1st Advantage MortgageThe median Hopkins County household earns $56,815, and 20% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- A quick profile of Hopkins County
- How much Hopkins County households make
- The Hopkins County job picture
- Hopkins County housing compared with Kentucky
- Hopkins County towns compared
- The counties around Hopkins County
- Budget math at the Hopkins County median
- More Hopkins County figures
- Before borrowing in Hopkins County
- Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
- Checklist for Hopkins County applicants
- More guides for Hopkins County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Hopkins County
Roughly 45,119 residents live in Hopkins County, Kentucky, 23rd by population among the state's 120 counties and county equivalents. It covers 542 square miles of land, or about 83 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Hopkins County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (8 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Madisonville, with about 19,515 residents, or 43% of the county.
How much Hopkins County households make
Hopkins County households have a median income of $56,815 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 61st of 120 in Kentucky.
| Households earning | Hopkins County | +/- vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.0% | +4.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.2% | +2.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.1% | -1.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.7% | -4.5 pts |
About 32% of households earn under $35,000, while 24% clear $100,000. 20.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.1%). None of these numbers decides a Hopkins County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Hopkins County job picture
The biggest employer of Hopkins County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by manufacturing (17%). Compared with Kentucky, the county leans toward education and health care (27% against 24%). Averaged over the five survey years, 6.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 12% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home. Households without a car make up 7.1% of the total (6.8% statewide).
| Where residents work | Hopkins County | Difference from Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.0% | +2.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.6% | +2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.8% | +0.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.7% | -0.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.3% | -2.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Hopkins County housing compared with Kentucky
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $837 in Hopkins County versus $967 statewide. 49% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. With a median value of $142,800, a typical Hopkins County house costs 2.5 times what the median household earns in a year. 71% of Hopkins County households own their home and 29% rent. The median home was built in 1976, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Hopkins County | Kentucky | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $837/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $142,800 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.6% | 10.7% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 10% | n/a |
Hopkins County towns compared
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in Hopkins County, by population. Together all 9 hold about 24,735 people, so roughly 45% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $35,625 in White Plains to $95,903 in Hanson. Median rent ranges from $675 in Mortons Gap to $950 in Hanson. None of the 9 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madisonville | city | 19,515 | $53,860 | $838 | 3 mi |
| Earlington | city | 1,084 | $38,194 | $680 | 3 mi |
| White Plains | city | 1,021 | $35,625 | $800 | 13 mi |
| Hanson | city | 958 | $95,903 | $950 | 8 mi |
| Nortonville | city | 904 | $55,844 | $857 | 10 mi |
| Mortons Gap | city | 650 | n/a | $675 | 6 mi |
| St. Charles | city | 293 | $44,688 | $738 | 8 mi |
| Nebo | city | 217 | $49,844 | $967 | 7 mi |
| Manitou | CDP | 93 | $110,313 | n/a | 5 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
The counties around Hopkins County
Six nearby counties, 16 to 31 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. McLean County leads the group on income ($65,596), Crittenden County trails ($46,656), and Hopkins County out-earns 3 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hopkins County | - | $56,815 | $837/mo | 71% |
| Webster County, KY | 16 mi | $59,628 | $783/mo | 74% |
| Caldwell County, KY | 21 mi | $59,583 | $767/mo | 70% |
| McLean County, KY | 21 mi | $65,596 | $641/mo | 83% |
| Muhlenberg County, KY | 23 mi | $51,927 | $718/mo | 79% |
| Christian County, KY | 29 mi | $55,494 | $1,040/mo | 50% |
| Crittenden County, KY | 31 mi | $46,656 | $714/mo | 78% |
Budget math at the Hopkins County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Hopkins County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,735 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $837, takes 18% of that
- $1,057: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Hopkins County's.
More Hopkins County figures
17% of Hopkins County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 4.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Hopkins County | Kentucky | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.9% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.7% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.1% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.0% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.2% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Hopkins County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 44.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.6% |
| 60+ min | 6.4% |
Before borrowing in Hopkins County
Where the Hopkins County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- 20% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Rent squeeze. 49% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
Consumer lenders serving Hopkins County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Kentucky that is the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Kentucky guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Hopkins County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Hopkins County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Hopkins County
For statewide rules and data, see the Kentucky guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Hopkins County?
$56,815 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $63,726 for Kentucky. It ranks 61st of 120 in the state.
Is Hopkins County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $837 against $967 statewide, and 49% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Hopkins County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Madisonville, Earlington, White Plains, Hanson, Nortonville.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Hopkins County or elsewhere in Kentucky, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Hopkins County?
Start with the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.