United States › Kentucky › Breathitt County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Breathitt County Kentucky · 13,718 residents · 492 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Breathitt County is home to 13,718 people in Kentucky. 33.4% of people here live below the federal poverty line. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Home values have risen by half since 2000, reaching $53,000. That trails the Kentucky median by roughly 43%. The foreign-born share is 0%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.7
US median: 38.8
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 35.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
13K 14K 15K 15K 16K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Breathitt County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $29,538
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $19,155 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $11,044 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 33.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 4.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.6%
Transportation & warehousing 1.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.2%
Public administration 1.1%
Education & health services 0.7%
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$53,000
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$473
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $297 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 76.5% in 2000
25.2% rent
from 2.60 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.1 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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 98.1%(15,797)
Hispanic / Latino 0.7%(106)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 95%(13,038)
Hispanic / Latino 0.7%(93)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 6 more ancestry groups with data from 10.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 57.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 23.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 77.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 9.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 41.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 22.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 19.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 31.6%(1,691)
Women 15+
Never married 23.4%(1,322)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 19.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 4.7%(20)
Share of the 429 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 Breathitt County Head to head
Compare Breathitt County to nearby counties BREATHITT COUNTY VS
Wolfe County
Income $30,417 +3%
Home value $75,800 +43%
Population 6,298 −50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BREATHITT COUNTY VS
Magoffin County
Income $33,080 +12%
Home value $89,000 +68%
Population 11,110 −12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BREATHITT COUNTY VS
Perry County
Income $42,181 +43%
Home value $91,800 +73%
Population 26,555 +111%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BREATHITT COUNTY VS
Owsley County
Income $22,188 −25%
Home value $80,100 +51%
Population 3,932 −69%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Breathitt County, Kentucky? Breathitt County, Kentucky has about 13,718 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Breathitt County, Kentucky? The typical household in Breathitt County, Kentucky earns about $29,538 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 $53,000, and the typical rent is about $473 a month.
How educated are people in Breathitt County, Kentucky? About 16.1% 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 33.4% 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 1,985 residents, a change of about -13 percent over that period.
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