1st Advantage MortgageIn Madison County, Kentucky, the typical household earns $63,351 a year and the typical rent is $889. 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
- Madison County by the numbers
- How much Madison County households make
- Rent, home values and ownership in Madison County
- Jobs and commutes in Madison County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Madison County
- The counties around Madison County
- A Madison County household budget, worked through
- Reading the Madison County data as a borrower
- Madison County households compared
- Who licenses lenders for Madison County residents
- A Madison County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Madison County by the numbers
Roughly 95,769 residents live in Madison County, Kentucky, 8th by population among the state's 120 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 438 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 219 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Madison 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 Madison County, Richmond leads by population with about 37,111; 2 of the 2 are incorporated.
How much Madison County households make
At $63,351, the typical Madison County household income is 4% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 33 Kentucky counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Madison County | +/- vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.3% | -2.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.4% | +2.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.1% | +1.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.2% | -1.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Madison County households make $100,000 or more, and 25% make less than $35,000. Census counts 15.1% of Madison County residents in poverty, against 16.1% across Kentucky. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Madison County median.
Rent, home values and ownership in Madison County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $889 in Madison County versus $967 statewide. By the Census definition, 45% of Madison County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $232,000, or 3.7 years of median income. Owners occupy 62% of homes.
| Housing | Madison County | Kentucky statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $889/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $232,000 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 62% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.3% | 10.7% | n/a |
Jobs and commutes in Madison County
By the Census industry count, 27% of employed Madison County residents work in education and health care and 13% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 27% locally and 24% for Kentucky. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 76% drive to work alone and 18% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 4.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Madison County | Difference from Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.2% | +2.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.8% | -1.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | -0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.8% | +1.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.1% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 5.9% | -0.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Madison 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 55% of Madison County residents live in one of the 2. No Madison County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | city | 37,111 | $50,870 | $917 | 1 mi |
| Berea | city | 15,786 | $59,495 | $835 | 9 mi |
The counties around Madison County
Distances run center to center, from Garrard County at 16 miles out to Powell County at 25. Jessamine County leads the group on income ($74,576), Powell County trails ($40,309), and Madison County out-earns 3 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County | - | $63,351 | $889/mo | 62% |
| Garrard County, KY | 16 mi | $63,087 | $794/mo | 80% |
| Estill County, KY | 17 mi | $46,051 | $711/mo | 70% |
| Clark County, KY | 18 mi | $64,348 | $938/mo | 71% |
| Jessamine County, KY | 20 mi | $74,576 | $1,124/mo | 67% |
| Fayette County, KY | 24 mi | $69,479 | $1,164/mo | 54% |
| Powell County, KY | 25 mi | $40,309 | $747/mo | 68% |
A Madison County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Madison County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,279 before taxes
- Median rent: $889, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- At 35%, room after rent is $959 a month
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,487 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Reading the Madison County data as a borrower
Where the Madison County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Madison County households compared
Degree holders: 34% of adults over 25. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Madison County | Kentucky | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.4% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.8% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.6% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.9% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.1% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Madison County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.6% |
| 60+ min | 6.2% |
Who licenses lenders for Madison County residents
Madison County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Kentucky: Kentucky personal loans.
A Madison County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Madison County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Kentucky.
- 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 Madison County a high-income county?
Its $63,351 median ranks 34th of 120 Kentucky counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Madison County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $889 a month; 45% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Madison County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 2 Census places: Richmond, Berea.
Are Madison 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.
Where can someone in Madison County check a lender's license?
With the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.