1st Advantage MortgageIn Garrard County, Kentucky, the typical household earns $63,087 a year and the typical rent is $794. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Garrard County at a glance
- What it costs to live in Garrard County
- What Garrard County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Garrard County
- The counties around Garrard County
- The communities that make up Garrard County
- Debt-to-income at Garrard County's medians
- What the numbers mean for Garrard County borrowers
- People and households in Garrard County
- Kentucky rules that apply in Garrard County
- A Garrard County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Garrard County at a glance
With an estimated 17,568 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Garrard County ranks 66th of 120 in Kentucky for population. Land area is 230 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 76 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Garrard County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 1 place in the county (1 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Lancaster, with about 4,013 residents, or 23% of the county.
What it costs to live in Garrard County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $794 in Garrard County versus $967 statewide. 49% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $204,900, about 3.2 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 80%. Median construction year: 1988.
| Cost | Garrard County | Kentucky figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $794/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $204,900 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 14.2% | 10.7% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 10% | n/a |
Because most Garrard County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
What Garrard County households earn
The median household income in Garrard County is $63,087, close to the statewide $63,726. In the state ranking that is 37th of 120.
| Household income | Garrard County | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.1% | -0.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.2% | +6.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.2% | -1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.5% | -3.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 25% of Garrard County households make $100,000 or more, and 27% make less than $35,000. 15.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.1%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.429 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Garrard 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.
Jobs and commutes in Garrard County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Garrard County residents work in education and health care and 15% in manufacturing. Compared with Kentucky, the county leans toward construction (12% against 6%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 77% drive to work alone and 29% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Garrard County workers | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.0% | +1.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.3% | +1.0 pts |
| Construction | 11.5% | +5.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.6% | -0.5 pts |
| Other services | 6.6% | +2.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The counties around Garrard County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Garrard County's, from 13 to 23 miles away. Income ranges from $48,862 in Rockcastle County to $74,576 in Jessamine County; 3 of these neighbors top Garrard County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garrard County | - | $63,087 | $794/mo | 80% |
| Lincoln County, KY | 13 mi | $52,440 | $698/mo | 76% |
| Madison County, KY | 16 mi | $63,351 | $889/mo | 62% |
| Jessamine County, KY | 17 mi | $74,576 | $1,124/mo | 67% |
| Boyle County, KY | 18 mi | $61,159 | $778/mo | 68% |
| Mercer County, KY | 22 mi | $64,824 | $831/mo | 76% |
| Rockcastle County, KY | 23 mi | $48,862 | $676/mo | 74% |
The communities that make up Garrard County
Lancaster is the only Census place mainly inside Garrard County, with about 4,013 of the county's 17,568 residents. Lancaster has no separate guide, so this county page serves it.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | city | 4,013 | $43,898 | $801 | 2 mi |
Debt-to-income at Garrard County's medians
How much room does a median Garrard County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Garrard County: $5,257
- Housing at the median rent of $794 uses 15%
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,309 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Garrard County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
What the numbers mean for Garrard County borrowers
Where the Garrard County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Commuter costs. 29% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- 14% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Renters under pressure. When 49% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
People and households in Garrard County
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. About 8% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Garrard County | Kentucky | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.7% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.1% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.6% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.9% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 16.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 16.3% |
| 60+ min | 12.9% |
Kentucky rules that apply in Garrard County
Consumer lenders serving Garrard County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Kentucky that is the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Kentucky guide.
A Garrard County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Garrard County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kentucky guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Garrard County a high-income county?
Its $63,087 median ranks 37th of 120 Kentucky counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Garrard County?
$794 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
Does this page cover Lancaster?
Yes, along with the other 0 Census places in Garrard County.
Are Garrard County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for Garrard County residents?
The Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Kentucky; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.