1st Advantage MortgageThe median Pendleton County household earns $64,669, and 16% 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
- Who lives in Pendleton County
- Income in Pendleton County compared with Kentucky
- Pendleton County housing compared with Kentucky
- Work, industries and travel time in Pendleton County
- The communities that make up Pendleton County
- Regional comparison for Pendleton County
- A Pendleton County household budget, worked through
- What the numbers mean for Pendleton County borrowers
- Who lives in Pendleton County, in numbers
- Four steps for Pendleton County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
- More guides for Pendleton County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Pendleton County
Pendleton County is home to about 14,723 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 75th most populous of 120 county-level areas in Kentucky. Packed into 277 square miles, that is close to 53 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 2 Census places inside Pendleton County, Falmouth leads by population with about 2,449; 2 of the 2 are incorporated.
Income in Pendleton County compared with Kentucky
Pendleton County households have a median income of $64,669 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 31st of 120 in Kentucky.
| Income band | Share in Pendleton County | Difference from Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.3% | +0.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.7% | -3.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.1% | +7.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.8% | -4.4 pts |
Some 28% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 33% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 15.9%, the same as the state's 16.1%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.432 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Pendleton County median.
Pendleton County housing compared with Kentucky
A typical Pendleton County rental runs $793 a month including utilities, which is 18% below Kentucky. 38% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 26% spend half or more. Home values center on $159,800, or 2.5 years of median income. 75% of Pendleton County households own their home and 25% rent. The median home was built in 1979, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Pendleton County | Kentucky | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $793/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $159,800 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 19.7% | 10.7% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 14% | 10% | n/a |
Because most Pendleton 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.
Work, industries and travel time in Pendleton County
The biggest employer of Pendleton County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 19% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). Compared with Kentucky, the county leans toward construction (10% against 6%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 77% drive to work alone and 36% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 5.7% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Pendleton County | Gap to Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.0% | -5.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.2% | +1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.2% | -3.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.2% | +1.1 pts |
| Construction | 10.0% | +3.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.7% | +2.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The communities that make up Pendleton 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 20% of Pendleton County residents live in one of the 2. No Pendleton County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falmouth | city | 2,449 | $34,756 | $864 | 2 mi |
| Butler | city | 515 | $45,341 | $794 | 6 mi |
Regional comparison for Pendleton County
Distances run center to center, from Bracken County at 13 miles out to Robertson County at 20. Income ranges from $51,830 in Robertson County to $80,548 in Kenton County; 5 of these neighbors top Pendleton County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pendleton County | - | $64,669 | $793/mo | 75% |
| Bracken County, KY | 13 mi | $66,319 | $756/mo | 79% |
| Grant County, KY | 15 mi | $69,178 | $862/mo | 75% |
| Campbell County, KY | 17 mi | $77,567 | $1,145/mo | 71% |
| Harrison County, KY | 17 mi | $66,442 | $765/mo | 71% |
| Kenton County, KY | 19 mi | $80,548 | $1,069/mo | 71% |
| Robertson County, KY | 20 mi | $51,830 | $548/mo | 80% |
A Pendleton County household budget, worked through
Here is the Pendleton County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Pendleton County: $5,389
- Rent at the median, $793, takes 15% of that
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,147 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
What the numbers mean for Pendleton County borrowers
A few patterns in the Pendleton County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Keeping the car running. At 36% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Pendleton County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Mobile home upkeep. 20% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Who lives in Pendleton County, in numbers
College graduates make up 15% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 6.5%, against 6.0% for Kentucky.
| Pendleton County | Kentucky | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.4% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.4% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.5% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.9% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 15.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 21.2% |
| 60+ min | 15.2% |
Four steps for Pendleton County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Pendleton County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Kentucky.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Pendleton County borrowers answers to the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Kentucky state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Pendleton County
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pendleton County a high-income county?
Its $64,669 median ranks 31st of 120 Kentucky counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Pendleton County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $793 a month; 38% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Pendleton County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 75% of Pendleton County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Pendleton County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 2 Census places: Falmouth, Butler.
Does living in Pendleton 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 Pendleton County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.