1st Advantage MortgageThe median Webster County household earns $59,628, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Kentucky license first.
On this page
- First look: Webster County, KY
- Webster County against other Kentucky counties
- Employment and commuting in Webster County
- Paychecks and income spread in Webster County
- The Webster County housing market in figures
- Census places in Webster County
- How Webster County compares with nearby counties
- Age, degrees and coverage in Webster County
- Local borrowing considerations for Webster County
- Debt-to-income at Webster County's medians
- Steps before you apply in Webster County
- Kentucky rules that apply in Webster County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
First look: Webster County, KY
With an estimated 12,842 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Webster County ranks 86th of 120 in Kentucky for population. Its 332 square miles average 39 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Webster County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Providence (2,857 people) heads the county's list of 8 Census places, 6 incorporated and 2 census-designated.
Webster County against other Kentucky counties
Out of every Kentucky county, Webster County is most unusual on these measures.
- The share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 20% in Webster County. Only 1 of 120 Kentucky counties are lower. Lower rent burdens mean more renters have slack, but test your own numbers.
- On the share of workers who work from home, Webster County sits near the bottom of Kentucky at 2.6%, 5th lowest of 120. Few remote jobs means most pay stubs come from local employers.
- Webster County ranks 17th lowest of 120 Kentucky counties for the share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 13%, against 28% statewide. No degree is required for a personal loan; documented income is.
Employment and commuting in Webster County
The biggest employer of Webster County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 24% of workers, followed by education and health care (16%). Relative to Kentucky (14%), manufacturing is 10 points bigger in Webster County (24%). Unemployment in Webster County, ACS five-year: 4.1%; Kentucky: 4.9%. About 81% drive to work alone and 21% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 210 Webster County households, 4.3%, have no vehicle.
| Sector | Webster County | Compared with Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 24.2% | +9.9 pts |
| Education and health care | 16.3% | -7.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.4% | +2.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.3% | +7.6 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | +2.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.7% | -1.2 pts |
Self-employed in Webster County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
Paychecks and income spread in Webster County
$59,628 is the median household income for Webster County, set against $63,726 for Kentucky. That places it 53rd among Kentucky's 120 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Webster County | Difference from Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.4% | +1.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.7% | +5.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.6% | -3.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.3% | -3.9 pts |
29% under $35,000 and 23% at $100,000 or more: that is the Webster County income split. Webster County counts about 1,736 residents below the poverty line, 13.5% of the population. Webster County scores 0.412 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. A household earning below the $59,628 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Webster County housing market in figures
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $783 in Webster County versus $967 statewide. By the Census definition, 20% of Webster County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $112,900, about 1.9 times the median household income. 74% of Webster County households own their home and 26% rent. The median home was built in 1977, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills. Nationally, Webster County's $783 rent is 11% below the middle county.
| Home costs | Webster County | Kentucky | Compared with Kentucky |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 20% | 45% | -25.7 pts |
| Owners | 74% | 68% | +5.4 pts |
| Mobile homes | 15.7% | 10.7% | +5.0 pts |
| Median home value | $112,900 | $205,600 | 45% lower |
| Median gross rent | $783/mo | $967/mo | 19% lower |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 23% | +0.8 pts |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Census places in Webster County
Places, by size: the top 8 of 8. Roughly 43% of Webster County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Incomes vary by place: $61,250 at the median in Clay, $46,607 in Dixon. Median rent ranges from $672 in Providence to $862 in Sebree. This guide covers each of the 8 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | city | 2,857 | $55,121 | $672 | 9 mi |
| Sebree | city | 1,825 | $58,707 | $862 | 11 mi |
| Dixon | city | 1,036 | $46,607 | $781 | 0 mi |
| Clay | city | 996 | $61,250 | $772 | 8 mi |
| Poole | CDP | 256 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Slaughters | city | 175 | $35,625 | $1,208 | 10 mi |
| Onton | CDP | 122 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| Wheatcroft | city | 90 | $41,250 | $792 | 10 mi |
How Webster County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (16 to 28 miles). 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Webster County; McLean County is highest at $65,596 and Crittenden County lowest at $46,656.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Webster County | - | $59,628 | $783/mo | 74% |
| Hopkins County, KY | 16 mi | $56,815 | $837/mo | 71% |
| Union County, KY | 17 mi | $60,327 | $790/mo | 70% |
| Henderson County, KY | 20 mi | $58,851 | $777/mo | 65% |
| McLean County, KY | 23 mi | $65,596 | $641/mo | 83% |
| Crittenden County, KY | 26 mi | $46,656 | $714/mo | 78% |
| Caldwell County, KY | 28 mi | $59,583 | $767/mo | 70% |
Age, degrees and coverage in Webster County
13% of Webster County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Webster County | Difference from Kentucky | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.8% | -14.8 pts | -9.4 pts |
| Work from home | 2.6% | -7.6 pts | -6.1 pts |
| No high school diploma | 13.8% | +2.7 pts | n/a |
| Poverty rate | 13.5% | -2.5 pts | +0.3 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.3% | -2.5 pts | -1.2 pts |
| No health insurance | 4.8% | -1.2 pts | -3.0 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | -0.8 pts | -0.3 pts |
| Median age | 39.5 | +0.4 yrs | -2.0 yrs |
| Minutes to work | Webster County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.1% |
| 60+ min | 9.0% |
Local borrowing considerations for Webster County
Webster County-specific points to check:
- 21% long commutes. A Webster County repair bill is often urgent; compare the shop's financing with a loan in writing.
- Manufactured housing (16%). Webster County owners should get two written repair quotes before borrowing.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Webster County borrower sees (free reports).
Debt-to-income at Webster County's medians
Webster County's $59,628 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- $4,969 a month: gross income for a household at the Webster County median
- 16% goes to median rent ($783)
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,006 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Webster County's.
Steps before you apply in Webster County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Webster County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Kentucky borrowers.
- Ask a Webster County credit union about member loans.
Kentucky rules that apply in Webster County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Webster County, check the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Kentucky page has statewide figures to set beside Webster County's.
Related local guides
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Webster County?
$59,628 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $63,726 for Kentucky. It ranks 53rd of 120 in the state.
How much is rent in Webster County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $783 a month; 20% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Webster County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Providence, Sebree, Dixon, Clay, Poole and 3 more.
Can Webster 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.
Where can someone in Webster County check a lender's license?
With the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.