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CITY

Whitesburg

Kentucky · 1,609 residents (2025 est.) · 3.132 sq mi
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The short version

Whitesburg has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $29,189. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $111,700. The poverty rate of 37.5% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 54% less than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,761
+10%since 2000
from 1,600 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
562 / sq mi
+10%since 2000
from 511 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.8
−2%since 2000
from 44.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,609 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K2K2K2K2K1990201020202024Whitesburg
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$29,189
−44%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,750 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,353
+21%since 2000
from $20,202 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.5%
+10.6 ptssince 2009
from 22.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
37.5%
+14.3 ptssince 2000
from 23.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.515
+6%since 2010
from 0.485 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information16.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services12%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade4.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Public administration3.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing3.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Wholesale trade2.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$111,700
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $63,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$640
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $299 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
52.7%
−3.1 ptssince 2000
from 55.8% in 2000
47.3% rent
Vacancy rate
14.3%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.5%
−7.7 ptssince 2009
from 21.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
50.7%
+25.4 ptssince 2009
from 25.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.8
+75%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
22
RELATED:See current rent listings in Whitesburg on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.7%(1,531)
Black0.6%(10)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(9)
Asian2.6%(42)
Other0%
Diversity Score9.3%(149)
2024
White, non-Hispanic95.2%(1,676)
Black0.5%(9)
Hispanic / Latino2%(36)
Asian1.6%(28)
Other0.7%(12)
Diversity Score11.7%(206)
Diversity Score
12
+26%since 2000
from 9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.8%
+4.9 ptssince 2000
from 14.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.3%
+20.6 ptssince 2000
from 67.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
13.5%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 5.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.9 min
+30%since 2000
from 13.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.4%
−8.5 ptssince 2009
from 84.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.3%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.3%
+10.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.8%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
11.1%
+6.0 ptssince 2011
from 5.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
36.9%
−13.0 ptssince 2011
from 49.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
21.4%
+5.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
46.9%
−16.3 ptssince 2009
from 63.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.0%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 42.5% in 2009
Female
54.0%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 57.5% in 2009
Foreign born
1.2%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.2%
−34.3 ptssince 2009
from 41.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
39.6%
+19.1 ptssince 2012
from 20.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.7%
−85.8 ptssince 2013
from 89.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.9%
+27.0 ptssince 2017
from 59.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 97.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 1.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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WHITESBURG VS
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WHITESBURG VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Whitesburg, Kentucky?

Whitesburg, Kentucky has about 1,761 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Whitesburg, Kentucky?

The typical household in Whitesburg, Kentucky earns about $29,189 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Whitesburg, Kentucky expensive?

In Whitesburg, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $111,700, and the typical rent is about $640 a month.

How educated are people in Whitesburg, Kentucky?

About 19.8% of adults age 25 and over in Whitesburg, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Whitesburg, Kentucky?

About 37.5% of people in Whitesburg, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Whitesburg, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Whitesburg, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 125 residents, a change of about 8 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →

Whitesburg, Kentucky: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy