1st Advantage MortgagePowell County households have a median income of $40,309 and median rent of $747 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Kentucky before sharing details.
On this page
- Powell County by the numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Powell County
- Work, industries and travel time in Powell County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Powell County
- Regional comparison for Powell County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Powell County
- Debt-to-income at Powell County's medians
- Local borrowing considerations for Powell County
- Who lives in Powell County, in numbers
- A Powell County borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Powell County by the numbers
With an estimated 13,038 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Powell County ranks 83rd of 120 in Kentucky for population. It covers 179 square miles of land, or about 73 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Stanton is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 3,218 people (25% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Powell County
Powell County households have a median income of $40,309 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 107th of 120 in Kentucky.
| Income band | Share in Powell County | Difference from Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 45.6% | +17.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 33.5% | -8.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.9% | -3.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.0% | -6.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 21% of Powell County households make $100,000 or more, and 46% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 22.5%, 6 points higher than the state's 16.1%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.467 here. None of these numbers decides a Powell County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Powell County
The biggest employer of Powell County residents, by industry, is retail trade at 19% of workers, followed by education and health care (16%). The sharpest difference from the state is in retail trade, at 19% locally and 12% for Kentucky. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 23% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home. Only 8.9% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Powell County | Compared with Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 18.6% | +7.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 15.5% | -8.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.5% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 11.5% | +5.2 pts |
| Public administration | 8.1% | +3.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.0% | -1.0 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.
Rent, home values and ownership in Powell County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $747 in Powell County versus $967 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 64% of renter households here. With a median value of $141,100, a typical Powell County house costs 3.5 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 68% of homes. The median year built is 1985.
| Measure | Powell County | Kentucky | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $747/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $141,100 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 64% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 23.3% | 10.7% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Regional comparison for Powell County
Estill County is closest, 11 miles from center to center; the sixth, Clark County, is 20 miles off. Clark County leads the group on income ($64,348), Wolfe County trails ($30,417), and Powell County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powell County | - | $40,309 | $747/mo | 68% |
| Estill County, KY | 11 mi | $46,051 | $711/mo | 70% |
| Lee County, KY | 15 mi | $37,568 | $603/mo | 78% |
| Menifee County, KY | 16 mi | $45,096 | $675/mo | 75% |
| Montgomery County, KY | 16 mi | $56,396 | $830/mo | 68% |
| Wolfe County, KY | 19 mi | $30,417 | $501/mo | 74% |
| Clark County, KY | 20 mi | $64,348 | $938/mo | 71% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Powell County
The table lists the 2 largest of 2 Census places in Powell County, by population. Together all 2 hold about 4,422 people, so roughly 66% of residents live outside any named place. No Powell County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanton | city | 3,218 | $25,417 | $775 | 3 mi |
| Clay City | city | 1,204 | $23,816 | $666 | 6 mi |
Debt-to-income at Powell County's medians
Here is the Powell County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Powell County: $3,359
- 22% goes to median rent ($747)
- $462: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 43%, room after rent is $697 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Local borrowing considerations for Powell County
What the Powell County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Vehicle repairs. 23% of Powell County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Manufactured homes. 23% of Powell County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Free help first. 22% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Renters under pressure. When 64% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Who lives in Powell County, in numbers
14% of Powell County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 5.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Powell County | Kentucky | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.8% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 18.0% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.9% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.5% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.8% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Powell County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.7% |
| 60+ min | 12.2% |
A Powell County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Powell County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- 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
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Powell County, check the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Kentucky guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Powell County household make?
About $40,309 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 37% below the Kentucky median.
Is Powell County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $747 against $967 statewide, and 64% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Powell County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Stanton, Clay City.
Can Powell County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Kentucky county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a Powell County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Kentucky it is the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions.