other neighbors
- Census places in Fulton County
- Before borrowing in Fulton County
- A Fulton County household budget, worked through
- Who lives in Fulton County, in numbers
- Kentucky rules that apply in Fulton County
- Four steps for Fulton County borrowers
- Beyond Fulton County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Fulton County
Fulton County is home to about 6,409 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 114th most populous of 120 county-level areas in Kentucky. Spread over 206 square miles, that works out to roughly 31.1 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Fulton County is not part of any metropolitan area. Fulton is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 2,378 people (37% of the county total). Census margins of error grow as populations shrink; for a county of 6,409, read each figure as a range.
Fulton County at the extremes
Where Fulton County lands at the extremes of Kentucky's county rankings:
- On households without a vehicle, Fulton County sits near the top of Kentucky at 17.0%, the highest of 120. Car-free households may need loans less for repairs but more for moves.
- Fulton County ranks 6th lowest of 120 Kentucky counties for homeownership: 62%, against 68% statewide. In a renter-heavy county, unsecured loans and cards are the main options.
- Median home value: $79,100 in Fulton County. Only 6 of 120 Kentucky counties are lower. With modest home values, equity borrowing is rarely large.
How Fulton County residents earn a living
Top Fulton County industry by residents employed: manufacturing, 23%; second, education and health care, 15%. Manufacturing stands out: 23% of workers here, versus 14% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Fulton County averages 3.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 12%; under 15 minutes: 39%.
| Sector | Fulton County | Compared with Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 23.4% | +9.1 pts |
| Education and health care | 14.8% | -9.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.1% | +1.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 11.7% | +6.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.4% | -1.6 pts |
| Construction | 6.6% | +0.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Fulton County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $570 in Fulton County versus $967 statewide. By the Census definition, 54% of Fulton County renters are cost-burdened. Median value $79,100; median income $38,217; ratio 2.1. The ownership rate is 62%. Against the median U.S. county, Fulton County rent is 35% below.
| Housing | Fulton County | Kentucky statewide | Fulton County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $570/mo | $967/mo | 41% lower |
| Median home value | $79,100 | $205,600 | 62% lower |
| Owners | 62% | 68% | -6.5 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 45% | +8.9 pts |
| Burdened owners | 13% | 23% | -9.6 pts |
| Mobile homes | 4.7% | 10.7% | -5.9 pts |
| Vacant units | 19% | 10% | +8.9 pts |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Income in Fulton County compared with Kentucky
Median household income in Fulton County: $38,217 (40% below Kentucky, $63,726). That places it 110th among Kentucky's 120 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Fulton County | +/- vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 40.1% | +12.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.9% | +6.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 11.6% | -11.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 0.4% | -6.8 pts |
On the low end, 40% of Fulton County households report under $35,000; at the top, 12% report $100,000-plus. 22.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.1%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.444 here. A household earning below the $38,217 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Fulton County, Obion County and other neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Obion County at 13 miles out to New Madrid County at 26. Carlisle County leads the group on income ($62,439), Lake County trails ($28,814), and Fulton County out-earns 1 of the six. The list crosses into Missouri, Tennessee, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulton County | - | $38,217 | $570/mo | 62% |
| Obion County, TN | 13 mi | $54,613 | $770/mo | 68% |
| Hickman County, KY | 15 mi | $60,867 | $718/mo | 71% |
| Mississippi County, MO | 20 mi | $48,160 | $762/mo | 63% |
| Lake County, TN | 22 mi | $28,814 | $532/mo | 48% |
| Carlisle County, KY | 24 mi | $62,439 | $792/mo | 80% |
| New Madrid County, MO | 26 mi | $51,881 | $729/mo | 64% |
Census places in Fulton County
4,536 of Fulton County's 6,409 residents live in its 3 Census places (71%); the 3 largest are listed. This guide covers each of the 3 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulton | city | 2,378 | $36,040 | $567 | 17 mi |
| Hickman | city | 2,115 | $34,653 | $417 | 1 mi |
| Cayce | CDP | 43 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
Before borrowing in Fulton County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Fulton County borrowers.
- Free help first. 23% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Rent at $570. With 54% burdened, a short term and small amount keep risk down.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
A Fulton County household budget, worked through
Fulton County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $3,185 a month: gross income for a household at the Fulton County median
- Less median rent of $570, which is 18% of it
- Under a 35% cap, $1,115 total minus rent leaves $545
- $863: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Fulton County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who lives in Fulton County, in numbers
16% of Fulton County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 5.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Fulton County | Compared with Kentucky | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | +1.8 yrs | -0.6 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.1% | -11.4 pts | -6.1 pts |
| No high school diploma | 14.1% | +3.0 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.5% | -0.5 pts | -2.3 pts |
| No vehicle | 17.0% | +10.3 pts | +11.6 pts |
| Work from home | 4.0% | -6.3 pts | -4.7 pts |
| Poverty rate | 22.6% | +6.5 pts | +9.4 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.3% | -1.5 pts | -1.1 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Fulton County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.4% |
| 60+ min | 5.1% |
Kentucky rules that apply in Fulton County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Fulton County, check the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Kentucky state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Fulton County borrowers
Quick steps for Fulton County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Fulton County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Kentucky.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Beyond Fulton County
Next step up from Fulton County:
Frequently asked questions
Where does Fulton County rank on income in Kentucky?
110th of 120, with a median of $38,217. The state median is $63,726.
What do renters pay in Fulton County?
$570 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
How many towns are in Fulton County?
The Census Bureau counts 3 places mainly in the county, led by Fulton, Hickman, Cayce.
Will a Fulton County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Kentucky as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
How do I know a lender is legitimate in Fulton County?
Look it up with the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions, read the written offer, and refuse any fee before funding.