1st Advantage MortgageKenton County households have a median income of $80,548 and median rent of $1,069 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
- Kenton County at a glance
- Household income in Kenton County
- How Kenton County residents earn a living
- Kenton County housing compared with Kentucky
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Kenton County
- The counties around Kenton County
- Who lives in Kenton County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Kenton County
- Budget math at the Kenton County median
- Lender oversight for Kenton County
- Steps before you apply in Kenton County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Kenton County at a glance
Kenton County is home to about 171,288 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 3rd most populous of 120 county-level areas in Kentucky. It covers 160 square miles of land, or about 1,068 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metropolitan area. Covington is the biggest of its 19 Census places, at roughly 41,110 people (24% of the county total).
Household income in Kenton County
Kenton County households have a median income of $80,548 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 8th of 120 in Kentucky.
| Households earning | Kenton County | +/- vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.7% | -8.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.9% | -2.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.8% | +5.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.7% | +4.4 pts |
Some 20% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 40% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 11.8% of Kenton County residents in poverty, against 16.1% across Kentucky. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.458 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Kenton County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Kenton County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Kenton County residents work in education and health care and 12% in manufacturing. Compared with Kentucky, the county leans toward professional and administrative services (12% against 9%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 8% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 6.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Kenton County | Gap to Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.2% | -2.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.5% | -1.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.5% | +2.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | +0.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.8% | +2.2 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Kenton County housing compared with Kentucky
Renters in Kenton County pay a median of $1,069 a month, 11% above the Kentucky figure of $967. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $244,400, about 3.0 times the median household income. 71% of Kenton County households own their home and 29% rent. The median home was built in 1974, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Kenton County | Kentucky | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,069/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $244,400 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.9% | 10.7% | n/a |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Kenton County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 19 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 95% of Kenton County residents live in one of the 19. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $60,503 in Elsmere to $128,650 in Lakeside Park. Median rent ranges from $926 in Crescent Springs to $1,481 in Crestview Hills. This guide covers each of the 19 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Covington | city | 41,110 | $61,166 | $1,006 | 7 mi |
| Independence | city | 29,392 | $102,361 | $1,250 | 2 mi |
| Erlanger | city | 19,875 | $75,840 | $970 | 8 mi |
| Elsmere | city | 9,205 | $60,503 | $1,351 | 6 mi |
| Fort Mitchell | city | 8,713 | $86,310 | $1,039 | 8 mi |
| Edgewood | city | 8,447 | $119,028 | $1,073 | 6 mi |
| Villa Hills | city | 7,480 | $107,859 | $1,412 | 10 mi |
| Taylor Mill | city | 6,937 | $88,546 | $1,139 | 6 mi |
| Fort Wright | city | 5,887 | $105,024 | $1,142 | 8 mi |
| Walton | city | 5,730 | $77,917 | $1,306 | 6 mi |
| Crescent Springs | city | 4,486 | $83,066 | $926 | 9 mi |
| Ludlow | city | 4,378 | $65,284 | $1,233 | 11 mi |
| Crestview Hills | city | 3,284 | $95,441 | $1,481 | 7 mi |
| Park Hills | city | 3,165 | $99,861 | $1,042 | 9 mi |
The counties around Kenton County
Six nearby counties, 8 to 22 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Boone County leads the group on income ($99,414), Gallatin County trails ($63,346), and Kenton County out-earns 5 of the six. Some neighbors are in Ohio. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Kenton County resident follows Kentucky rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenton County | - | $80,548 | $1,069/mo | 71% |
| Campbell County, KY | 8 mi | $77,567 | $1,145/mo | 71% |
| Boone County, KY | 11 mi | $99,414 | $1,373/mo | 76% |
| Hamilton County, OH | 18 mi | $72,470 | $1,075/mo | 59% |
| Pendleton County, KY | 19 mi | $64,669 | $793/mo | 75% |
| Grant County, KY | 20 mi | $69,178 | $862/mo | 75% |
| Gallatin County, KY | 22 mi | $63,346 | $832/mo | 75% |
Who lives in Kenton County, in numbers
37% of Kenton County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 4.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Kenton County | Kentucky | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 37.4% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.1% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.7% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.1% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 49.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.5% |
| 60+ min | 3.9% |
Local borrowing considerations for Kenton County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Kenton County borrowers.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 40% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Budget math at the Kenton County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Kenton County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $6,712 gross per month ($80,548 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $1,069 uses 16%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,347 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Lender oversight for Kenton County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Kenton County borrowers answers to the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Kentucky guide.
Steps before you apply in Kenton County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Kenton County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Kentucky borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kentucky guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Kenton County earn?
The median is $80,548; 40% earn $100,000 or more and 20% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Kenton County rent compare with Kentucky?
$1,069 locally versus $967 for the state, 11% above.
I own my home in Kenton 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 Kenton County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Covington, Independence, Erlanger, Elsmere, Fort Mitchell and 14 more.
Can Kenton 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.