Cost of Living in Lee County, Kentucky
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Lee County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Lee County ranks #30 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 1%)
Sourced county brief
Lee County Rent Burden Estimated at 33.9 Percent of Household Income
In Lee County, the official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was estimated at 33.9% for the 2020-2024 period. This figure is 6.7 percentage points higher than the Kentucky unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 27.2%. The median gross rent for the county was recorded at $603 per month, which is $190 below the state unweighted county mean rent of $793. For owner-occupied units, median selected monthly owner costs were $479, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $753. The median home value in the county was estimated at $83,900, which is $76,935 below the state unweighted county mean of $160,835. Renter-household median income for the area was $21,094. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Lee County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 33.9% of renter household income in Lee County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $603 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $479. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $24,120 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Kentucky unweighted mean of county median rents is $793 per month. Lee County's $603 median is 24.0% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Lee County
Rent Burden
19.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$877
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.3%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Lee County
Median home value is $83,900. Estimated monthly cost: $670 vs. your max of $877.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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