1st Advantage MortgageLincoln County households have a median income of $52,440 and median rent of $698 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Lincoln County, KY: the basics
- How Lincoln County residents earn a living
- How much Lincoln County households make
- Lincoln County housing compared with Kentucky
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Lincoln County towns compared
- Lincoln County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Lincoln County
- What a median Lincoln County budget can carry
- Checklist for Lincoln County applicants
- Kentucky rules that apply in Lincoln County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Lincoln County, KY: the basics
Roughly 24,504 residents live in Lincoln County, Kentucky, 47th by population among the state's 120 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 333 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 74 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Lincoln County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 5 Census places inside Lincoln County, Stanford leads by population with about 3,643; 4 of the 5 are incorporated.
How Lincoln County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Lincoln County residents work in education and health care and 16% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 26% locally and 24% for Kentucky. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.5% in Lincoln County. Long commutes are common here: 24% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 5.3% of the total (6.8% statewide).
| Top industries | Lincoln County share | +/- vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.5% | +2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.7% | +1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.8% | -2.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.8% | +1.8 pts |
| Construction | 7.7% | +1.4 pts |
| Public administration | 6.1% | +1.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How much Lincoln County households make
The median household income in Lincoln County is $52,440; statewide it is $63,726, so Lincoln County runs 18% below Kentucky as a whole. In the state ranking that is 72nd of 120.
| Yearly household income | Lincoln County | Gap to Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.5% | +5.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.6% | +2.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.4% | -4.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.5% | -3.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 22% of Lincoln County households make $100,000 or more, and 33% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 16.3%, the same as the state's 16.1%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.461 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Lincoln County housing compared with Kentucky
Renters in Lincoln County pay a median of $698 a month, 28% below the Kentucky figure of $967. 42% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 17% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $147,300, about 2.8 times the median household income. Owners occupy 76% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1986.
| Housing | Lincoln County | Kentucky statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $698/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $147,300 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 22.4% | 10.7% | n/a |
Because most Lincoln 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.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Garrard County at 13 miles out to Mercer County at 27. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Lincoln County; Mercer County is highest at $64,824 and Casey County lowest at $45,510.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | - | $52,440 | $698/mo | 76% |
| Garrard County, KY | 13 mi | $63,087 | $794/mo | 80% |
| Boyle County, KY | 16 mi | $61,159 | $778/mo | 68% |
| Casey County, KY | 18 mi | $45,510 | $670/mo | 80% |
| Rockcastle County, KY | 20 mi | $48,862 | $676/mo | 74% |
| Pulaski County, KY | 25 mi | $51,898 | $803/mo | 72% |
| Mercer County, KY | 27 mi | $64,824 | $831/mo | 76% |
Lincoln County towns compared
5 Census places fall mainly inside Lincoln County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 5,434 residents, leaving about 78% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $34,632 in Crab Orchard to $49,337 in Stanford. No Lincoln County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford | city | 3,643 | $49,337 | $669 | 5 mi |
| Crab Orchard | city | 739 | $34,632 | $608 | 8 mi |
| Hustonville | city | 612 | $40,288 | $427 | 9 mi |
| Eubank | city | 412 | $45,250 | $708 | 12 mi |
| McKinney | CDP | 28 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Lincoln County residents: age, schooling, coverage
16% of Lincoln County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Lincoln County | Kentucky | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.9% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.2% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.8% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.3% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.3% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.5% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Lincoln County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.8% |
| 60+ min | 11.9% |
Local borrowing considerations for Lincoln County
Where the Lincoln County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Keeping the car running. At 24% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Lincoln County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Manufactured homes. 22% of Lincoln County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
What a median Lincoln County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Lincoln County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,370 before taxes
- Median rent: $698, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 40% cap, $1,748 total minus rent leaves $1,050
Two-income households and single earners in Lincoln County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Checklist for Lincoln County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Lincoln County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Lincoln County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Lincoln County-area credit union.
- A Kentucky license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Kentucky rules that apply in Lincoln County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Lincoln County borrowers answers to the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Kentucky: Kentucky personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Lincoln County earn?
The median is $52,440; 22% earn $100,000 or more and 33% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Lincoln County rent compare with Kentucky?
$698 locally versus $967 for the state, 28% below.
I own my home in Lincoln County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 76% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Stanford?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Lincoln County, such as Crab Orchard, Hustonville, Eubank.
Are Lincoln 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.