Cost of Living in Letcher 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 Letcher County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Letcher County ranks #84 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 3%)
Sourced county brief
Median Home Value in Letcher County Reaches Sixty-Seven Thousand Dollars
The median home value in Letcher County was estimated at $67,400 during the 2020-2024 period, which is $93,435 below the Kentucky unweighted county mean of $160,835. Median gross rent in the county was $669 per month, while the state unweighted county mean was $793. For renter households, the official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 29.3%. This is 2.1 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 27.2%. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied housing units were $479, below the state unweighted county mean of $753. The median income for renter households was $24,819. See ACS table B25077 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: Letcher County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.3% of renter household income in Letcher County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $669 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, $26,760 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. Letcher County's $669 median is 15.7% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Letcher County
Rent Burden
19.2%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$975
per month
Owner Cost Burden
13.8%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Letcher County
Median home value is $67,400. Estimated monthly cost: $538 vs. your max of $975.
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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