Housing is a critical issue facing many households in poverty.  Just as poverty rates tend to be higher in rural areas, so too are rural households in poverty more likely to be homeowners. 

In nonmetropolitan areas of Kentucky, 55.8% of households below poverty were home owners compared to 31.2 % in metropolitan areas.  By contrast, metro households in poverty are more likely to be renters. 

While home ownership is generally considered to be a more stable form of housing, it is important to remember that many in rural areas still face issues of low quality housing and affordability, even if they own their own homes. 

This issue of “Kentucky: By the Numbers” is one in a series of several profiles examining different aspects of poverty at the county level in Kentucky.