1st Advantage MortgageIn Livingston County, Kentucky, the typical household earns $58,984 a year and the typical rent is $926. 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
- Who lives in Livingston County
- Jobs and commutes in Livingston County
- What Livingston County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Livingston County
- Places inside Livingston County
- The counties around Livingston County
- People and households in Livingston County
- Borrowing situations common in Livingston County
- A Livingston County household budget, worked through
- Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Livingston County
Livingston County is home to about 8,903 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 104th most populous of 120 county-level areas in Kentucky. Land area is 313 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 28 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Paducah, KY-IL metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 6 Census places inside Livingston County, Ledbetter leads by population with about 1,785; 4 of the 6 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Livingston County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Jobs and commutes in Livingston County
The biggest employer of Livingston County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by manufacturing (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 12% locally and 6% for Kentucky. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. Only 3.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Livingston County | Compared with Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.6% | +0.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.5% | -0.8 pts |
| Construction | 12.3% | +6.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.3% | +2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -1.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | 0.0 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 Livingston County households earn
Half of Livingston County households take in less than $58,984 a year and half take in more, 7% below the Kentucky median of $63,726. In the state ranking that is 57th of 120.
| Household income | Livingston County | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.0% | 0.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.0% | +2.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.4% | +2.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.7% | -4.6 pts |
Some 28% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 28% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 19.3%, 3 points higher than the state's 16.1%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.424 here. For a borrower in Livingston County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Rent, home values and ownership in Livingston County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $926 in Livingston County versus $967 statewide. 49% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 15% spend half or more. Home values center on $125,600, or 2.1 years of median income. The ownership rate is 81%. The median home was built in 1978, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Livingston County | Kentucky figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $926/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $125,600 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 24.5% | 10.7% | n/a |
Because most Livingston 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.
Places inside Livingston County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Livingston County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 3,366 people, so roughly 62% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Livingston County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ledbetter | CDP | 1,785 | $59,899 | $1,110 | 13 mi |
| Salem | city | 780 | $61,667 | $678 | 8 mi |
| Grand Rivers | city | 436 | $70,000 | $790 | 16 mi |
| Smithland | city | 203 | $36,563 | $1,107 | 5 mi |
| Burna | CDP | 123 | n/a | n/a | 2 mi |
| Carrsville | city | 39 | $50,833 | n/a | 13 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
The counties around Livingston County
Six nearby counties, 17 to 22 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $46,656 in Crittenden County to $65,116 in Massac County; 4 of these neighbors top Livingston County's median. Some neighbors are in Illinois. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Livingston County resident follows Kentucky rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Livingston County | - | $58,984 | $926/mo | 81% |
| Pope County, IL | 17 mi | $60,050 | $449/mo | 86% |
| Crittenden County, KY | 18 mi | $46,656 | $714/mo | 78% |
| Massac County, IL | 19 mi | $65,116 | $756/mo | 76% |
| Lyon County, KY | 20 mi | $65,066 | $747/mo | 80% |
| Hardin County, IL | 22 mi | $54,271 | $379/mo | 80% |
| McCracken County, KY | 22 mi | $64,373 | $898/mo | 69% |
People and households in Livingston County
College graduates make up 15% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 4.5%, against 6.0% for Kentucky.
| Measure | Livingston County | Kentucky statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.6 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.7% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.8% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.5% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.3% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Livingston County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 27.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.1% |
| 60+ min | 9.8% |
Borrowing situations common in Livingston County
Based on the Livingston County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Mobile home upkeep. 25% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Older households. A 45.6 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- 19% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- 49% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
A Livingston County household budget, worked through
Here is the Livingston County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $4,915 gross per month ($58,984 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $926 uses 19%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $844 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 43% cap, $2,114 total minus rent leaves $1,188
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Livingston County's.
Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Livingston County, check the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Kentucky state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Livingston County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Related local guides
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Livingston County a high-income county?
Its $58,984 median ranks 57th of 120 Kentucky counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Livingston County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $926 against $967 statewide, and 49% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Livingston County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Ledbetter, Salem, Grand Rivers, Smithland, Burna and 1 more.
Does living in Livingston County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Livingston County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Livingston County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Kentucky it is the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions.