1st Advantage MortgageIn Russell County, Kentucky, the typical household earns $44,738 a year and the typical rent is $681. 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
- Russell County in brief
- Russell County's most unusual numbers
- The Russell County job picture
- What Russell County households earn
- Renting and owning in Russell County
- Russell County next to its neighbors
- Towns and communities in Russell County
- Reading the Russell County data as a borrower
- Who lives in Russell County, in numbers
- Debt-to-income, Russell County edition
- A Russell County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Russell County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Russell County in brief
Roughly 18,221 residents live in Russell County, Kentucky, 65th by population among the state's 120 counties and county equivalents. It covers 253 square miles of land, or about 72 people per square mile. Metro status: none; Russell County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. Russell Springs is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 2,773 people (15% of the county total).
Russell County's most unusual numbers
The 3 Russell County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Kentucky, and what each means for a borrower:
- Few Kentucky counties match Russell County on the housing vacancy rate: 26% here, 10% for the state, ranking 3rd highest of 120. Many empty units can point to seasonal housing.
- On median household income, Russell County sits near the bottom of Kentucky at $44,738, 23rd lowest of 120. A lean local median makes the size of the loan the most important choice.
- Few Kentucky counties match Russell County on the share of commutes over 45 minutes: 11% here, 13% for the state, ranking 23rd lowest of 120. Less driving means fewer surprise repair bills.
The Russell County job picture
Education and health care (26%), manufacturing (21%) and retail trade (9%) lead Russell County's job mix. Compared with Kentucky, the county leans toward manufacturing (21% against 14%). Averaged over the five survey years, 6.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 47% of Russell County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 11% need 45 or more. Only 6.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Russell County | Compared with Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.9% | +1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 21.2% | +6.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.1% | -2.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.0% | -1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.7% | -0.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.0% | +0.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What Russell County households earn
Half of Russell County households take in less than $44,738 a year and half take in more, 30% below the Kentucky median of $63,726. That places it 98th among Kentucky's 120 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Russell County | Difference from Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 39.4% | +11.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.2% | -1.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.1% | -7.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.3% | -1.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 20% of Russell County households make $100,000 or more, and 39% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 23.1%, 7 points higher than the state's 16.1%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.496 here. A household earning below the $44,738 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Russell County
Half of Russell County renters pay more than $681 a month and half pay less; the Kentucky midpoint is $967. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 44% in Russell County, 45% statewide. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $163,200, about 3.6 times the median household income. Owners occupy 71% of homes. Against the median U.S. county, Russell County rent is 22% below.
| Russell County | Kentucky | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile homes | 21.0% | 10.7% | +10.3 pts |
| Median gross rent | $681/mo | $967/mo | 30% lower |
| Owners | 71% | 68% | +2.5 pts |
| Median home value | $163,200 | $205,600 | 21% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 45% | -1.7 pts |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 23% | +1.4 pts |
Russell County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Adair County at 15 miles out to Pulaski County at 28. Russell County's $44,738 median trails 5 of the six and beats 1; the range runs $40,000 (Cumberland County) to $53,553 (Adair County).
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell County | - | $44,738 | $681/mo | 71% |
| Adair County, KY | 15 mi | $53,553 | $771/mo | 77% |
| Wayne County, KY | 18 mi | $45,739 | $727/mo | 69% |
| Clinton County, KY | 19 mi | $44,844 | $617/mo | 71% |
| Cumberland County, KY | 23 mi | $40,000 | $523/mo | 76% |
| Casey County, KY | 24 mi | $45,510 | $670/mo | 80% |
| Pulaski County, KY | 28 mi | $51,898 | $803/mo | 72% |
Towns and communities in Russell County
Places, by size: the top 2 of 2. Roughly 75% of Russell County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Live in one of these Russell County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Springs | city | 2,773 | $38,697 | $745 | 4 mi |
| Jamestown | city | 1,739 | $20,541 | $504 | 1 mi |
Reading the Russell County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Russell County borrowers.
- Mobile homes in Russell County. At 21% of units, they are a big part of local housing; check whether yours is titled as real or personal property.
- Before borrowing. At 23.1% poverty, Russell County has local aid programs worth checking (options).
- Consolidating cards in Russell County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Who lives in Russell County, in numbers
15% of Russell County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. Health coverage gaps: 7.6% of Russell County residents are uninsured.
| People and households | Russell County | Compared with Kentucky | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | +2.9 yrs | +0.5 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.4% | -12.1 pts | -6.7 pts |
| No high school diploma | 18.2% | +7.1 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.6% | +1.6 pts | -0.2 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | -0.3 pts | +1.0 pts |
| Work from home | 5.3% | -4.9 pts | -3.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 23.1% | +7.0 pts | +9.9 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.4% | +1.6 pts | +2.0 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Russell County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 47.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.0% |
| 60+ min | 5.0% |
Debt-to-income, Russell County edition
Russell County's $44,738 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- Median income divided by twelve: $3,728 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $681 uses 18%
- With a 36% ceiling, about $661 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
A Russell County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Kentucky license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Who licenses lenders for Russell County residents
Consumer lenders serving Russell County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Kentucky that is the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Kentucky page has statewide figures to set beside Russell County's.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Russell County earn?
The median is $44,738; 20% earn $100,000 or more and 39% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What is the median rent in Russell County, KY?
$681 a month, utilities included, or $8,172 a year.
Is home equity cheaper than a personal loan in Russell County?
Often, because the home secures it. With 71% of Russell County homes owner-occupied, weigh that lower cost against the risk to the house.
Is Jamestown covered?
Yes. Jamestown is one of 2 Census places in Russell County, and this guide covers all of them.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Russell County or elsewhere in Kentucky, the same rules apply.