1st Advantage MortgageHarlan County households have a median income of $41,693 and median rent of $678 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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 Harlan County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Harlan County
- Household income in Harlan County
- The Harlan County job picture
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Harlan County
- Counties near Harlan County
- Budget math at the Harlan County median
- What the numbers mean for Harlan County borrowers
- More Harlan County figures
- Licensing and complaints for Harlan County
- A Harlan County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Harlan County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Harlan County's population at 25,772; only 43 of Kentucky's 120 county-level areas are larger. It covers 466 square miles of land, or about 55 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Harlan is the biggest of its 14 Census places, at roughly 2,160 people (8% of the county total).
Rent, home values and ownership in Harlan County
A typical Harlan County rental runs $678 a month including utilities, which is 30% below Kentucky. By the Census definition, 48% of Harlan County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $73,700, about 1.8 times the median household income. 72% of Harlan County households own their home and 28% rent. Median construction year: 1976.
| Home costs | Harlan County | Kentucky | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $678/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $73,700 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 10% | n/a |
Household income in Harlan County
Half of Harlan County households take in less than $41,693 a year and half take in more, 35% below the Kentucky median of $63,726.
| Yearly household income | Harlan County | Gap to Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 43.4% | +15.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.5% | -1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.8% | -9.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.3% | -5.0 pts |
About 43% of households earn under $35,000, while 16% clear $100,000. 27.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.1%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.463 here. A household earning below the $41,693 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Harlan County job picture
The biggest employer of Harlan County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 34% of workers, followed by retail trade (15%). Compared with Kentucky, the county leans toward education and health care (34% against 24%). The survey's unemployment rate for Harlan County averages 9.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). About 77% drive to work alone and 17% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 8.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Harlan County | Compared with Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 33.9% | +9.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.0% | +3.5 pts |
| Construction | 6.7% | +0.4 pts |
| Public administration | 6.7% | +2.4 pts |
| Other services | 6.5% | +1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 5.6% | -8.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Harlan County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Harlan County
14 Census places fall mainly inside Harlan County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 10,026 residents, leaving about 61% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Pathfork has the highest median household income on the list ($49,571) and South Wallins the lowest ($26,336), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Harlan ($543) and steepest in Lynch ($889). None of the 14 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlan | city | 2,160 | $32,408 | $543 | 6 mi |
| Cumberland | city | 2,037 | $35,410 | $622 | 15 mi |
| South Wallins | CDP | 765 | $26,336 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Benham | city | 725 | $44,946 | $769 | 17 mi |
| Lynch | city | 709 | $30,114 | $889 | 18 mi |
| Evarts | city | 648 | $34,007 | $673 | 2 mi |
| Cawood | CDP | 596 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
| Pathfork | CDP | 542 | $49,571 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Loyall | city | 388 | $52,734 | $672 | 7 mi |
| Ages | CDP | 385 | $34,063 | n/a | 1 mi |
| Wallins Creek | CDP | 383 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Kenvir | CDP | 358 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
| Coldiron | CDP | 193 | $58,690 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Coxton | CDP | 137 | $21,553 | n/a | 3 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Counties near Harlan County
Lee County is closest, 12 miles from center to center; the sixth, Bell County, is 27 miles off. Income ranges from $31,354 in Bell County to $42,181 in Perry County; 3 of these neighbors top Harlan County's median. Some neighbors are in Tennessee and Virginia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Harlan County resident follows Kentucky rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlan County | - | $41,693 | $678/mo | 72% |
| Lee County, VA | 12 mi | $41,827 | $738/mo | 73% |
| Leslie County, KY | 18 mi | $35,934 | $585/mo | 86% |
| Hancock County, TN | 23 mi | $34,960 | $622/mo | 75% |
| Perry County, KY | 26 mi | $42,181 | $798/mo | 70% |
| Letcher County, KY | 27 mi | $41,793 | $669/mo | 74% |
| Bell County, KY | 27 mi | $31,354 | $592/mo | 59% |
Budget math at the Harlan County median
How much room does a median Harlan 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, Harlan County: $3,474
- 20% goes to median rent ($678)
- With a 43% ceiling, about $816 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Harlan County's.
What the numbers mean for Harlan County borrowers
Where the Harlan County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 19% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- 27% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Renters under pressure. When 48% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
More Harlan County figures
13% of Harlan County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 4.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Harlan County | All of Kentucky | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.0% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 18.3% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.1% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 27.4% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.5% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.3% |
| 60+ min | 10.3% |
Licensing and complaints for Harlan County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Harlan County, check the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Kentucky guide covers state rules in more detail.
A Harlan County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Harlan County:
- Price the Harlan County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Harlan County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Harlan County a high-income county?
Its $41,693 median ranks 104th of 120 Kentucky counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Harlan County rent compare with Kentucky?
$678 locally versus $967 for the state, 30% below.
Should Harlan County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 72% of Harlan County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Harlan County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Harlan, Cumberland, South Wallins, Benham, Lynch and 9 more.
Can Harlan 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.