United States › Kentucky › Central City CITY
Central City Kentucky · 5,793 residents (2025 est.) · 5.24 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 5,707 people, Central City is a city in Kentucky. 6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. The poverty rate is 25.6%, above the 12.5% national rate. Home values have roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $143,600. 1% of people here were born outside the United States. People stay put here: 76% were in the same home a year ago.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
6% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 55%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 5,893 in 2000
5,793 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,090 / sq mi
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1,091 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 38.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
5K 5K 5K 6K 6K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Central City Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $50,885
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,371 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $12,637 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 20.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.438 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Arts, entertainment, food 3.9%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.9%
Public administration 2.5%
Education & health services 1%
Transportation & warehousing 0.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$143,600
+55%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$683
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $306 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 73.6% in 2000
40.6% rent
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.38 people
+14%since 2009
from 2.09 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 24.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 33.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.0 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 87.6%(5,162)
Hispanic / Latino 0.8%(47)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 86.6%(4,945)
Hispanic / Latino 3.4%(193)
from 38 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 3 more ancestry groups with data from 9.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 62.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 16.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 81.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 5.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 37.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 54.7% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 20.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 34.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 21.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 18.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 69.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 84.9% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 76.0% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 99.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 43.4%(1,232)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 18.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 51.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 11.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 22.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 30.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 59.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 49.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 12.7%(27)
Gulf War (1990s) 35.7%(76)
Share of the 213 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Central City Head to head
Compare Central City to nearby cities CENTRAL CITY VS
Madisonville
Income $53,860 +6%
Home value $164,100 +14%
Population 19,428 +235%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CENTRAL CITY VS
Owensboro
Income $56,357 +11%
Home value $178,900 +25%
Population 60,892 +951%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CENTRAL CITY VS
Hopkinsville
Income $49,139 −3%
Home value $172,100 +20%
Population 30,411 +425%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CENTRAL CITY VS
Bowling Green
Income $48,873 −4%
Home value $241,900 +68%
Population 78,505 +1255%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Central City, Kentucky? Central City, Kentucky has about 5,707 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Central City, Kentucky? The typical household in Central City, Kentucky earns about $50,885 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Central City, Kentucky expensive? In Central City, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $143,600, and the typical rent is about $683 a month.
How educated are people in Central City, Kentucky? About 5.7% of adults age 25 and over in Central City, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Central City, Kentucky? About 25.6% of people in Central City, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.
Has Central City, Kentucky grown since 1990? Yes, Central City, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 728 residents, a change of about 15 percent over that period.
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