1st Advantage MortgageAbout 75% of Pike County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $44,312. 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
- Pike County by the numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Pike County
- How Pike County residents earn a living
- What it costs to live in Pike County
- The counties around Pike County
- Places inside Pike County
- What a median Pike County budget can carry
- Before borrowing in Pike County
- Pike County households compared
- Lender oversight for Pike County
- A Pike County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Pike County by the numbers
Pike County is home to about 56,727 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 17th most populous of 120 county-level areas in Kentucky. It covers 786 square miles of land, or about 72 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Pike County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (3 incorporated, 6 census-designated); the largest is Pikeville, with about 7,490 residents, or 13% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Pike County
Half of Pike County households take in less than $44,312 a year and half take in more, 30% below the Kentucky median of $63,726.
| Households earning | Pike County | +/- vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 42.8% | +14.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.0% | -2.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 14.9% | -8.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.3% | -4.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 18% of Pike County households make $100,000 or more, and 43% make less than $35,000. Census counts 24.4% of Pike County residents in poverty, against 16.1% across Kentucky. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.500 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Pike 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.
How Pike County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 32% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 14%. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 32% locally and 24% for Kentucky. The survey's unemployment rate for Pike County averages 5.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. Only 9.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Pike County workers | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 32.2% | +7.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.5% | +2.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.0% | -0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.8% | -2.2 pts |
| Construction | 6.0% | -0.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.6% | -1.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Pike County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What it costs to live in Pike County
Renters in Pike County pay a median of $858 a month, 11% below the Kentucky figure of $967. By the Census definition, 48% of Pike County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $112,000, about 2.5 times the median household income. Owners occupy 75% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1985.
| Home costs | Pike County | Kentucky | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $858/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $112,000 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 34.9% | 10.7% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Pike 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.
The counties around Pike County
Floyd County is closest, 19 miles from center to center; the sixth, Knott County, is 31 miles off. Income ranges from $37,042 in Martin County to $47,254 in Dickenson County; 1 of these neighbors top Pike County's median. The list crosses into Virginia, West Virginia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pike County | - | $44,312 | $858/mo | 75% |
| Floyd County, KY | 19 mi | $41,279 | $672/mo | 72% |
| Mingo County, WV | 21 mi | $38,119 | $647/mo | 73% |
| Martin County, KY | 22 mi | $37,042 | $450/mo | 85% |
| Dickenson County, VA | 24 mi | $47,254 | $738/mo | 76% |
| Buchanan County, VA | 25 mi | $42,886 | $743/mo | 83% |
| Knott County, KY | 31 mi | $41,761 | $756/mo | 73% |
Places inside Pike County
9 Census places fall mainly inside Pike County; the 9 biggest are below. They account for 11,731 residents, leaving about 79% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $52,750 at the median in Coal Run Village, $39,955 in Pikeville. Median rent ranges from $605 in Elkhorn City to $893 in Coal Run Village. This guide covers each of the 9 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pikeville | city | 7,490 | $39,955 | $862 | 6 mi |
| Coal Run Village | city | 1,724 | $52,750 | $893 | 9 mi |
| Elkhorn City | city | 846 | $44,000 | $605 | 12 mi |
| South Williamson | CDP | 472 | $56,484 | $723 | 14 mi |
| Virgie | CDP | 424 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| Phelps | CDP | 301 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| McCarr | CDP | 265 | $37,043 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Belfry | CDP | 118 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Freeburn | CDP | 91 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
What a median Pike County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Pike County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $3,693 before taxes
- Median rent: $858, or 23 cents of every gross dollar
- $434: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 45% ceiling, about $804 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Pike County's.
Before borrowing in Pike County
What the Pike County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Mobile home upkeep. 35% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- 24% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Rent squeeze. 48% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Pike County households compared
18% of Pike County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Pike County | Kentucky statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.8% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.5% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.1% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.0% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 24.4% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.2% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Pike County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.9% |
| 60+ min | 7.8% |
Lender oversight for Pike County
Pike County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Kentucky: Kentucky personal loans.
A Pike County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Pike County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Kentucky borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Pike County household make?
About $44,312 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 30% below the Kentucky median.
Is Pike County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $858 against $967 statewide, and 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Pike County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 75% of Pike 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 Pike County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Pikeville, Coal Run Village, Elkhorn City, South Williamson, Virgie.
Does living in Pike 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 Pike County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.