1st Advantage MortgageThe median Owen County household earns $61,134, and 18% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Owen County, KY: the basics
- How much Owen County households make
- Housing costs in Owen County
- How Owen County residents earn a living
- The communities that make up Owen County
- Regional comparison for Owen County
- What a median Owen County budget can carry
- Owen County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Owen County
- Four steps for Owen County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Owen County, KY: the basics
With an estimated 11,330 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Owen County ranks 94th of 120 in Kentucky for population. Spread over 350 square miles, that works out to roughly 32.3 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Owen County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Owenton is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 1,511 people (13% of the county total).
How much Owen County households make
Owen County households have a median income of $61,134 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 43rd of 120 in Kentucky.
| Household income | Owen County | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.6% | -0.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.4% | +5.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.8% | -0.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.2% | -5.0 pts |
Some 28% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 18.3% of Owen County residents in poverty, against 16.1% across Kentucky. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.414 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Owen County median.
Housing costs in Owen County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $830 in Owen County versus $967 statewide. 42% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. With a median value of $168,700, a typical Owen County house costs 2.8 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 88%. Half the housing stock was built before 1988.
| Housing | Owen County | Kentucky statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $830/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $168,700 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 88% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 39% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 22.1% | 10.7% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Owen County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
How Owen County residents earn a living
Manufacturing employs 18% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 15%. Compared with Kentucky, the county leans toward construction (13% against 6%). The survey's unemployment rate for Owen County averages 7.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). 40% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home.
| Where residents work | Owen County | Difference from Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 17.9% | +3.6 pts |
| Education and health care | 15.4% | -8.8 pts |
| Construction | 13.4% | +7.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.6% | +2.7 pts |
| Public administration | 8.6% | +4.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.0% | -3.6 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Owen County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The communities that make up Owen County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Owen County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 1,683 people, so roughly 85% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 3 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owenton | city | 1,511 | $55,438 | $726 | 3 mi |
| Monterey | city | 92 | $66,667 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Gratz | city | 80 | $98,958 | n/a | 6 mi |
Regional comparison for Owen County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (15 to 21 miles). Scott County leads the group on income ($85,158), Carroll County trails ($56,466), and Owen County out-earns 1 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owen County | - | $61,134 | $830/mo | 88% |
| Henry County, KY | 15 mi | $63,347 | $895/mo | 76% |
| Grant County, KY | 16 mi | $69,178 | $862/mo | 75% |
| Gallatin County, KY | 18 mi | $63,346 | $832/mo | 75% |
| Franklin County, KY | 18 mi | $65,298 | $967/mo | 64% |
| Carroll County, KY | 19 mi | $56,466 | $910/mo | 66% |
| Scott County, KY | 21 mi | $85,158 | $1,247/mo | 72% |
What a median Owen County budget can carry
Here is the Owen County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,094 before taxes
- Less median rent of $830, which is 16% of it
- Under a 40% cap, $2,038 total minus rent leaves $1,208
Two-income households and single earners in Owen County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Owen County households compared
18% of Owen County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 6.4%, against 6.0% for Kentucky.
| Owen County | Kentucky | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.3% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.5% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.4% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.6% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.3% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.3% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.0% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Owen County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 15.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 17.0% |
| 60+ min | 23.0% |
Borrowing situations common in Owen County
Based on the Owen County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Keeping the car running. At 40% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Owen County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Mobile home upkeep. 22% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Assistance before credit. With a 18% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Owen County loan.
Four steps for Owen County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
The Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Kentucky license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Kentucky guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kentucky guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Owen County earn?
The median is $61,134; 25% earn $100,000 or more and 28% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Owen County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $830 a month; 42% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Owen County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 88% of Owen County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Owen County?
By population: Owenton, Monterey, Gratz. The county has 3 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Owen County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.