(STACKER) – Americans on the whole were doing well financially heading into 2020, with major markers like unemployment reaching 50-year lows. The pandemic changed all that: During the second quarter of the 2020 fiscal year, our nation’s real GDP fell by a whopping 31.4%, a number that hasn’t been seen since the Great Depression. As the economy makes its comeback, things are still a far cry from the way they were in 2019.
One marker that has sped far past its 2019 position is that of income inequality in the United States. Low-wage industries were decimated by the pandemic, leaving millions without work or in positions they were overqualified for. Meanwhile, nearly one in five households across the United States earn less than $25,000 a year, while more than 6% have an annual income that falls below $10,000.
Where you live can make a big impact on your financial situation. Stacker compiled a list of the lowest-earning counties in Kentucky using data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
MORE KENTUCKY LISTS & RANKINGS:
- Least educated counties in Kentucky
- Best school districts in Kentucky
- Kentucky has 1 of the 50 cities with the most green space per capita
- Highest rated beer in Kentucky
- Read more Kentucky Lists & Rankings
Counties are ranked by the Census’ 2019 5-year estimate median household income. Keep reading to see where people in your state are making the least.
1 / 50
#50. Webster County
– Median household income: $42,119
— 16.7% below state median, 33.0% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 16.6%
— #2,019 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 18.1%
— #409 highest rate among all counties nationwide
2 / 50
#49. Robertson County
– Median household income: $41,902
— 17.2% below state median, 33.3% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 12.9%
— #2,656 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 19.8%
— #273 highest rate among all counties nationwide
3 / 50
#48. Butler County
– Median household income: $41,763
— 17.4% below state median, 33.5% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 14.8%
— #2,352 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 15.5%
— #709 highest rate among all counties nationwide
4 / 50
#47. Laurel County
– Median household income: $41,526
— 17.9% below state median, 33.9% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 13.8%
— #2,524 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 20.0%
— #268 highest rate among all counties nationwide
5 / 50
#46. Barren County
– Median household income: $41,459
— 18.0% below state median, 34.0% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 12.8%
— #2,681 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 16.7%
— #573 highest rate among all counties nationwide
6 / 50
#45. Martin County
– Median household income: $41,013
— 18.9% below state median, 34.7% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 12.1%
— #2,771 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 19.4%
— #300 highest rate among all counties nationwide
7 / 50
#44. Marion County
– Median household income: $40,107
— 20.7% below state median, 36.2% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 14.1%
— #2,472 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 16.6%
— #580 highest rate among all counties nationwide
8 / 50
#43. Pulaski County
– Median household income: $39,998
— 20.9% below state median, 36.4% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 14.2%
— #2,454 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 20.1%
— #262 highest rate among all counties nationwide
9 / 50
#42. Menifee County
– Median household income: $39,325
— 22.3% below state median, 37.4% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 8.3%
— #3,081 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 20.6%
— #238 highest rate among all counties nationwide
10 / 50
#41. Whitley County
– Median household income: $39,005
— 22.9% below state median, 37.9% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 14.0%
— #2,487 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 20.5%
— #244 highest rate among all counties nationwide
11 / 50
#40. Grayson County
– Median household income: $38,612
— 23.7% below state median, 38.6% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 12.7%
— #2,693 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 16.8%
— #567 highest rate among all counties nationwide
12 / 50
#39. Hart County
– Median household income: $38,396
— 24.1% below state median, 38.9% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 12.0%
— #2,782 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 20.6%
— #238 highest rate among all counties nationwide
13 / 50
#38. Russell County
– Median household income: $38,390
— 24.1% below state median, 38.9% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 10.9%
— #2,916 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 19.6%
— #288 highest rate among all counties nationwide
14 / 50
#37. Rowan County
– Median household income: $38,230
— 24.4% below state median, 39.2% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 15.1%
— #2,320 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 18.8%
— #355 highest rate among all counties nationwide
15 / 50
#36. Nicholas County
– Median household income: $38,149
— 24.6% below state median, 39.3% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 15.2%
— #2,297 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 15.2%
— #756 highest rate among all counties nationwide
16 / 50
#35. Adair County
– Median household income: $38,021
— 24.8% below state median, 39.5% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 11.3%
— #2,872 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 17.9%
— #430 highest rate among all counties nationwide
17 / 50
#34. Powell County
– Median household income: $37,469
— 25.9% below state median, 40.4% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 11.0%
— #2,907 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 20.1%
— #262 highest rate among all counties nationwide
18 / 50
#33. Metcalfe County
– Median household income: $37,386
— 26.1% below state median, 40.5% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 9.3%
— #3,045 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 20.8%
— #228 highest rate among all counties nationwide
19 / 50
#32. Johnson County
– Median household income: $37,055
— 26.8% below state median, 41.0% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 14.9%
— #2,333 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 21.3%
— #196 highest rate among all counties nationwide
20 / 50
#31. Morgan County
– Median household income: $36,134
— 28.6% below state median, 42.5% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 10.5%
— #2,955 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 21.3%
— #201 highest rate among all counties nationwide
21 / 50
#30. Green County
– Median household income: $35,899
— 29.0% below state median, 42.9% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 10.8%
— #2,932 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 17.0%
— #533 highest rate among all counties nationwide
22 / 50
#29. Rockcastle County
– Median household income: $35,720
— 29.4% below state median, 43.2% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 11.6%
— #2,829 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 20.8%
— #228 highest rate among all counties nationwide
23 / 50
#28. Cumberland County
– Median household income: $35,344
— 30.1% below state median, 43.8% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 9.9%
— #2,999 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 25.2%
— #72 highest rate among all counties nationwide
24 / 50
#27. Wayne County
– Median household income: $34,914
— 31.0% below state median, 44.4% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 10.5%
— #2,955 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 20.7%
— #234 highest rate among all counties nationwide
25 / 50
#26. Monroe County
– Median household income: $34,879
— 31.1% below state median, 44.5% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 14.5%
— #2,405 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 23.0%
— #134 highest rate among all counties nationwide
26 / 50
#25. Pike County
– Median household income: $34,856
— 31.1% below state median, 44.5% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 11.9%
— #2,793 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 22.8%
— #144 highest rate among all counties nationwide
27 / 50
#24. Casey County
– Median household income: $34,819
— 31.2% below state median, 44.6% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 11.0%
— #2,906 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 22.5%
— #150 highest rate among all counties nationwide
28 / 50
#23. Carter County
– Median household income: $34,736
— 31.3% below state median, 44.7% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 11.3%
— #2,884 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 23.8%
— #113 highest rate among all counties nationwide
29 / 50
#22. Perry County
– Median household income: $33,640
— 33.5% below state median, 46.5% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 12.0%
— #2,782 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 23.1%
— #128 highest rate among all counties nationwide
30 / 50
#21. Lawrence County
– Median household income: $32,798
— 35.2% below state median, 47.8% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 10.0%
— #2,996 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 26.0%
— #64 highest rate among all counties nationwide
31 / 50
#20. Floyd County
– Median household income: $32,730
— 35.3% below state median, 47.9% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 8.8%
— #3,069 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 26.2%
— #61 highest rate among all counties nationwide
32 / 50
#19. Elliott County
– Median household income: $32,306
— 36.1% below state median, 48.6% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 7.8%
— #3,099 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 24.8%
— #84 highest rate among all counties nationwide
33 / 50
#18. Clinton County
– Median household income: $32,184
— 36.4% below state median, 48.8% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 10.1%
— #2,992 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 20.7%
— #232 highest rate among all counties nationwide
34 / 50
#17. Jackson County
– Median household income: $32,138
— 36.5% below state median, 48.9% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 8.9%
— #3,060 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 26.5%
— #54 highest rate among all counties nationwide
35 / 50
#16. Estill County
– Median household income: $31,688
— 37.4% below state median, 49.6% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 7.7%
— #3,103 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 26.6%
— #53 highest rate among all counties nationwide
36 / 50
#15. Leslie County
– Median household income: $31,627
— 37.5% below state median, 49.7% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 3.6%
— #3,141 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 27.8%
— #39 highest rate among all counties nationwide
37 / 50
#14. Knott County
– Median household income: $31,198
— 38.3% below state median, 50.4% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 7.6%
— #3,105 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 24.2%
— #103 highest rate among all counties nationwide
38 / 50
#13. Lewis County
– Median household income: $31,147
— 38.4% below state median, 50.4% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 9.5%
— #3,026 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 24.0%
— #107 highest rate among all counties nationwide
39 / 50
#12. Owsley County
– Median household income: $30,284
— 40.1% below state median, 51.8% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 11.3%
— #2,872 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 31.3%
— #13 highest rate among all counties nationwide
40 / 50
#11. Knox County
– Median household income: $30,181
— 40.3% below state median, 52.0% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 8.6%
— #3,075 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 31.4%
— #12 highest rate among all counties nationwide
41 / 50
#10. Fulton County
– Median household income: $30,114
— 40.5% below state median, 52.1% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 8.3%
— #3,081 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 26.3%
— #59 highest rate among all counties nationwide
42 / 50
#9. Letcher County
– Median household income: $29,886
— 40.9% below state median, 52.4% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 10.4%
— #2,965 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 25.4%
— #68 highest rate among all counties nationwide
43 / 50
#8. Magoffin County
– Median household income: $28,147
— 44.4% below state median, 55.2% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 7.1%
— #3,115 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 25.7%
— #65 highest rate among all counties nationwide
44 / 50
#7. McCreary County
– Median household income: $28,105
— 44.4% below state median, 55.3% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 6.9%
— #3,117 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 26.9%
— #49 highest rate among all counties nationwide
45 / 50
#6. Breathitt County
– Median household income: $27,344
— 45.9% below state median, 56.5% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 10.1%
— #2,992 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 32.2%
— #10 highest rate among all counties nationwide
46 / 50
#5. Clay County
– Median household income: $26,840
— 46.9% below state median, 57.3% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 6.2%
— #3,125 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 29.5%
— #19 highest rate among all counties nationwide
47 / 50
#4. Harlan County
– Median household income: $26,478
— 47.7% below state median, 57.9% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 6.1%
— #3,127 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 28.8%
— #27 highest rate among all counties nationwide
48 / 50
#3. Bell County
– Median household income: $26,272
— 48.1% below state median, 58.2% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 4.8%
— #3,140 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 29.2%
— #21 highest rate among all counties nationwide
49 / 50
#2. Lee County
– Median household income: $25,275
— 50.0% below state median, 59.8% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 6.6%
— #3,121 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 31.2%
— #15 highest rate among all counties nationwide
50 / 50
#1. Wolfe County
– Median household income: $24,623
— 51.3% below state median, 60.8% below national median
– Households earning over $100k: 5.6%
— #3,131 highest rate among all counties nationwide
– Households earning less than $15k: 29.1%
— #22 highest rate among all counties nationwide