1st Advantage MortgageIn Johnson County, Kentucky, the typical household earns $44,904 a year and the typical rent is $708. 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 Johnson County
- Income in Johnson County compared with Kentucky
- Jobs and commutes in Johnson County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Johnson County
- Places inside Johnson County
- How Johnson County compares with nearby counties
- Debt-to-income at Johnson County's medians
- More Johnson County figures
- Local borrowing considerations for Johnson County
- A Johnson County borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
- More guides for Johnson County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Johnson County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Johnson County's population at 22,334; only 51 of Kentucky's 120 county-level areas are larger. It covers 262 square miles of land, or about 85 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Johnson County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 3 places in the county (1 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Paintsville, with about 4,203 residents, or 19% of the county.
Income in Johnson County compared with Kentucky
Johnson County households have a median income of $44,904 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 96th of 120 in Kentucky.
| Household income | Johnson County | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 42.0% | +14.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.3% | -1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.4% | -7.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.4% | -4.8 pts |
About 42% of households earn under $35,000, while 18% clear $100,000. 22.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.1%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.478 here. For a borrower in Johnson 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 Johnson County
Education and health care employs 31% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 19%. Retail trade stands out: 19% of workers here, versus 12% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Johnson County averages 4.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). About 83% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Johnson County share | +/- vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 31.3% | +7.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 18.7% | +7.2 pts |
| Public administration | 8.0% | +3.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.1% | -2.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.6% | -0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.1% | -1.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Rent, home values and ownership in Johnson County
A typical Johnson County rental runs $708 a month including utilities, which is 27% below Kentucky. By the Census definition, 42% of Johnson County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $120,200, a typical Johnson County house costs 2.7 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 68%. Half the housing stock was built before 1983.
| Johnson County | Kentucky | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $708/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $120,200 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 27.4% | 10.7% | n/a |
Places inside Johnson County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Johnson County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 5,801 people, so roughly 74% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 3 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paintsville | city | 4,203 | $28,257 | $637 | 2 mi |
| West Van Lear | CDP | 1,155 | $66,815 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Van Lear | CDP | 443 | $35,347 | n/a | 7 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
How Johnson County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 16 to 24 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Morgan County leads the group on income ($47,913), Magoffin County trails ($33,080), and Johnson County out-earns 3 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County | - | $44,904 | $708/mo | 68% |
| Lawrence County, KY | 16 mi | $46,772 | $760/mo | 78% |
| Magoffin County, KY | 17 mi | $33,080 | $730/mo | 75% |
| Martin County, KY | 18 mi | $37,042 | $450/mo | 85% |
| Floyd County, KY | 21 mi | $41,279 | $672/mo | 72% |
| Elliott County, KY | 24 mi | $45,776 | $432/mo | 82% |
| Morgan County, KY | 24 mi | $47,913 | $663/mo | 79% |
Debt-to-income at Johnson County's medians
How much room does a median Johnson County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $3,742 a month: gross income for a household at the Johnson County median
- Housing at the median rent of $708 uses 19%
- Under a 40% cap, $1,497 total minus rent leaves $789
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
More Johnson County figures
Degree holders: 17% of adults over 25. 6.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Johnson County | Kentucky | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.8% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.3% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.4% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.8% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 44.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.9% |
| 60+ min | 8.4% |
Local borrowing considerations for Johnson County
A few patterns in the Johnson County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Manufactured homes. 27% of Johnson County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Assistance before credit. With a 23% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Johnson County loan.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Johnson County borrower sees (free reports).
A Johnson County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Johnson County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Johnson County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Johnson County-area credit union.
- A Kentucky license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
Before sharing details with a lender, a Johnson County resident can confirm its license with the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Kentucky: Kentucky personal loans.
More guides for Johnson County
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Johnson County?
$44,904 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $63,726 for Kentucky. It ranks 96th of 120 in the state.
How much is rent in Johnson County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $708 a month; 42% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Johnson County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Paintsville, West Van Lear, Van Lear.
Can Johnson 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Johnson 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.