CensusEasy
CITY

Murray

Kentucky · 18,964 residents (2025 est.) · 11.665 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Murray micropolitan area
Compare
Notable rankings
#80Shortest commutesof 6,82612.3#172Youngest by median ageof 6,82625.8
The short version

Murray has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $44,091. Population has grown 21% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $195,000. At a median age of 25.8, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 24.1% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 31% less than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 25.8
US median: 38.9
Average education
36% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 31%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
18,080
+21%since 2000
from 14,950 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,550 / sq mi
+21%since 2000
from 1,282 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
25.8
−3%since 2000
from 26.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:18,964 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
14K15K17K18K20K1990201020202024Murray
202418K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,091
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,647 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,129
+70%since 2000
from $15,389 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
28.6%
+12.6 ptssince 2009
from 16.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
24.1%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 22.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.499
−3%since 2010
from 0.516 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services6.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade4.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$195,000
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $81,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$870
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $417 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
41.7%
−6.5 ptssince 2000
from 48.1% in 2000
58.3% rent
Vacancy rate
13.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.4%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.5%
−12.4 ptssince 2009
from 54.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.4
+39%since 2000
from 3.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
40
RELATED:See current rent listings in Murray on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic87.4%(13,069)
Black6.7%(999)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(259)
Asian2.7%(400)
Other0%
Diversity Score25.9%(3,865)
2024
White, non-Hispanic81.6%(14,747)
Black6.9%(1,245)
Hispanic / Latino3.4%(609)
Asian3.6%(647)
Other4.6%(832)
Diversity Score40.7%(7,355)
Diversity Score
41
+57%since 2000
from 26 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
36.1%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 34.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.6%
+9.6 ptssince 2000
from 81.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
15.5%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 16.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
12.3 min
+6%since 2000
from 11.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.7%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 75.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
12.5%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.0%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.8%
−7.1 ptssince 2011
from 12.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.4%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 58.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.8%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 20.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.3%
−34.7 ptssince 2009
from 64.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.4%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
Female
53.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 52.4% in 2009
Foreign born
5.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.3%
−42.6 ptssince 2009
from 45.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.6%
+6.0 ptssince 2012
from 11.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.6%
−78.9 ptssince 2013
from 85.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.5%
+8.2 ptssince 2017
from 75.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.1%
+2.3 ptssince 2016
from 90.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 3.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Murray

Bayshore Gardens
Pop 18,131
Lealman
Pop 20,567
Lady Lake
Pop 17,496
New Port Richey
Pop 18,299
Places similar to Murray
Head to head

Compare Murray to nearby cities

MURRAY VS
Mayfield
Income$40,965−7%
Home value$112,500−42%
Population9,851−48%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MURRAY VS
Paris
Income$41,012−7%
Home value$163,600−16%
Population10,468−45%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MURRAY VS
Martin
Income$43,381−2%
Home value$198,300+2%
Population11,060−42%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MURRAY VS
Paducah
Income$49,915+13%
Home value$165,300−15%
Population26,730+41%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Murray, Kentucky?

Murray, Kentucky has about 18,080 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Murray, Kentucky?

The typical household in Murray, Kentucky earns about $44,091 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Murray, Kentucky expensive?

In Murray, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $195,000, and the typical rent is about $870 a month.

How educated are people in Murray, Kentucky?

About 36.1% of adults age 25 and over in Murray, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Murray, Kentucky?

About 24.1% of people in Murray, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Murray, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Murray, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,641 residents, a change of about 25 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Kentucky
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Murray with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →