1st Advantage MortgageSimpson County households have a median income of $59,858 and median rent of $1,012 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
- Who lives in Simpson County
- Household income in Simpson County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Simpson County
- Work, industries and travel time in Simpson County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Simpson County towns compared
- Budget math at the Simpson County median
- Simpson County households compared
- Reading the Simpson County data as a borrower
- A Simpson County borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Simpson County
Simpson County is home to about 19,972 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 58th most populous of 120 county-level areas in Kentucky. It covers 234 square miles of land, or about 85 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 1 place in the county (1 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Franklin, with about 10,360 residents, or 52% of the county.
Household income in Simpson County
Half of Simpson County households take in less than $59,858 a year and half take in more, 6% below the Kentucky median of $63,726. That places it 51st among Kentucky's 120 county-level areas.
| Band | Simpson County | Compared with Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.5% | +0.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.9% | +2.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.0% | -0.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -1.7 pts |
About 28% of households earn under $35,000, while 28% clear $100,000. 15.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.1%). None of these numbers decides a Simpson County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Rent, home values and ownership in Simpson County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,012 in Simpson County versus $967 statewide. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 25% spend half or more. Home values center on $229,400, or 3.8 years of median income. The ownership rate is 67%. Half the housing stock was built before 1979.
| Measure | Simpson County | Kentucky | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,012/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $229,400 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 10% | n/a |
Work, industries and travel time in Simpson County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Simpson County residents work in manufacturing and 18% in education and health care. Compared with Kentucky, the county leans toward manufacturing (22% against 14%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.6% in Simpson County. About 79% drive to work alone and 10% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 3.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Simpson County | Gap to Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 21.7% | +7.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.0% | -6.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.4% | +2.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 10.4% | +3.4 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +1.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.7% | -1.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Simpson County's, from 18 to 33 miles away. Income ranges from $56,092 in Butler County to $90,301 in Sumner County; 5 of these neighbors top Simpson County's median. Some neighbors are in Tennessee. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Simpson County resident follows Kentucky rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simpson County | - | $59,858 | $1,012/mo | 67% |
| Logan County, KY | 18 mi | $60,382 | $751/mo | 74% |
| Warren County, KY | 20 mi | $65,794 | $1,002/mo | 56% |
| Sumner County, TN | 20 mi | $90,301 | $1,424/mo | 72% |
| Allen County, KY | 22 mi | $61,403 | $844/mo | 74% |
| Robertson County, TN | 22 mi | $83,047 | $1,199/mo | 78% |
| Butler County, KY | 33 mi | $56,092 | $679/mo | 74% |
Simpson County towns compared
Just one Census place, Franklin, lies mainly within Simpson County; it holds about 10,360 people. This guide covers each of the 1 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin | city | 10,360 | $59,052 | $1,010 | 2 mi |
Budget math at the Simpson County median
Simpson County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $4,988 gross per month ($59,858 / 12)
- Median rent: $1,012, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 40% ceiling, about $983 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Simpson County households compared
Degree holders: 19% of adults over 25. About 8% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Simpson County | Kentucky | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.8% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.1% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.3% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.3% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.5% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Simpson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.8% |
| 60+ min | 5.6% |
Reading the Simpson County data as a borrower
Based on the Simpson County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
A Simpson County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Simpson County borrowers:
- Price the Simpson County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Kentucky license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Simpson County borrowers answers to the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Kentucky state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Simpson County household make?
About $59,858 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 6% below the Kentucky median.
How does Simpson County rent compare with Kentucky?
$1,012 locally versus $967 for the state, 5% above.
What are the biggest places in Simpson County?
By population: Franklin. The county has 1 Census place in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Simpson County or elsewhere in Kentucky, the same rules apply.
Is there a Simpson County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Kentucky it is the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions.