Cost of Living in Russell 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 Russell County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Russell County ranks #182 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 6%)
Sourced county brief
Russell County Median Home Value Above Kentucky State Unweighted Mean
The median home value in Russell County was estimated at $163,200, which is above the Kentucky unweighted county mean of $160,835. In contrast, the median gross rent for the area was $681 per month, falling below the state unweighted county mean of $793. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 27.9%, a figure 0.7 percentage points higher than the Kentucky unweighted county mean of 27.2%. For owner-occupied units, median selected monthly owner costs were $558, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $753. Median renter-household income in Russell County was estimated at $25,460 for the 2020-2024 ACS period. These data points provide a snapshot of housing costs relative to income for different household types in the county. 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: Russell County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 27.9% of renter household income in Russell 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 $681 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $558. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $27,240 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. Russell County's $681 median is 14.2% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Russell County
Rent Burden
18.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,044
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.0%
of gross income
The median home in Russell County may be a stretch
Median home value is $163,200. Estimated monthly cost: $1,303 vs. your max of $1,044.
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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