Counties in Kentucky where people spend most of their paycheck on housing

Written by:
October 3, 2021
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Counties in Kentucky where people spend most of their paycheck on housing

It's no secret that many Americans are forgoing homeownership in favor of renting. In 2020, renters in the U.S. occupied 43 million housing units.

The Stacker team looked at data from a United States Census survey that revealed an estimated 43,378,800 renter-occupied homes in the United States as of 2017, which makes up 36.1% of all households in the country. In 2019, renting was more affordable than buying a median-priced home in 59% of the counties; in 2021, the opposite was true: Owning was more affordable than renting in 63% of U.S. counties.

Stacker compiled a list of counties in Kentucky where people spend the highest percent of income on rent using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Of course, saving money by owning a home is unattainable for many Americans who don't have savings that could cover a down payment, those who are denied a mortgage, or both. Keep reading to see where in your home state most of people's take-home pay goes to their monthly rent.

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#50. Franklin County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.8%
- Total occupied households: 21,076
- Median household income: $56,274
- Median monthly housing cost: $833

#49. Magoffin County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.5%
- Total occupied households: 5,020
- Median household income: $28,147
- Median monthly housing cost: $417

#48. Lawrence County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.4%
- Total occupied households: 5,784
- Median household income: $32,798
- Median monthly housing cost: $486

#47. Johnson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.0%
- Total occupied households: 8,488
- Median household income: $37,055
- Median monthly housing cost: $551

#46. Knox County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.6%
- Total occupied households: 11,961
- Median household income: $30,181
- Median monthly housing cost: $449

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#45. Garrard County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.9%
- Total occupied households: 6,706
- Median household income: $52,631
- Median monthly housing cost: $785

#44. Grant County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.7%
- Total occupied households: 9,141
- Median household income: $48,714
- Median monthly housing cost: $728

#43. Owsley County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.0%
- Total occupied households: 1,704
- Median household income: $30,284
- Median monthly housing cost: $453

#42. Lewis County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.1%
- Total occupied households: 5,268
- Median household income: $31,147
- Median monthly housing cost: $466

#41. Kenton County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.4%
- Total occupied households: 63,966
- Median household income: $64,339
- Median monthly housing cost: $963

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#40. Grayson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.3%
- Total occupied households: 9,758
- Median household income: $38,612
- Median monthly housing cost: $579

#39. Boyd County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.7%
- Total occupied households: 18,210
- Median household income: $48,308
- Median monthly housing cost: $725

#38. Clark County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.9%
- Total occupied households: 14,509
- Median household income: $54,953
- Median monthly housing cost: $825

#37. Bullitt County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.2%
- Total occupied households: 29,690
- Median household income: $63,348
- Median monthly housing cost: $954

#36. Allen County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.6%
- Total occupied households: 7,605
- Median household income: $44,036
- Median monthly housing cost: $664

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#35. Anderson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.0%
- Total occupied households: 8,694
- Median household income: $55,334
- Median monthly housing cost: $838

#34. Montgomery County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.2%
- Total occupied households: 10,481
- Median household income: $45,516
- Median monthly housing cost: $692

#33. Marion County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.8%
- Total occupied households: 7,405
- Median household income: $40,107
- Median monthly housing cost: $611

#32. Jessamine County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.2%
- Total occupied households: 18,821
- Median household income: $58,245
- Median monthly housing cost: $888

#31. Campbell County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.5%
- Total occupied households: 36,746
- Median household income: $63,050
- Median monthly housing cost: $963

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#30. Breathitt County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.8%
- Total occupied households: 5,358
- Median household income: $27,344
- Median monthly housing cost: $419

#29. Madison County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.6%
- Total occupied households: 33,359
- Median household income: $50,060
- Median monthly housing cost: $768

#28. Daviess County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.4%
- Total occupied households: 40,179
- Median household income: $51,673
- Median monthly housing cost: $794

#27. Clay County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.1%
- Total occupied households: 7,622
- Median household income: $26,840
- Median monthly housing cost: $413

#26. Laurel County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.9%
- Total occupied households: 22,573
- Median household income: $41,526
- Median monthly housing cost: $640

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#25. Simpson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.7%
- Total occupied households: 7,028
- Median household income: $48,623
- Median monthly housing cost: $756

#24. Floyd County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.3%
- Total occupied households: 15,000
- Median household income: $32,730
- Median monthly housing cost: $510

#23. McCracken County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.4%
- Total occupied households: 27,854
- Median household income: $46,080
- Median monthly housing cost: $722

#22. Bourbon County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.6%
- Total occupied households: 8,106
- Median household income: $49,637
- Median monthly housing cost: $779

#21. Hardin County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.8%
- Total occupied households: 41,646
- Median household income: $54,367
- Median monthly housing cost: $855

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#20. Nicholas County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.4%
- Total occupied households: 2,804
- Median household income: $38,149
- Median monthly housing cost: $600

#19. Meade County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.3%
- Total occupied households: 10,685
- Median household income: $56,603
- Median monthly housing cost: $891

#18. Jackson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.9%
- Total occupied households: 5,484
- Median household income: $32,138
- Median monthly housing cost: $509

#17. Boyle County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.5%
- Total occupied households: 11,023
- Median household income: $46,382
- Median monthly housing cost: $741

#16. Estill County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.5%
- Total occupied households: 5,499
- Median household income: $31,688
- Median monthly housing cost: $507

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#15. Pulaski County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.9%
- Total occupied households: 25,301
- Median household income: $39,998
- Median monthly housing cost: $641

#14. Harlan County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.2%
- Total occupied households: 11,134
- Median household income: $26,478
- Median monthly housing cost: $425

#13. Warren County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.5%
- Total occupied households: 48,224
- Median household income: $52,270
- Median monthly housing cost: $839

#12. Rowan County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.8%
- Total occupied households: 8,623
- Median household income: $38,230
- Median monthly housing cost: $614

#11. McCreary County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.7%
- Total occupied households: 6,052
- Median household income: $28,105
- Median monthly housing cost: $460

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#10. Bell County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.4%
- Total occupied households: 10,624
- Median household income: $26,272
- Median monthly housing cost: $431

#9. Barren County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.4%
- Total occupied households: 16,931
- Median household income: $41,459
- Median monthly housing cost: $685

#8. Jefferson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.6%
- Total occupied households: 312,679
- Median household income: $56,586
- Median monthly housing cost: $941

#7. Fulton County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.3%
- Total occupied households: 2,441
- Median household income: $30,114
- Median monthly housing cost: $501

#6. Calloway County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.2%
- Total occupied households: 14,996
- Median household income: $42,273
- Median monthly housing cost: $708

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#5. Fayette County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.8%
- Total occupied households: 129,784
- Median household income: $57,291
- Median monthly housing cost: $976

#4. Powell County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.6%
- Total occupied households: 4,770
- Median household income: $37,469
- Median monthly housing cost: $663

#3. Wolfe County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 31.4%
- Total occupied households: 2,898
- Median household income: $24,623
- Median monthly housing cost: $436

#2. Lee County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 44.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.9%
- Total occupied households: 2,839
- Median household income: $25,275
- Median monthly housing cost: $450

#1. Christian County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 22.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 41.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 33.2%
- Total occupied households: 25,721
- Median household income: $43,919
- Median monthly housing cost: $819

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