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Buying a home in West Van Lear, Kentucky

The typical owner-occupied home in West Van Lear is worth about $135,300, 34% below the Kentucky median of $205,600 and 59% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,162 a year in property taxes, about 0.86% of their home's value, higher than the Kentucky rate of 0.75%. The median household earns $66,815 a year, so the median home costs 2.0 times the median income (3.2 times for Kentucky). 92% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 40% of those owners still have a mortgage.

West Van Lear at a glance

West Van Lear Kentucky U.S.
Median home value $135,300 $205,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,162 $1,544 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.86% 0.75% 0.94%
Median household income $66,815 $63,726 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 92% 68% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 40% 56% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,108 $1,433 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 11.9% 18.8% 21.0%
Median rent – $967 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 11.8% 28.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1980 1982 1980
Vacant homes 7.3% 10.3% 10.1%
Population 1,155 4,534,824 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in West Van Lear

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median West Van Lear home of $135,300 with 20% down costs about $881 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,107, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $37,778 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 16% of the median West Van Lear household income of $66,815; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $239,000.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$27,060
Loan amount$108,240
Principal and interest$728
Property taxes (0.86% a year)$97
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$56
PMI$0
Total per month$881

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,736
Loan amount$132,849
Principal and interest$894
Property taxes (0.86% a year)$97
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$56
FHA mortgage insurance$60
Total per month$1,107

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Questions about home buying in West Van Lear

What is the median home value in West Van Lear?

About $135,300 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in West Van Lear?

Homeowners pay a median $1,162 a year, which is about 0.86% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in West Van Lear?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $881 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $37,778 a year.

More about West Van Lear

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data