Cost of Living in Rowan 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 Rowan County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Rowan County ranks #1,009 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 32%)
Sourced county brief
Rowan County Median Gross Rent Measured at $825 Monthly
Rowan County, Kentucky, reported a median gross rent of $825 per month, which is $32 higher than the state unweighted county mean of $793. The official ACS B25071 GRAPI was 27.7%, differing from the Kentucky unweighted county mean of 27.2% by 0.5 percentage points. For owner-occupied housing, the median home value was estimated at $161,800, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $160,835. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $707, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $753. The median income for renter-occupied households in Rowan County was $36,896. This snapshot is based on data from the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates covering the 2020-2024 period. See ACS table B25064 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: Rowan County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 27.7% of renter household income in Rowan 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 $825 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $707. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $33,000 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. Rowan County's $825 median is 4.0% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Rowan County
Rent Burden
18.2%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,267
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.6%
of gross income
The median home in Rowan County may be a stretch
Median home value is $161,800. Estimated monthly cost: $1,292 vs. your max of $1,267.
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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