1st Advantage MortgageIn McLean County, Kentucky, the typical household earns $65,596 a year and the typical rent is $641. 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
- A quick profile of McLean County
- What McLean County households earn
- How McLean County residents earn a living
- What it costs to live in McLean County
- How McLean County compares with nearby counties
- Towns and communities in McLean County
- Debt-to-income at McLean County's medians
- McLean County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in McLean County
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for McLean County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of McLean County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts McLean County's population at 9,114; only 100 of Kentucky's 120 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 253 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 36 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Owensboro, KY metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Livermore is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 1,223 people (13% of the county total). Because McLean County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
What McLean County households earn
McLean County households have a median income of $65,596 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 26th of 120 in Kentucky.
| Income band | Share in McLean County | Difference from Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.1% | -2.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.9% | -2.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.9% | +6.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.1% | -2.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 35% of McLean County households make $100,000 or more, and 25% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 9.5%, 7 points lower than the state's 16.1%. A household earning below the $65,596 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How McLean County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of McLean County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by manufacturing (16%). The sharpest difference from the state is in other services, at 7% locally and 5% for Kentucky. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.6% in McLean County. 23% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | McLean County | Gap to Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.4% | +0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.5% | +1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.1% | -2.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.4% | +1.4 pts |
| Construction | 7.4% | +1.1 pts |
| Other services | 7.4% | +2.8 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.
What it costs to live in McLean County
A typical McLean County rental runs $641 a month including utilities, which is 34% below Kentucky. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 40% of renter households here. Home values center on $148,500, or 2.3 years of median income. 83% of McLean County households own their home and 17% rent. The median home was built in 1976, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| McLean County | Kentucky | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $641/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $148,500 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 19.3% | 10.7% | n/a |
Because most McLean 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.
How McLean County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 25 miles). 1 of the six report a higher median household income than McLean County; Daviess County is highest at $68,214 and Muhlenberg County lowest at $51,927.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McLean County | - | $65,596 | $641/mo | 83% |
| Daviess County, KY | 17 mi | $68,214 | $918/mo | 68% |
| Hopkins County, KY | 21 mi | $56,815 | $837/mo | 71% |
| Muhlenberg County, KY | 23 mi | $51,927 | $718/mo | 79% |
| Webster County, KY | 23 mi | $59,628 | $783/mo | 74% |
| Ohio County, KY | 23 mi | $57,798 | $739/mo | 77% |
| Henderson County, KY | 25 mi | $58,851 | $777/mo | 65% |
Towns and communities in McLean County
5 Census places fall mainly inside McLean County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 3,008 residents, leaving about 67% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Island has the highest median household income on the list ($54,375) and Livermore the lowest ($40,099), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Calhoun ($538) and steepest in Island ($929). This guide covers each of the 5 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Livermore | city | 1,223 | $40,099 | $568 | 8 mi |
| Calhoun | city | 601 | $52,500 | $538 | 1 mi |
| Island | city | 576 | $54,375 | $929 | 9 mi |
| Sacramento | city | 317 | $34,107 | $382 | 8 mi |
| Beech Grove | CDP | 291 | $109,083 | n/a | 9 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Debt-to-income at McLean County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to McLean County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,466 before taxes
- Less median rent of $641, which is 12% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,327 a month
If your rent is above $641, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
McLean County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 17% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 3.9%, against 6.0% for Kentucky.
| Residents | McLean County | Kentucky | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.8% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.3% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.9% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.5% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.6% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 30.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.8% |
| 60+ min | 11.4% |
Borrowing situations common in McLean County
What the McLean County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Long drives. With 23% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many McLean County budgets.
- 19% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a McLean County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Before you sign
A short checklist for McLean County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in McLean County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Kentucky.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Lender oversight for McLean County
Consumer lenders serving McLean County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Kentucky that is the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Kentucky guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kentucky guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical McLean County household make?
About $65,596 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 3% above the Kentucky median.
How does McLean County rent compare with Kentucky?
$641 locally versus $967 for the state, 34% below.
I own my home in McLean County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 83% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small McLean County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Livermore, Calhoun, Island, Sacramento, Beech Grove.
Will a McLean County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Kentucky as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.