Lincoln County, Kentucky Income Statistics
Lincoln County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
Lincoln County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Lincoln County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $52,661 | $64,312 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $45,560 | $52,849 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.2% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.0% | 8.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.5% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Lincoln County is about 18% lower than in Kentucky. Income has been growing faster in Lincoln County (5.2%/yr) than in Kentucky (4.6%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Lincoln County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Kentucky average of 9%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Lincoln County, Kentucky grew by 57.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $52,661 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Lincoln County
| Metric | Lincoln County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.530 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $55,245 | $60,966 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $43,363 | $49,119 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.5% | 19.4% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Lincoln County, it is 0.530, lower than Kentucky's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 27% more than women's income in Lincoln County, Kentucky. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $415,870 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lincoln County, Kentucky has narrowed from about 26% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2019, and was narrowest at 17% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,118 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Lincoln County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.9% | 10.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 25 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 663 people are unemployed in Lincoln County, Kentucky.
The average commute time in Lincoln County is 25 minutes, longer than the 20 minutes in Kentucky.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Lincoln County, Kentucky has fallen from 10.6% to 6.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 12.7% in 2014 and fell as low as 5.5% in 2019.
Lincoln County, KY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Lincoln County, KY is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 24,512 residents against a local median of 17,568. Lincoln County, KY's unemployment, at 6.5%, runs 27% above the 5.1% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 4.3% on unemployment, so Lincoln County, KY sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Lincoln County, KY has the 5th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County, KY | 24,512 | $52,661 #3/6 | 5.2%/yr #3/6 | 6.5% #5/6 | 0.530 #1/6 |
| Garrard County, KY | 17,568 | $62,823 | 3.9%/yr | 5.1% | 0.552 |
| Boyle County, KY | 30,941 | $61,212 | 5.3%/yr | 5.8% | 0.554 |
| Casey County, KY | 15,914 | $45,684 | 4.5%/yr | 8.9% | 0.569 |
| Rockcastle County, KY | 16,158 | $49,228 | 5.0%/yr | 4.6% | 0.566 |
| Pulaski County, KY | 65,897 | $52,614 | 5.4%/yr | 4.9% | 0.548 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Lincoln County, Kentucky has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with Kentucky, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Lincoln County, Kentucky.
How Rich Is Lincoln County, Kentucky?
Lincoln County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $52,661, about 18% lower than the Kentucky average of $64,312.
How has median household income changed in Lincoln County, Kentucky?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Lincoln County, Kentucky rose 58%, from $33,385 to $52,661. Over the same years, income here outpaced Kentucky as a whole: +58% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Lincoln County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Lincoln County, Kentucky was $50,938, up 3% from $49,587 in 2022. The Kentucky median that year was $62,783.
What was the median household income in Lincoln County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Lincoln County, Kentucky was $42,693. By 2024 it had risen 23% to $52,661.
Is it hard to find a job in Lincoln County, Kentucky?
Unemployment in Lincoln County, Kentucky is 6.5%, well above the Kentucky rate of 4.8%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Lincoln County, Kentucky?
The Gini coefficient in Lincoln County is 0.530. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Lincoln County, Kentucky?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lincoln County, Kentucky has narrowed from about 26% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2019, and was narrowest at 17% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,118 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →