1st Advantage MortgageHarrison County households have a median income of $66,442 and median rent of $765 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Kentucky before sharing details.
On this page
- Harrison County by the numbers
- The Harrison County job picture
- What Harrison County households earn
- Harrison County housing compared with Kentucky
- Harrison County towns compared
- Harrison County and the counties next door
- Budget math at the Harrison County median
- What the numbers mean for Harrison County borrowers
- Who lives in Harrison County, in numbers
- Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
- Four steps for Harrison County borrowers
- More guides for Harrison County
- Frequently asked questions
Harrison County by the numbers
Roughly 19,140 residents live in Harrison County, Kentucky, 63rd by population among the state's 120 counties and county equivalents. It covers 306 square miles of land, or about 62 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Harrison County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 2 Census places inside Harrison County, Cynthiana leads by population with about 6,458; 2 of the 2 are incorporated.
The Harrison County job picture
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Harrison County residents work in education and health care and 23% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 23% locally and 14% for Kentucky. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.2% in Harrison County. About 80% drive to work alone and 23% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Harrison County | Gap to Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.7% | -0.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 22.6% | +8.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.2% | +0.3 pts |
| Public administration | 7.0% | +2.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.4% | -0.6 pts |
| Construction | 5.9% | -0.4 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.
What Harrison County households earn
Half of Harrison County households take in less than $66,442 a year and half take in more, 4% above the Kentucky median of $63,726. That places it 20th among Kentucky's 120 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Harrison County | Gap to Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.0% | +0.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.3% | -1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.5% | +2.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.2% | -1.0 pts |
About 28% of households earn under $35,000, while 32% clear $100,000. 17.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.1%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Harrison County housing compared with Kentucky
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $765 in Harrison County versus $967 statewide. 42% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 29% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $202,100, about 3.0 times the median household income. Owners occupy 71% of homes.
| Harrison County | Kentucky | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $765/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $202,100 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 13.3% | 10.7% | n/a |
Harrison County towns compared
2 Census places fall mainly inside Harrison County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 6,711 residents, leaving about 65% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. This guide covers each of the 2 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cynthiana | city | 6,458 | $54,647 | $770 | 5 mi |
| Berry | city | 253 | $68,854 | $1,268 | 6 mi |
Harrison County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 15 to 20 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Harrison County; Scott County is highest at $85,158 and Robertson County lowest at $51,830.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison County | - | $66,442 | $765/mo | 71% |
| Robertson County, KY | 15 mi | $51,830 | $548/mo | 80% |
| Scott County, KY | 17 mi | $85,158 | $1,247/mo | 72% |
| Pendleton County, KY | 17 mi | $64,669 | $793/mo | 75% |
| Bourbon County, KY | 18 mi | $61,354 | $822/mo | 64% |
| Nicholas County, KY | 18 mi | $59,531 | $728/mo | 74% |
| Bracken County, KY | 20 mi | $66,319 | $756/mo | 79% |
Budget math at the Harrison County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Harrison County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,537 before taxes
- 14% goes to median rent ($765)
- $1,228: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
What the numbers mean for Harrison County borrowers
Based on the Harrison County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Long drives. With 23% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Harrison County budgets.
- Manufactured homes. 13% of Harrison County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Harrison County borrower sees (free reports).
Who lives in Harrison County, in numbers
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. About 3% go without health insurance.
| Harrison County | Kentucky | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.5% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.3% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.2% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.5% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.1% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.2% |
| 60+ min | 9.7% |
Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
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. See the Kentucky state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Harrison County borrowers
Steps that save money for Harrison County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Harrison County
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Harrison County?
$66,442 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $63,726 for Kentucky. It ranks 20th of 120 in the state.
What do renters pay in Harrison County?
$765 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
I own my home in Harrison County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 71% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Harrison County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Cynthiana, Berry.
Can Harrison 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.