These Central Kentucky cities have median household incomes much lower than the state

Meredith Howard
·1 min read

While Lexington has a higher median household income than the Bluegrass State as a whole, residents of some Central Kentucky areas make thousands less per year.

The U.S. Census Bureau provides data on median household incomes for cities or towns with populations of at least 5,000 people. The incomes are shown in 2021 dollars and reflect the median household income for the years 2017 to 2021.

Lexington-Fayette has a median household income of $61,526, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Nationally, the median household income is $69,021, and Kentucky’s is $55,454.

Here’s how other Central Kentucky cities stack up:

What’s the current inflation rate?

Kentucky households must make incomes stretch further now, as inflation has brought prices up 6% from February 2022 to February 2023. Food prices have increased even more, with a 10.2% hike for groceries and a 8.4% increase for restaurant meals.

The price of electricity rose by 12.9% from February 2022 to February 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, and several other essential categories have also seen sharp inflation.

Here’s how more prices have increased over the 12-month period:

  • Transportation services: 14.6%

  • Shelter: 8.1%

  • Medical care services: 2.1%

  • New vehicles: 5.8%

  • Apparel: 3.3%

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