Cost of Living in Whitley 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 Whitley County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Whitley County ranks #565 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 18%)
Sourced county brief
Whitley County Median Home Value Below State Mean
Whitley County, Kentucky, had a median home value of $131,800, which is $29,035 below the state unweighted county mean of $160,835. The median gross rent in the county was $798 per month, slightly above the state unweighted mean of $793. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 28.3%, which is 1.1 percentage points higher than the state unweighted mean of 27.2%. Median selected monthly owner costs were $564, while the state unweighted mean was $753. The median income for renter households was $32,097. This profile is based exclusively on the ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates and provides a purely statistical overview of housing tenure and cost metrics. No advice regarding buying or renting in the county is provided. 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: Whitley County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.3% of renter household income in Whitley 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 $798 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $564. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $31,920 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. Whitley County's $798 median is 0.6% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Whitley County
Rent Burden
21.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,041
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.2%
of gross income
The median home in Whitley County may be a stretch
Median home value is $131,800. Estimated monthly cost: $1,052 vs. your max of $1,041.
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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