1st Advantage MortgageLetcher County households have a median income of $41,793 and median rent of $669 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Kentucky before sharing details.
On this page
- Letcher County, KY: the basics
- What Letcher County households earn
- How Letcher County residents earn a living
- Renting and owning in Letcher County
- Letcher County towns compared
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Letcher County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Reading the Letcher County data as a borrower
- Budget math at the Letcher County median
- Steps before you apply in Letcher County
- Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Letcher County, KY: the basics
Letcher County is home to about 20,808 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 55th most populous of 120 county-level areas in Kentucky. Land area is 338 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 62 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Letcher County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (3 incorporated, 5 census-designated); the largest is Whitesburg, with about 1,761 residents, or 8% of the county.
What Letcher County households earn
Half of Letcher County households take in less than $41,793 a year and half take in more, 34% below the Kentucky median of $63,726.
| Households earning | Letcher County | +/- vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 45.5% | +17.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.3% | -1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.6% | -9.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 0.6% | -6.6 pts |
Some 45% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 14% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 24.4%, 8 points higher than the state's 16.1%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Letcher County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Letcher County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 36% of workers, followed by retail trade (10%). Compared with Kentucky, the county leans toward education and health care (36% against 24%). The survey's unemployment rate for Letcher County averages 6.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). About 72% drive to work alone and 23% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 6.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Letcher County workers | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 36.2% | +11.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -1.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.9% | +2.9 pts |
| Public administration | 9.3% | +5.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.4% | -2.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.6% | -2.3 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.
Renting and owning in Letcher County
Renters in Letcher County pay a median of $669 a month, 31% below the Kentucky figure of $967. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 48% of renter households here. With a median value of $67,400, a typical Letcher County house costs 1.6 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 74%. Median construction year: 1979.
| Cost | Letcher County | Kentucky figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $669/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $67,400 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 10% | n/a |
Because most Letcher 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.
Letcher County towns compared
8 Census places fall mainly inside Letcher County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 5,691 residents, leaving about 73% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Fleming-Neon has the highest median household income on the list ($34,107) and Jenkins the lowest ($27,200), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Letcher County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitesburg | city | 1,761 | $29,189 | $640 | 2 mi |
| Jenkins | city | 1,406 | $27,200 | $455 | 12 mi |
| Fleming-Neon | city | 567 | $34,107 | $820 | 10 mi |
| McRoberts | CDP | 556 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Mayking | CDP | 503 | n/a | $856 | 5 mi |
| Payne Gap | CDP | 440 | $36,250 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Millstone | CDP | 317 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Blackey | CDP | 141 | $11,629 | n/a | 7 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 17 to 28 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $41,495 in Norton city to $52,943 in Wise County; 3 of these neighbors top Letcher County's median. Some neighbors are in Virginia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Letcher County resident follows Kentucky rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letcher County | - | $41,793 | $669/mo | 74% |
| Wise County, VA | 17 mi | $52,943 | $790/mo | 74% |
| Knott County, KY | 17 mi | $41,761 | $756/mo | 73% |
| Norton city, VA | 18 mi | $41,495 | $692/mo | 50% |
| Perry County, KY | 21 mi | $42,181 | $798/mo | 70% |
| Harlan County, KY | 27 mi | $41,693 | $678/mo | 72% |
| Dickenson County, VA | 28 mi | $47,254 | $738/mo | 76% |
Letcher County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 12% of the adult population. 3.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Letcher County | Kentucky statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.5% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.6% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.4% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 24.4% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.2% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Letcher County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.1% |
| 60+ min | 10.7% |
Reading the Letcher County data as a borrower
Based on the Letcher County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Keeping the car running. At 23% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Letcher County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Manufactured homes. 32% of Letcher County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 24% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Renters under pressure. When 48% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Budget math at the Letcher County median
Here is the Letcher County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $3,483 gross per month ($41,793 / 12)
- Less median rent of $669, which is 19% of it
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $550 left for all other debt payments
- $898: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Letcher County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Steps before you apply in Letcher County
Quick steps for Letcher County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Letcher County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Kentucky.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
Letcher County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Kentucky: Kentucky personal loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kentucky guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Letcher County household make?
About $41,793 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 34% below the Kentucky median.
Is Letcher County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $669 against $967 statewide, and 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Letcher County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 8 Census places: Whitesburg, Jenkins, Fleming-Neon, McRoberts, Mayking.
Are Letcher 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 Letcher County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Kentucky it is the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions.