Corbin: Economy & Jobs
$51,065 is the median household income in Corbin (1.1× higher than Whitley County median $44,615; 1.2× below Kentucky median $63,726), with homes at a median value of $166,000. The surrounding county supports 7,685 jobs (avg $43,409).
- $46,610 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income (vs Kentucky $79,007).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $51,065 — below the Kentucky median ($61,166). Poverty rate 26.0% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 35% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 3.3× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 16.1% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 34.6% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 26.0% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 2.5% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $11,200 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $522,027 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $46,610 (vs Kentucky $79,007) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $59,021 |
| Median Household Income | $51,065 (vs Kentucky $61,166) |
| Poverty Rate | 26.0% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $51,065 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 3.6% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 7% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 23.50 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 7.4% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 7,685 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $333,586,970 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $43,409 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 1,963,060 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% (vs Kentucky 3.1%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 290 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 1,102 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 3.80 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Animal Totals, Field Crops, Other, Cattle, Vegetable Totals |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 455 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 7,013 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 335,899 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 6 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 12 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 16 |
| Local Businesses · Used Car Dealers | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Funeral Homes | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Commercial Banks | 11 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 9 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 23 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (17)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | KROGER #L-00719 L719 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 48 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | SOUTHERN KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INC |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $220,756,467 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 7,311.51 (vs Kentucky $7,452) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 30,193 people (vs Kentucky 19,515) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 81.0% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 0.5% |
| Pct Walked | 7.4% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 37.6 years (vs Kentucky 37.2y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 35.4% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | good |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12