Boyd County, Kentucky: commercial real estate data.
Boyd County, Kentucky had an estimated 47,777 residents on July 1, 2024, down 1.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 48,255, across 160 square miles. County output reached $3.76 bn in 2024, 1,169 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 34 7(a) approvals worth $14.6 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Boyd County
How many people live in Boyd County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202447,911
- Households19,309
- Average household size2.48
- Median household income$61,118
- Median age42.3
- Median gross rent$849 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$130,700
- Home value to household income2.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher20.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over34,246
- Population under 1810,159
- Share under 1821.2 percent
- Population 65 and over9,825
- Share 65 and over20.5 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6427,927
- Civilian labor force20,585
- Unemployment rate6.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over54.5 percent
- Rank by population among Kentucky counties21st of 120
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1042nd of 3,222
Boyd County is the 21st largest of 120 Kentucky counties by population. A median home costs 2.1 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.2 percent against 20.5 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Boyd County
Is Boyd County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202447,777
- Census 2020 base population48,255
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.99 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20246
- Births, 2024397
- Deaths, 2024713
- Natural change, 2024-316
- Net domestic migration, 2024288
- Net international migration, 202438
- Total net migration, 2024326
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024699
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2183rd of 3,144
The county has lost 0.99 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Boyd County
Where are people moving to Boyd County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,187
- People arriving, from those returns2,268
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,079
- Net household movement108
- Adjusted gross income arriving$53.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-3.2 m
- Average income of an arriving household$45,350
- Average income of a leaving household$52,815
- Largest single originGreenup County (227 households)
- Largest single destinationGreenup County (282 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenup County | 227 | 439 | $9.2 m |
| Lawrence County | 139 | 277 | $5.5 m |
| Carter County | 92 | 190 | $4.2 m |
| Cabell County | 79 | 147 | $4.5 m |
| Wayne County | 74 | 157 | $3.5 m |
| Lawrence County | 44 | 98 | $1.8 m |
| Fayette County | 33 | 52 | $1.7 m |
Households arriving report $7,465 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Greenup County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Boyd County
What is the Boyd County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$3.76 bn
- County GDP, 2023$3.81 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 2024-1.4 percent
- GDP change over five years45.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Kentucky areas BEA publishes15th of 120
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes852nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$78,441
Output grew -1.4 percent in the latest year and 45.4 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Boyd County
Employment by industry in Boyd County
- Covered employment, annual average25,992
- Establishments reporting1,796
- Average annual pay$59,231
- Average weekly wage$1,139
- Health care and social assistance, employment7,469
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$68,314
- Retail trade, employment3,228
- Retail trade, average annual pay$33,857
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,759
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$21,196
- Construction, employment1,522
- Construction, average annual pay$71,064
- Manufacturing, employment1,370
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment1,103
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 7,469 | 350 | $68,314 |
| Retail trade | 3,228 | 262 | $33,857 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,759 | 138 | $21,196 |
| Construction | 1,522 | 143 | $71,064 |
| Manufacturing | 1,370 | 62 | $121,179 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,103 | 102 | $47,406 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 946 | 168 | $83,037 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 907 | 43 | $87,261 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 7,469 jobs, 28.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Boyd County
How many businesses are in Boyd County?
- Establishments, all industries1,169
- Employment at those establishments21,522
- Annual payroll$1.19 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents24.4
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Boyd County
Building permits in Boyd County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20249
- Declared construction value permitted$909,500
- Single family units authorized3
- Multifamily units authorized6
- Multifamily share of units66.7 percent
- Average declared value per unit$101,056
- Units authorized per 1,000 households0.5
Multifamily is 66.7 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Boyd County
SBA loans in Boyd County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded34
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$14.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$428,397
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- 10th percentile approval$43,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,514,300
- Largest single approval$2,500,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)491
- Jobs per approval14.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active13
- Distinct industries receiving approvals21
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer17.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms6
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter24
- Franchise loans8
- Franchise share of approvals23.5 percent
- Leading industry by approval countSnack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars (4)
- Most active lenderCommunity Trust Bank, Inc. (11)
- 504 approvals recorded1
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.2 m
- Average 504 approval$1,190,000
- Median 504 approval$1,190,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval5.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved4.2
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$15.8 m
The average approval of $428,397 sits well above the median of $150,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 17.6 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Boyd County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Boyd County
Do SBA loans in Boyd County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded7
- Paid in full5
- Charged off2
- Status: Paid in full5
- Status: Exempt from disclosure22
- Status: Charged off2
- Status: Cancelled5
Only 7 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Boyd County
SBA lending by place in Boyd County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Ashland, approvals31
- Catlettsburg, approvals2
- Rush, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Ashland | 31 | $13,780,500 |
| Catlettsburg | 2 | $635,000 |
| Rush | 1 | $150,000 |
Ashland accounts for 31 approvals against 2 in Catlettsburg. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Boyd County
How large is Boyd County?
- Land area160 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Kentucky counties114th of 120
- Width, east to west13.3 mi
- Height, north to south18.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land299
- Establishments per square mile7.31
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Boyd County
Flood risk in Boyd County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Boyd County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 210016
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 10
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Boyd County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Boyd County (community 210016), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Boyd County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 10, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Boyd County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Boyd County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202447,911
- Households19,309
- Average household size2.48
- Median household income$61,118
- Median age42.3
Common questions
Boyd County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Boyd County, Kentucky?
The Census Bureau estimates 47,777 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 47,911, in 19,309 households, ranking 21st of 120 Kentucky counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Boyd County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.99 percent since the 2020 census base of 48,255, to 47,777 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 397 births against 713 deaths, with net migration of 326. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Boyd County?
$61,118. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $130,700, which is 2.1 times income, and median gross rent is $849 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Boyd County?
1,169 establishments, employing 21,522 people with an annual payroll of $1.19 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Boyd County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 7,469 jobs, 28.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 25,992 jobs at an average annual pay of $59,231, or $1,139 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Boyd County?
34 7(a) approvals totaling $14.6 m since FY2020, across 13 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 1 504 approvals worth $1.2 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Boyd County?
9 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $909,500. Multifamily was 66.7 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Boyd County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Boyd County come from?
The largest single origin is Greenup County, with 227 households. Arriving households report an average income of $45,350 against $52,815 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Boyd County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Boyd County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Boyd County
Cities and places in Boyd.
5 Census places lie wholly or partly in Boyd County. All 5 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland | city | 21,295 | 31 | Wholly in this county |
| Westwood | CDP | 4,473 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Catlettsburg | city | 1,557 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Cannonsburg | CDP | 1,129 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ironville | CDP | 411 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 34 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Boyd County, the largest being Rush (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.