1st Advantage MortgageIn Owsley County, Kentucky, the typical household earns $22,188 a year and the typical rent is $448. For a Owsley County borrower, the useful steps are the same anywhere: price the need, gather three written offers, and check the Kentucky license.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Owsley County
- Income in Owsley County compared with Kentucky
- Employment and commuting in Owsley County
- Owsley County's most unusual numbers
- Owsley County housing compared with Kentucky
- The communities that make up Owsley County
- Owsley County and the counties next door
- Room for a loan payment in Owsley County
- Before borrowing in Owsley County
- Age, degrees and coverage in Owsley County
- Four steps for Owsley County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Owsley County
Roughly 3,971 residents live in Owsley County, Kentucky, 119th by population among the state's 120 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 197 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 20 per square mile. Owsley County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Largest place: Booneville, about 187 residents (5% of Owsley County); 1 Census place in all. At 3,971 people, Owsley County is a small survey sample, so small differences in these figures may be noise.
Income in Owsley County compared with Kentucky
Half of Owsley County households take in less than $22,188 a year and half take in more, 65% below the Kentucky median of $63,726. Only 119 Kentucky counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Owsley County | Gap to Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 61.3% | +33.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 31.7% | -10.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 5.6% | -17.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.4% | -5.8 pts |
On the low end, 61% of Owsley County households report under $35,000; at the top, 7% report $100,000-plus. 36.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.1%). Owsley County scores 0.562 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. For a borrower in Owsley County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Employment and commuting in Owsley County
The biggest employer of Owsley County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). Compared with Kentucky, the county leans toward public administration (9% against 4%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 12.6% in Owsley County. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 18%; under 15 minutes: 50%. Only 16.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Owsley County | Gap to Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.4% | +2.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +0.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.5% | +2.5 pts |
| Other services | 9.3% | +4.7 pts |
| Public administration | 9.1% | +4.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.1% | +1.2 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.
Owsley County's most unusual numbers
- On the share of adults with a bachelor's degree, Owsley County sits near the bottom of Kentucky at 7%, the lowest of 120. No degree is required for a personal loan; documented income is.
- Owsley County ranks the lowest of 120 Kentucky counties for median household income: $22,188, against $63,726 statewide. Where incomes run low, free assistance and credit-union small-dollar loans deserve a look first.
- Population: 3,971 in Owsley County. Only 1 of 120 Kentucky counties are lower. With few local branches, online lenders and statewide credit unions widen the choice.
- Few Kentucky counties match Owsley County on median age: 47.7 here, 39.1 for the state, ranking the highest of 120. Retirement income counts when documented; favor loans with no prepayment penalty.
Owsley County housing compared with Kentucky
A typical Owsley County rental runs $448 a month including utilities, which is 54% below Kentucky. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 32% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $80,100, about 3.6 times the median household income. 70% of Owsley County households own their home and 30% rent. The median year built is 1990.
| Measure | Owsley County | Kentucky | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $448/mo | $967/mo | 54% lower |
| Median home value | $80,100 | $205,600 | 61% lower |
| Owners | 70% | 68% | +1.8 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 45% | -1.1 pts |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 23% | +12.8 pts |
The communities that make up Owsley County
Booneville is the only Census place mainly inside Owsley County, with about 187 of the county's 3,971 residents. None of the 1 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booneville | city | 187 | $48,125 | $588 | 3 mi |
Owsley County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (13 to 25 miles). Owsley County's $22,188 median trails 6 of the six and beats 0; the range runs $30,417 (Wolfe County) to $46,051 (Estill County).
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owsley County | - | $22,188 | $448/mo | 70% |
| Lee County, KY | 13 mi | $37,568 | $603/mo | 78% |
| Clay County, KY | 18 mi | $40,900 | $724/mo | 76% |
| Jackson County, KY | 18 mi | $40,000 | $665/mo | 77% |
| Breathitt County, KY | 22 mi | $34,808 | $548/mo | 77% |
| Estill County, KY | 24 mi | $46,051 | $711/mo | 70% |
| Wolfe County, KY | 25 mi | $30,417 | $501/mo | 74% |
Room for a loan payment in Owsley County
Here is the Owsley County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $22,188 a year is $1,849 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $448, or 24 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 35% ceiling, about $199 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $384 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $448, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in Owsley County
A few patterns in the Owsley County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Car trouble. For Owsley County drivers (18% with 45-minute-plus trips), price the repair against the car's value first.
- Mobile home upkeep. 28% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Retirement budgets. In a county with a 47.7 median age, keep any loan term shorter than your plans for the money.
- Assistance before credit. With a 36% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Owsley County loan.
Age, degrees and coverage in Owsley County
7% of Owsley County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 4.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Owsley County | Compared with Kentucky | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 7.1% | -20.4 pts | -15.0 pts |
| Poverty rate | 36.1% | +20.1 pts | +23.0 pts |
| No high school diploma | 29.6% | +18.4 pts | n/a |
| No vehicle | 16.3% | +9.6 pts | +10.9 pts |
| Median age | 47.7 | +8.6 yrs | +6.2 yrs |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 12.6% | +7.7 pts | +8.2 pts |
| No health insurance | 4.8% | -1.2 pts | -3.1 pts |
| Work from home | 9.1% | -1.1 pts | +0.5 pts |
| Commute length | Owsley County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 49.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 6.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.6% |
| 60+ min | 9.6% |
Four steps for Owsley County borrowers
Quick steps for Owsley County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Owsley County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Kentucky borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Owsley County borrowers answers to the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Kentucky guide.
Keep exploring
Next step up from Owsley County:
Frequently asked questions
Is Owsley County a high-income county?
Its $22,188 median ranks 120th of 120 Kentucky counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Owsley County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $448 a month; 44% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Is home equity cheaper than a personal loan in Owsley County?
Often, because the home secures it. With 70% of Owsley County homes owner-occupied, weigh that lower cost against the risk to the house.
What are the biggest places in Owsley County?
By population: Booneville. The county has 1 Census place in all.
Does living in Owsley County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Owsley County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.