1st Advantage MortgageIn Lyon County, Kentucky, the typical household earns $65,066 a year and the typical rent is $747. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Kentucky license first.
On this page
- Lyon County at a glance
- What Lyon County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Lyon County
- Renting and owning in Lyon County
- The communities that make up Lyon County
- Regional comparison for Lyon County
- Lyon County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Lyon County
- A Lyon County household budget, worked through
- Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
- A Lyon County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Lyon County at a glance
Lyon County is home to about 8,900 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 105th most populous of 120 county-level areas in Kentucky. Spread over 214 square miles, that works out to roughly 41.6 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Lyon County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 2 Census places inside Lyon County, Eddyville leads by population with about 2,897; 2 of the 2 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Lyon County estimates can move a lot between releases.
What Lyon County households earn
At $65,066, the typical Lyon County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Income band | Share in Lyon County | Difference from Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.2% | -0.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.5% | +0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.4% | -0.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.9% | +0.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Lyon County households make $100,000 or more, and 27% make less than $35,000. Census counts 9.5% of Lyon County residents in poverty, against 16.1% across Kentucky. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.452 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $65,066 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Lyon County
The biggest employer of Lyon County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by manufacturing (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in public administration, at 12% locally and 4% for Kentucky. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 22% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. Households without a car make up 6.7% of the total (6.8% statewide).
| Top industries | Lyon County share | +/- vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.0% | -2.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.5% | -1.8 pts |
| Public administration | 11.9% | +7.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 10.8% | +3.8 pts |
| Construction | 9.4% | +3.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.4% | -0.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Lyon County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Renting and owning in Lyon County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $747 in Lyon County versus $967 statewide. By the Census definition, 36% of Lyon County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $189,500, about 2.9 times the median household income. 80% of Lyon County households own their home and 20% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1989.
| Measure | Lyon County | Kentucky | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $747/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $189,500 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 29% | 10% | 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).
The communities that make up Lyon County
Here are the 2 most populous of the county's 2 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 39% of Lyon County residents live in one of the 2. None of the 2 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eddyville | city | 2,897 | $55,625 | $730 | 4 mi |
| Kuttawa | city | 588 | $78,214 | n/a | 3 mi |
Regional comparison for Lyon County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (15 to 30 miles). 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Lyon County; Marshall County is highest at $65,831 and Crittenden County lowest at $46,656.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyon County | - | $65,066 | $747/mo | 80% |
| Caldwell County, KY | 15 mi | $59,583 | $767/mo | 70% |
| Marshall County, KY | 17 mi | $65,831 | $798/mo | 82% |
| Trigg County, KY | 19 mi | $59,857 | $803/mo | 77% |
| Livingston County, KY | 20 mi | $58,984 | $926/mo | 81% |
| Crittenden County, KY | 23 mi | $46,656 | $714/mo | 78% |
| Calloway County, KY | 30 mi | $52,706 | $870/mo | 64% |
Lyon County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 17% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 6.1%, against 6.0% for Kentucky.
| Lyon County | Kentucky | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.1 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.5% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.1% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.1% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.7% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.5% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.9% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Lyon County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.6% |
| 60+ min | 12.5% |
Borrowing situations common in Lyon County
What the Lyon County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Long drives. With 22% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Lyon County budgets.
- Manufactured homes. 16% of Lyon County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Older households. A 47.1 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
A Lyon County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Lyon County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $5,422 gross per month ($65,066 / 12)
- Less median rent of $747, which is 14% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,205 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Lyon County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
Lyon County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Kentucky: Kentucky personal loans.
A Lyon County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Lyon County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Lyon County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Kentucky.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kentucky guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Lyon County earn?
The median is $65,066; 30% earn $100,000 or more and 27% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Lyon County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $747 against $967 statewide, and 36% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Lyon County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Eddyville, Kuttawa.
Are Lyon 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.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Lyon County?
Start with the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.