1st Advantage MortgageIn Trigg County, Kentucky, the typical household earns $59,857 a year and the typical rent is $803. 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
- A quick profile of Trigg County
- Renting and owning in Trigg County
- How much Trigg County households make
- How Trigg County residents earn a living
- Towns and communities in Trigg County
- Trigg County and the counties next door
- Budget math at the Trigg County median
- Who lives in Trigg County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Trigg County
- A Trigg County borrower's checklist
- Kentucky rules that apply in Trigg County
- More guides for Trigg County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Trigg County
With an estimated 14,315 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Trigg County ranks 76th of 120 in Kentucky for population. Land area is 441 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 32 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Clarksville, TN-KY metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Cadiz is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 2,677 people (19% of the county total).
Renting and owning in Trigg County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $803 in Trigg County versus $967 statewide. 47% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. With a median value of $207,700, a typical Trigg County house costs 3.5 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 77%. Median construction year: 1985.
| Cost | Trigg County | Kentucky figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $803/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $207,700 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.3% | 10.7% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 21% | 10% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Trigg 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.
How much Trigg County households make
The median household income in Trigg County is $59,857; statewide it is $63,726, so Trigg County runs 6% below Kentucky as a whole.
| Household income | Trigg County | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.6% | +4.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.2% | -0.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.9% | -2.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.3% | -1.9 pts |
Some 33% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 26% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 20.6%, 5 points higher than the state's 16.1%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.445 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Trigg County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 27% of employed Trigg County residents work in education and health care and 15% in manufacturing. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 5% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.2% in Trigg County. Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 6.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Trigg County workers | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.0% | +2.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.3% | +1.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | -0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +0.7 pts |
| Other services | 7.3% | +2.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.7% | -1.3 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.
Towns and communities in Trigg County
2 Census places fall mainly inside Trigg County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 2,940 residents, leaving about 79% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Trigg County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cadiz | city | 2,677 | $44,152 | $743 | 4 mi |
| Cerulean | CDP | 263 | $60,096 | n/a | 13 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Trigg County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (19 to 27 miles). 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Trigg County; Marshall County is highest at $65,831 and Calloway County lowest at $52,706. The list crosses into Tennessee, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trigg County | - | $59,857 | $803/mo | 77% |
| Lyon County, KY | 19 mi | $65,066 | $747/mo | 80% |
| Christian County, KY | 21 mi | $55,494 | $1,040/mo | 50% |
| Caldwell County, KY | 24 mi | $59,583 | $767/mo | 70% |
| Stewart County, TN | 24 mi | $63,114 | $945/mo | 81% |
| Calloway County, KY | 26 mi | $52,706 | $870/mo | 64% |
| Marshall County, KY | 27 mi | $65,831 | $798/mo | 82% |
Budget math at the Trigg County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Trigg County's medians:
- Start: $4,988 gross per month ($59,857 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $803 uses 16%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $993 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Who lives in Trigg County, in numbers
22% of Trigg County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 12.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Trigg County | Kentucky | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.8 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.7% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.6% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.0% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.6% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.1% |
| 60+ min | 4.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Trigg County
Based on the Trigg County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 12% of Trigg County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Manufactured homes. 16% of Trigg County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Retirees. At a median age of 45.8, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- 21% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
A Trigg County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Trigg County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Trigg County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Kentucky borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Kentucky rules that apply in Trigg County
Consumer lenders serving Trigg County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Kentucky that is the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Kentucky guide.
More guides for Trigg County
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Trigg County?
$59,857 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $63,726 for Kentucky. It ranks 52nd of 120 in the state.
What do renters pay in Trigg County?
$803 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
Should Trigg County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 77% of Trigg County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Cadiz?
Yes, along with the other 1 Census place in Trigg County, such as Cerulean.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Trigg County or elsewhere in Kentucky, the same rules apply.