1st Advantage MortgageAbout 86% of Leslie County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $35,934. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Leslie County at a glance
- Income in Leslie County compared with Kentucky
- Housing costs in Leslie County
- Work, industries and travel time in Leslie County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Places inside Leslie County
- A Leslie County household budget, worked through
- Before borrowing in Leslie County
- Leslie County households compared
- Lender oversight for Leslie County
- Four steps for Leslie County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Leslie County at a glance
With an estimated 10,079 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Leslie County ranks 99th of 120 in Kentucky for population. It covers 401 square miles of land, or about 25 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Hyden, with about 325 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county.
Income in Leslie County compared with Kentucky
Half of Leslie County households take in less than $35,934 a year and half take in more, 44% below the Kentucky median of $63,726. Only 112 Kentucky counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Leslie County | +/- vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 48.4% | +20.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.2% | -5.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.2% | -9.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.2% | -5.1 pts |
Some 48% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 15% have six-figure incomes. 30.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.1%). None of these numbers decides a Leslie County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Housing costs in Leslie County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $585 in Leslie County versus $967 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 55% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $69,000, about 1.9 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 86%. Half the housing stock was built before 1984.
| Home costs | Leslie County | Kentucky | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $585/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $69,000 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 86% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 23% | n/a |
Because most Leslie 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. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Work, industries and travel time in Leslie County
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 15%. Compared with Kentucky, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (13% against 2%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.8% in Leslie County. About 80% drive to work alone and 35% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 7.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Leslie County | Difference from Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.3% | +3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.1% | +3.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 13.4% | +11.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.5% | -1.8 pts |
| Public administration | 9.3% | +5.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.9% | +1.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Perry County is closest, 14 miles from center to center; the sixth, Knox County, is 29 miles off. Income ranges from $22,188 in Owsley County to $42,181 in Perry County; 4 of these neighbors top Leslie County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leslie County | - | $35,934 | $585/mo | 86% |
| Perry County, KY | 14 mi | $42,181 | $798/mo | 70% |
| Harlan County, KY | 18 mi | $41,693 | $678/mo | 72% |
| Clay County, KY | 19 mi | $40,900 | $724/mo | 76% |
| Owsley County, KY | 29 mi | $22,188 | $448/mo | 70% |
| Letcher County, KY | 29 mi | $41,793 | $669/mo | 74% |
| Knox County, KY | 29 mi | $32,527 | $681/mo | 65% |
Places inside Leslie County
Just one Census place, Hyden, lies mainly within Leslie County; it holds about 325 people. Live in one of these Leslie County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyden | city | 325 | $56,458 | $428 | 5 mi |
A Leslie County household budget, worked through
Leslie County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $2,994 gross per month ($35,934 / 12)
- 20% goes to median rent ($585)
- With a 43% ceiling, about $703 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before borrowing in Leslie County
Based on the Leslie County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Long drives. With 35% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Leslie County budgets.
- Manufactured homes. 32% of Leslie 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 30% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Leslie County loan.
- Rent squeeze. 55% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Leslie County households compared
Degree holders: 11% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 2.3%, against 6.0% for Kentucky.
| Residents | Leslie County | Kentucky | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 11.5% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 20.1% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.3% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.8% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 30.3% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Leslie County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 17.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.0% |
| 60+ min | 25.4% |
Lender oversight for Leslie County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Leslie County resident can confirm its license with the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Kentucky: Kentucky personal loans.
Four steps for Leslie County borrowers
Steps that save money for Leslie County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Leslie County household make?
About $35,934 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 44% below the Kentucky median.
Is Leslie County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $585 against $967 statewide, and 55% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Leslie County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 86% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Leslie County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Hyden.
Are Leslie 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.