1st Advantage MortgageIn Mason County, Kentucky, the typical household earns $52,178 a year and the typical rent is $727. 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
- Getting oriented in Mason County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Mason County
- Household income in Mason County
- Work, industries and travel time in Mason County
- How Mason County compares with nearby counties
- Towns and communities in Mason County
- Who lives in Mason County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Mason County
- Room for a loan payment in Mason County
- Four steps for Mason County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Mason County
- More guides for Mason County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Mason County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Mason County's population at 16,956; only 66 of Kentucky's 120 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 240 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 71 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Mason County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 3 Census places inside Mason County, Maysville leads by population with about 8,737; 2 of the 3 are incorporated.
Rent, home values and ownership in Mason County
Renters in Mason County pay a median of $727 a month, 25% below the Kentucky figure of $967. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 42% of renter households here. With a median value of $161,500, a typical Mason County house costs 3.1 times what the median household earns in a year. 66% of Mason County households own their home and 34% rent. The median home was built in 1977, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Mason County | Kentucky figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $727/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $161,500 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 10% | n/a |
Household income in Mason County
Mason County households have a median income of $52,178 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 74th of 120 in Kentucky.
| Income band | Share in Mason County | Difference from Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 36.9% | +9.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.8% | -2.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.0% | -4.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.3% | -2.9 pts |
Some 37% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 23% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 18.8%, 3 points higher than the state's 16.1%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.499 here. None of these numbers decides a Mason County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Mason County
The biggest employer of Mason County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by manufacturing (18%). Compared with Kentucky, the county leans toward manufacturing (18% against 14%). The survey's unemployment rate for Mason County averages 4.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). About 82% drive to work alone and 19% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Mason County | Difference from Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.5% | +1.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.0% | +3.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.1% | +2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.3% | +0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.5% | -1.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.9% | 0.0 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
How Mason County compares with nearby counties
Robertson County is closest, 14 miles from center to center; the sixth, Lewis County, is 25 miles off. Brown County leads the group on income ($71,270), Lewis County trails ($46,838), and Mason County out-earns 3 of the six. The list crosses into Ohio, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason County | - | $52,178 | $727/mo | 66% |
| Robertson County, KY | 14 mi | $51,830 | $548/mo | 80% |
| Bracken County, KY | 17 mi | $66,319 | $756/mo | 79% |
| Fleming County, KY | 17 mi | $49,307 | $715/mo | 75% |
| Nicholas County, KY | 21 mi | $59,531 | $728/mo | 74% |
| Brown County, OH | 23 mi | $71,270 | $817/mo | 77% |
| Lewis County, KY | 25 mi | $46,838 | $751/mo | 79% |
Towns and communities in Mason County
3 Census places fall mainly inside Mason County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 9,072 residents, leaving about 46% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 3 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maysville | city | 8,737 | $39,013 | $699 | 4 mi |
| Dover | city | 247 | $70,962 | $925 | 12 mi |
| Mays Lick | CDP | 88 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
Who lives in Mason County, in numbers
College graduates make up 20% of the adult population. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Mason County | Kentucky statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.0% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.7% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.4% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.6% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.8% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 5.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.2% |
| 60+ min | 13.3% |
Before borrowing in Mason County
Based on the Mason County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Long drives. With 19% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Mason County budgets.
- Free help first. 19% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Mason County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Room for a loan payment in Mason County
How much room does a median Mason 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: $4,348 before taxes
- Less median rent of $727, which is 17% of it
- Under a 40% cap, $1,739 total minus rent leaves $1,012
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Mason County's.
Four steps for Mason County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Mason County credit union about member loans.
Licensing and complaints for Mason County
Mason County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Kentucky guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Mason County
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Mason County household make?
About $52,178 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 18% below the Kentucky median.
What do renters pay in Mason County?
$727 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
Which towns does the Mason County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Maysville, Dover, Mays Lick.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Mason County or elsewhere in Kentucky, the same rules apply.
Is there a Mason County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Kentucky it is the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions.