1st Advantage MortgageThe median Lewis County household earns $46,838, and 22% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Lewis County, KY: the basics
- How much Lewis County households make
- Housing costs in Lewis County
- Employment and commuting in Lewis County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Lewis County
- Regional comparison for Lewis County
- Debt-to-income at Lewis County's medians
- People and households in Lewis County
- Before borrowing in Lewis County
- Kentucky rules that apply in Lewis County
- Checklist for Lewis County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Lewis County, KY: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Lewis County's population at 12,965; only 83 of Kentucky's 120 county-level areas are larger. It covers 483 square miles of land, or about 27 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Lewis County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 3 Census places inside Lewis County, Vanceburg leads by population with about 1,482; 2 of the 3 are incorporated.
How much Lewis County households make
The median household income in Lewis County is $46,838; statewide it is $63,726, so Lewis County runs 27% below Kentucky as a whole. In the state ranking that is 87th of 120.
| Yearly household income | Lewis County | Gap to Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.4% | +9.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.3% | +1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.5% | -7.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.8% | -3.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 19% of Lewis County households make $100,000 or more, and 37% make less than $35,000. Census counts 22.0% of Lewis County residents in poverty, against 16.1% across Kentucky. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.470 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $46,838 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Lewis County
Renters in Lewis County pay a median of $751 a month, 22% below the Kentucky figure of $967. By the Census definition, 28% of Lewis County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $96,000, a typical Lewis County house costs 2.0 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 79% of homes. Median construction year: 1985.
| Housing | Lewis County | Kentucky statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $751/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $96,000 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 28% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 23% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Employment and commuting in Lewis County
The biggest employer of Lewis County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by construction (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 13% locally and 6% for Kentucky. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.0% in Lewis County. 33% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 12% work from home. Only 3.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Lewis County | Gap to Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.1% | +1.8 pts |
| Construction | 13.4% | +7.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.2% | -3.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.4% | -0.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.7% | +2.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Lewis County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Lewis County
3 Census places fall mainly inside Lewis County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 2,039 residents, leaving about 84% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Lewis County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanceburg | city | 1,482 | $30,054 | $391 | 5 mi |
| Garrison | CDP | 552 | $29,500 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Concord | city | 5 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Regional comparison for Lewis County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (21 to 25 miles). All of the six report a higher median household income than Lewis County; Greenup County is highest at $60,751 and Fleming County lowest at $49,307. Some neighbors are in Ohio. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Lewis County resident follows Kentucky rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis County | - | $46,838 | $751/mo | 79% |
| Fleming County, KY | 21 mi | $49,307 | $715/mo | 75% |
| Adams County, OH | 21 mi | $50,264 | $732/mo | 72% |
| Rowan County, KY | 23 mi | $54,321 | $825/mo | 62% |
| Carter County, KY | 24 mi | $51,235 | $740/mo | 80% |
| Greenup County, KY | 24 mi | $60,751 | $860/mo | 80% |
| Mason County, KY | 25 mi | $52,178 | $727/mo | 66% |
Debt-to-income at Lewis County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Lewis County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $3,903 a month: gross income for a household at the Lewis County median
- Housing at the median rent of $751 uses 19%
- With a 36% ceiling, about $654 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
People and households in Lewis County
15% of Lewis County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 5.6%, against 6.0% for Kentucky.
| Indicator | Lewis County | All of Kentucky | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.3% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 19.6% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.6% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.0% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.0% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Lewis County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.8% |
| 60+ min | 22.5% |
Before borrowing in Lewis County
Based on the Lewis County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Commuter costs. 33% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Manufactured homes. 24% of Lewis County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Free help first. 22% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
Kentucky rules that apply in Lewis County
The Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Kentucky license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Kentucky: Kentucky personal loans.
Checklist for Lewis County applicants
A short checklist for Lewis County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- 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
Is Lewis County a high-income county?
Its $46,838 median ranks 87th of 120 Kentucky counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Lewis County?
$751 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
Should Lewis County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 79% of Lewis County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Vanceburg?
Yes, along with the other 2 Census places in Lewis County, such as Garrison, Concord.
Can Lewis 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.