1st Advantage MortgageIn Lawrence County, Kentucky, the typical household earns $46,772 a year and the typical rent is $760. 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 Lawrence County
- What Lawrence County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Lawrence County
- Lawrence County housing compared with Kentucky
- Lawrence County towns compared
- Lawrence County and the counties next door
- More Lawrence County figures
- What the numbers mean for Lawrence County borrowers
- A Lawrence County household budget, worked through
- Four steps for Lawrence County borrowers
- Kentucky rules that apply in Lawrence County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Lawrence County
With an estimated 16,077 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lawrence County ranks 70th of 120 in Kentucky for population. Land area is 416 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 39 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 2 Census places inside Lawrence County, Louisa leads by population with about 2,580; 2 of the 2 are incorporated.
What Lawrence County households earn
The median household income in Lawrence County is $46,772; statewide it is $63,726, so Lawrence County runs 27% below Kentucky as a whole. That places it 89th among Kentucky's 120 county-level areas.
| Band | Lawrence County | Compared with Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 38.9% | +11.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.9% | -2.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.5% | -4.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.7% | -4.5 pts |
Some 39% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 21% have six-figure incomes. 21.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.1%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.475 here. A household earning below the $46,772 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Work, industries and travel time in Lawrence County
By the Census industry count, 28% of employed Lawrence County residents work in education and health care and 15% in retail trade. Retail trade stands out: 15% of workers here, versus 12% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 7.7% in Lawrence County. 27% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. 5.6% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Lawrence County | Compared with Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.6% | +3.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.2% | +3.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.6% | -4.7 pts |
| Public administration | 7.7% | +3.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.4% | -2.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.3% | -0.7 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.
Lawrence County housing compared with Kentucky
A typical Lawrence County rental runs $760 a month including utilities, which is 21% below Kentucky. 46% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 15% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $111,700, about 2.4 times the median household income. Owners occupy 78% of homes. The median year built is 1989.
| Lawrence County | Kentucky | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $760/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $111,700 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 23% | n/a |
Because most Lawrence County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Lawrence County towns compared
2 Census places fall mainly inside Lawrence County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 2,660 residents, leaving about 83% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Live in one of these Lawrence County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisa | city | 2,580 | $40,000 | $488 | 7 mi |
| Blaine | city | 80 | $42,188 | $733 | 7 mi |
Lawrence County and the counties next door
Johnson County is closest, 16 miles from center to center; the sixth, Carter County, is 23 miles off. Income ranges from $37,042 in Martin County to $61,118 in Boyd County; 3 of these neighbors top Lawrence County's median. Some neighbors are in West Virginia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Lawrence County resident follows Kentucky rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence County | - | $46,772 | $760/mo | 78% |
| Johnson County, KY | 16 mi | $44,904 | $708/mo | 68% |
| Wayne County, WV | 18 mi | $58,878 | $915/mo | 79% |
| Elliott County, KY | 20 mi | $45,776 | $432/mo | 82% |
| Boyd County, KY | 20 mi | $61,118 | $849/mo | 70% |
| Martin County, KY | 23 mi | $37,042 | $450/mo | 85% |
| Carter County, KY | 23 mi | $51,235 | $740/mo | 80% |
More Lawrence County figures
Degree holders: 15% of adults over 25. About 5% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Lawrence County | Kentucky | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.6% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 18.3% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.1% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.6% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.8% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.7% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Lawrence County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.5% |
| 60+ min | 13.7% |
What the numbers mean for Lawrence County borrowers
Based on the Lawrence County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Commuter costs. 27% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 36% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Assistance before credit. With a 22% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Lawrence County loan.
- Tight rental budgets. With 46% of Lawrence County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
A Lawrence County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Lawrence County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $46,772 a year is $3,898 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $760, which is 19% of it
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $799 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Four steps for Lawrence County borrowers
Steps that save money for Lawrence County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Lawrence County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Kentucky license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Kentucky rules that apply in Lawrence County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Lawrence County resident can confirm its license with 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.
Related local guides
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Lawrence County?
$46,772 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $63,726 for Kentucky. It ranks 89th of 120 in the state.
How much is rent in Lawrence County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $760 a month; 46% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Lawrence County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Louisa, Blaine.
Are Lawrence County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Lawrence County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Kentucky it is the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions.