CensusEasy
COUNTY

Breathitt County

Kentucky · 12,558 residents (2025 est.) · 492.422 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
Notable rankings
#65Fastest shrinkingof 3,135-8.5%
The short version

Breathitt County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $34,808. Population has fallen 18% since 2000, a loss of 2,824 residents. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $70,300. The poverty rate of 33.1% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 45% less than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% 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
13,276
−18%since 2000
from 16,100 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
27 / sq mi
−15%since 2009
from 32 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.8
+19%since 2000
from 35.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:12,558 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
13K14K15K15K16K1990201020202024Breathitt County
202413K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.6%(742)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.5%(726)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146%(791)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.8%(767)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.2%(691)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.1%(1,612)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.8%(1,701)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.2%(1,758)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415.1%(2,007)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.2%(1,623)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.5%(601)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.9%(257)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$34,808
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $19,155 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,593
+105%since 2000
from $11,044 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
22.9%
+15.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
33.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 33.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.491
−10%since 2010
from 0.548 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade7.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance3.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Professional, scientific, technical3.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services2%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration1.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing1.8%
US avg: 0.4%
Construction1.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$70,300
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$548
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $297 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
76.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 76.5% in 2000
23.4% rent
Vacancy rate
16.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 17.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.7%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
30.3%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 35.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.0
−3%since 2009
from 2.1 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
47
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Breathitt County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.1%(15,797)
Black0.4%(62)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(106)
Asian0.3%(47)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic96%(12,741)
Black0.6%(76)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(149)
Asian0.3%(40)
Other2%(270)
Diversity Score
10
+63%since 2009
from 6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
35
+7%since 2020
from 33 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.7%(94)
Guatemalan0.1%(18)
Panamanian0.1%(17)
Spaniard0.1%(8)
Asian origin
Chinese0.3%(40)
Ancestry
American30.8%(4,090)
English22.5%(2,984)
Irish8.2%(1,083)
German3.8%(498)
Scotch-Irish2.2%(287)
Italian1%(134)
Scottish1%(129)
French0.6%(77)
Welsh0.4%(53)
British0.4%(50)
Dutch0.3%(36)
Greek0.2%(29)
+ 6 more ancestry groups with data
Ukrainian0.1%(16)
Polish0.1%(11)
Slovak0%(5)
Swiss0%(4)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Scotch-Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.3%
+5.3 ptssince 2000
from 10.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
80.3%
+22.7 ptssince 2000
from 57.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.6%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.2 min
+20%since 2000
from 23.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.7%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 77.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
17.0%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.0%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.3%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
15.2%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2011
from 9.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
42.8%
+1.7 ptssince 2011
from 41.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
19.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.1%
−20.0 ptssince 2009
from 58.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Female
50.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Foreign born
0.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.9%
−44.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
31.9%
+2.1 ptssince 2012
from 29.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.2%
−77.2 ptssince 2013
from 80.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
81.2%
+24.6 ptssince 2017
from 56.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 98.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married31.6%(1,691)
Married51.7%(2,768)
Widowed5.2%(277)
Divorced11.6%(622)
Women 15+
Never married23.4%(1,322)
Married47%(2,662)
Widowed16.4%(930)
Divorced13.2%(745)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Breathitt County

Sumter County
Pop 11,588
Stone County
Pop 12,703
Desha County
Pop 9,984
Lowndes County
Pop 9,359
Places similar to Breathitt County
Head to head

Compare Breathitt County to nearby counties

BREATHITT COUNTY VS
Wolfe County
Income$30,417−13%
Home value$75,800+8%
Population6,298−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BREATHITT COUNTY VS
Magoffin County
Income$33,080−5%
Home value$89,000+27%
Population11,110−12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BREATHITT COUNTY VS
Perry County
Income$42,181+21%
Home value$91,800+31%
Population26,555+111%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BREATHITT COUNTY VS
Owsley County
Income$22,188−36%
Home value$80,100+14%
Population3,932−69%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Breathitt County, Kentucky?

Breathitt County, Kentucky has about 13,276 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Breathitt County, Kentucky?

The typical household in Breathitt County, Kentucky earns about $34,808 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Breathitt County, Kentucky expensive?

In Breathitt County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $70,300, and the typical rent is about $548 a month.

How educated are people in Breathitt County, Kentucky?

About 15.3% of adults age 25 and over in Breathitt County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Breathitt County, Kentucky?

About 33.1% of people in Breathitt County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Breathitt County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Breathitt County, Kentucky has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,427 residents, a change of about -15 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

7 census tracts
Census Tract 9208Census Tract 9202Census Tract 9203.01Census Tract 9205Census Tract 9207Census Tract 9206Census Tract 9203.02
7 ZIP codes
ZIP 41339ZIP 41348ZIP 41317ZIP 41385ZIP 41390ZIP 41366ZIP 41310
Up the hierarchy
All counties in Kentucky
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

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

How we source and harmonize this data →