Letcher County's composite score of 74.6 exceeds the national median of 50.0 by 49%, placing it in the top half of American counties. This marks a meaningful advantage for a southeastern Kentucky county.
2 / 5
Holds its own in Kentucky rankings
Letcher County's score of 74.6 sits marginally below Kentucky's state average of 75.0, keeping it competitive with neighboring counties. The county remains a solid performer relative to state peers.
3 / 5
Affordable housing and fair taxes
Letcher County offers a Cost Score of 89.7 with median homes at $70,500 and rents at $651/month, delivering strong affordability. A Tax Score of 76.1 reflects an effective rate of 0.932%, keeping fiscal burden manageable.
4 / 5
Income levels lag regional norms
The Income Score of 9.8 corresponds to a median household income of $40,501, trailing state averages. Limited data on safety, health, schools, and water quality restricts a fuller livability assessment.
5 / 5
Right for families seeking affordability
Letcher County appeals to families and retirees prioritizing low housing costs and manageable taxes over higher earnings. The county's economic foundation suits those with modest incomes or supplemental income from remote work.
Letcher County's composite score of 74.6 exceeds the national median of 50.0 by 49%, placing it in the top half of American counties. This marks a meaningful advantage for a southeastern Kentucky county.
Holds its own in Kentucky rankings
Letcher County's score of 74.6 sits marginally below Kentucky's state average of 75.0, keeping it competitive with neighboring counties. The county remains a solid performer relative to state peers.
Affordable housing and fair taxes
Letcher County offers a Cost Score of 89.7 with median homes at $70,500 and rents at $651/month, delivering strong affordability. A Tax Score of 76.1 reflects an effective rate of 0.932%, keeping fiscal burden manageable.
Income levels lag regional norms
The Income Score of 9.8 corresponds to a median household income of $40,501, trailing state averages. Limited data on safety, health, schools, and water quality restricts a fuller livability assessment.
Right for families seeking affordability
Letcher County appeals to families and retirees prioritizing low housing costs and manageable taxes over higher earnings. The county's economic foundation suits those with modest incomes or supplemental income from remote work.
Score breakdown
5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.
🏛76.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Letcher County's effective rate of 0.932% exceeds the national median of 0.86%, placing it in the upper-middle range of US counties. Despite the higher rate, the median tax bill of $657 remains just 24% of the national median of $2,690.
Highest tax rate in eastern Kentucky
Letcher County's 0.932% effective rate significantly exceeds Kentucky's state average of 0.719%, ranking it among the higher-taxed counties in the commonwealth. The median bill of $657 surpasses the state median of $1,093, adjusted for lower home values.
Steepest rate among regional counties
Letcher County's 0.932% rate tops all nearby comparables, including Lee County (0.848%), Leslie County (0.718%), and Lewis County (0.648%). Homeowners here bear the heaviest property tax load in the eastern mountain region.
Median home: $70,500, annual tax $657
A homeowner with a median-valued property of $70,500 pays approximately $657 per year in property taxes. That amounts to roughly $55 monthly—or $823 annually when mortgage-related assessments apply.
Higher rates make appeals even more valuable
In higher-tax counties like Letcher, an overassessment directly costs you more each year. Challenging an inflated assessment with comparable market data can result in hundreds of dollars in annual savings.
Letcher rent-to-income ratio tracks national norms
Letcher County's rent-to-income ratio of 19.3% aligns closely with typical American housing burden levels, meaning renters here spend a reasonable share of income on housing. Yet the county's median household income of $40,501—just 54% of the national average—undercuts this affordability advantage.
Above state average in affordability pressure
Letcher County's 19.3% rent-to-income ratio exceeds Kentucky's state average of 17.0%, placing housing affordability slightly above the statewide norm. Median rent of $651 sits well below the state average of $771, though local incomes lag proportionally.
Mid-range rent among Appalachian peers
Letcher County's $651 median rent falls between Leslie County's $520 and Lewis County's $757, positioning it squarely in the regional middle. However, Letcher's 19.3% rent-to-income ratio is the highest among nearby counties, signaling tighter household affordability.
Rent costs outpace homeownership expenses
Renters in Letcher pay $651 monthly compared to homeowners' $473, making purchase significantly more affordable than renting. Median home value of $70,500 combined with a median household income of $40,501 makes homeownership a realistic goal for many residents.
Letcher suits buyers more than renters
If you're ready to buy, Letcher County offers affordable homes and manageable owner costs, though renters face above-average affordability pressure. Investigate local employment in your field—coal mining's decline has reshaped the county's job market significantly.
Letcher County's median household income of $40,501 represents just 54% of the national median of $74,755, a 46% income deficit. This gap underscores the persistent economic disadvantage facing many Appalachian coal-mining communities.
Lower-income county in Kentucky rankings
At $40,501, Letcher County's median household income trails the state average of $55,909 by 28%, placing it in Kentucky's lower-income tier. The county's dependence on extractive industries has limited wage diversity and economic resilience.
Part of struggling eastern Kentucky cluster
Letcher County's $40,501 median closely mirrors Leslie County's $40,176 and Lee County's $34,182, forming a regional income band. These counties share similar occupational structures and face comparable challenges attracting higher-wage employers.
Rent costs edge slightly higher here
Letcher County's rent-to-income ratio of 19.3% is reasonable but climbing, indicating housing absorbs nearly a fifth of median income. With median home values at $70,500, homeownership is within reach for many families, though saving for a down payment requires discipline.
Wealth-building starts with intentional saving
Letcher County households can build financial security by automating savings transfers and exploring employer retirement benefits. Working with a financial counselor to eliminate high-interest debt and invest in education or skills training opens pathways to higher future earnings.
Letcher County faces decade-long life expectancy gap
Letcher County residents live to just 67.7 years on average—11.2 years shorter than the U.S. average of 78.9 years. Nearly one in four residents (24.9%) report poor or fair health, more than double the national average of 11%.
Lowest life expectancy in Kentucky
At 67.7 years, Letcher County has Kentucky's shortest life expectancy, trailing the state average of 72.2 years by 4.5 years. This represents one of the starkest health disparities in the Commonwealth.
Lowest life expectancy, but middle primary care access
Letcher County's 67.7-year life expectancy ranks lowest among its Eastern Kentucky neighbors, yet it leads in primary care access with 57 providers per 100,000 residents—more than double Leslie County's 20. With 93 mental health providers per 100,000, Letcher also maintains robust mental health infrastructure.
Uninsured rate matches state average
Letcher County's 7.1% uninsured rate runs slightly above Kentucky's 7.0% average, and despite stronger primary care provider density (57 per 100K), nearly 1 in 14 residents still lack coverage. This gap suggests that even when providers exist, financial barriers prevent access to care.
Enroll today to access better care
Letcher County's solid provider network means health coverage directly connects you to available care. Visit healthcare.gov or your local Medicaid office to explore coverage options and reduce the barriers keeping your community's life expectancy so low.
Letcher County's composite risk score of 66.60 exceeds Kentucky's state average of 44.21 by 51%, placing it in the relatively low risk category nationally. This above-average exposure stems primarily from the county's mountainous terrain and vegetation patterns.
Highest risk among its peers
Letcher County ranks among Kentucky's higher-risk counties with a composite score of 66.60, nearly 50% above the state average. The county faces more significant hazard exposure than most other Kentucky counties, particularly for flooding and wildfires.
Letcher's risks far exceed neighbors
Letcher County's score of 66.60 dramatically exceeds neighboring Leslie County (31.71) and Lee County (7.51), making it the highest-risk county in its region. Flood risk of 83.11 and wildfire risk of 76.49 are particularly elevated compared to surrounding areas.
Flooding and wildfire dominate the threat
Flood risk (83.11) and wildfire risk (76.49) are Letcher County's most serious natural disaster threats, each far exceeding state averages. Earthquake risk (52.48) and hurricane risk (41.18) also exceed state norms, while tornado risk (27.83) remains more moderate.
Flood and wildfire insurance critical
Letcher County residents must prioritize flood insurance due to the county's exceptionally high flood risk of 83.11. Homeowners in or near forested areas should also carefully review wildfire coverage, as the county's wildfire risk of 76.49 places it among Kentucky's most vulnerable areas.