1st Advantage MortgageIn Lee County, Kentucky, the typical household earns $37,568 a year and the typical rent is $603. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Kentucky license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Lee County
- Jobs and commutes in Lee County
- What Lee County households earn
- Housing costs in Lee County
- Lee County next to its neighbors
- Lee County towns compared
- A Lee County household budget, worked through
- What the numbers mean for Lee County borrowers
- More Lee County figures
- Four steps for Lee County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Lee County
With an estimated 7,339 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lee County ranks 111th of 120 in Kentucky for population. Spread over 209 square miles, that works out to roughly 35.1 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 1 Census place inside Lee County, Beattyville leads by population with about 2,095. Because Lee County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Jobs and commutes in Lee County
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Lee County residents work in education and health care and 15% in retail trade. Public administration stands out: 8% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Lee County averages 4.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). About 72% drive to work alone and 31% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Lee County workers | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.8% | +0.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.7% | +3.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.8% | -3.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.4% | +2.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.3% | +3.0 pts |
| Public administration | 8.1% | +3.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What Lee County households earn
Lee County households have a median income of $37,568 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 111th of 120 in Kentucky.
| Band | Lee County | Compared with Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 47.7% | +19.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.4% | -2.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 12.3% | -10.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 0.7% | -6.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 13% of Lee County households make $100,000 or more, and 48% make less than $35,000. Census counts 27.4% of Lee County residents in poverty, against 16.1% across Kentucky. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.459 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $37,568 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Lee County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $603 in Lee County versus $967 statewide. 65% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 33% spend half or more. With a median value of $83,900, a typical Lee County house costs 2.2 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 78% of homes. The median year built is 1988.
| Housing | Lee County | Kentucky statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $603/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $83,900 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 65% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 23.3% | 10.7% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 10% | n/a |
Because most Lee 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. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Lee County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Lee County's, from 13 to 23 miles away. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Lee County; Estill County is highest at $46,051 and Owsley County lowest at $22,188.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County | - | $37,568 | $603/mo | 78% |
| Owsley County, KY | 13 mi | $22,188 | $448/mo | 70% |
| Estill County, KY | 15 mi | $46,051 | $711/mo | 70% |
| Powell County, KY | 15 mi | $40,309 | $747/mo | 68% |
| Wolfe County, KY | 15 mi | $30,417 | $501/mo | 74% |
| Jackson County, KY | 22 mi | $40,000 | $665/mo | 77% |
| Breathitt County, KY | 23 mi | $34,808 | $548/mo | 77% |
Lee County towns compared
Beattyville is the only Census place mainly inside Lee County, with about 2,095 of the county's 7,339 residents. This guide covers each of the 1 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beattyville | city | 2,095 | $22,880 | $433 | 2 mi |
A Lee County household budget, worked through
Here is the Lee County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $37,568 a year is $3,131 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $603, or 19 cents of every gross dollar
- At 43%, room after rent is $743 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
What the numbers mean for Lee County borrowers
A few patterns in the Lee County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Long drives. With 31% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Lee County budgets.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 23% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 27% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- 65% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
More Lee County figures
Degree holders: 9% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 5.7%, against 6.0% for Kentucky.
| Measure | Lee County | Kentucky statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 9.2% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 24.9% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 13.1% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 27.4% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Lee County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.7% |
| 60+ min | 26.7% |
Four steps for Lee County borrowers
Steps that save money for Lee County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Lee County credit union about member loans.
Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Lee County, check the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Kentucky guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kentucky guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Lee County household make?
About $37,568 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 41% below the Kentucky median.
How does Lee County rent compare with Kentucky?
$603 locally versus $967 for the state, 38% below.
Which towns does the Lee County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 1 Census places: Beattyville.
Can Lee 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 do I complain to about a lender in Lee County?
Start with the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.