1st Advantage MortgageAbout 70% of Perry County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $42,181. 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
- Getting oriented in Perry County
- Paychecks and income spread in Perry County
- Renting and owning in Perry County
- Jobs and commutes in Perry County
- Places inside Perry County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Room for a loan payment in Perry County
- What the numbers mean for Perry County borrowers
- More Perry County figures
- Kentucky rules that apply in Perry County
- A Perry County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Perry County
Roughly 27,499 residents live in Perry County, Kentucky, 39th by population among the state's 120 counties and county equivalents. It covers 340 square miles of land, or about 81 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Perry County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 6 Census places inside Perry County, Hazard leads by population with about 5,008; 3 of the 6 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Perry County
At $42,181, the typical Perry County household income is 36% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 100 Kentucky counties post a higher median.
| Band | Perry County | Compared with Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 43.2% | +15.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.8% | -4.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.3% | -7.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -3.5 pts |
Some 43% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 19% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 26.8%, 11 points higher than the state's 16.1%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Renting and owning in Perry County
Renters in Perry County pay a median of $798 a month, 17% below the Kentucky figure of $967. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 60% of renter households here. With a median value of $91,800, a typical Perry County house costs 2.2 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 70%. The median year built is 1985.
| Cost | Perry County | Kentucky figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $798/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $91,800 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 60% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 17% | 10% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Jobs and commutes in Perry County
Education and health care employs 35% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 35% locally and 24% for Kentucky. The survey's unemployment rate for Perry County averages 5.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Perry County workers | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 34.7% | +10.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 8.0% | +1.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.4% | -1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.0% | -0.9 pts |
| Public administration | 5.9% | +1.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Places inside Perry County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Perry County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 6,008 residents, leaving about 78% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hazard | city | 5,008 | $51,016 | $720 | 2 mi |
| Diablock | CDP | 315 | $18,750 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Jeff | CDP | 309 | $250,001 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Vicco | city | 217 | $43,393 | $1,077 | 9 mi |
| Buckhorn | city | 95 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
| Combs | CDP | 64 | $40,769 | n/a | 2 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Leslie County is closest, 14 miles from center to center; the sixth, Clay County, is 28 miles off. Income ranges from $34,808 in Breathitt County to $41,793 in Letcher County; none of these neighbors top Perry County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perry County | - | $42,181 | $798/mo | 70% |
| Leslie County, KY | 14 mi | $35,934 | $585/mo | 86% |
| Knott County, KY | 17 mi | $41,761 | $756/mo | 73% |
| Breathitt County, KY | 20 mi | $34,808 | $548/mo | 77% |
| Letcher County, KY | 21 mi | $41,793 | $669/mo | 74% |
| Harlan County, KY | 26 mi | $41,693 | $678/mo | 72% |
| Clay County, KY | 28 mi | $40,900 | $724/mo | 76% |
Room for a loan payment in Perry County
How much room does a median Perry County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Perry County: $3,515
- Less median rent of $798, which is 23% of it
- At 43%, room after rent is $713 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Perry County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
What the numbers mean for Perry County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Perry County borrowers.
- 32% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Assistance before credit. With a 27% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Perry County loan.
- Renters under pressure. When 60% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
More Perry County figures
College graduates make up 15% of the adult population. About 2% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Perry County | Kentucky | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.8% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 19.6% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.4% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.2% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 26.8% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.8% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Perry County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.3% |
| 60+ min | 9.0% |
Kentucky rules that apply in Perry County
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. More on Kentucky: Kentucky personal loans.
A Perry County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Perry County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Perry County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Kentucky borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Perry County household make?
About $42,181 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 34% below the Kentucky median.
How much is rent in Perry County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $798 a month; 60% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Perry County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 70% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Hazard?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Perry County, such as Diablock, Jeff, Vicco.
Will a Perry County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Kentucky as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.