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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Breathitt County

Kentucky · 13,718 residents · 492.422 sq mi
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The short version

Breathitt County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $29,538. Population has declined 15% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $53,000. The poverty rate of 33.4% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 43% less than the Kentucky median.

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

Total population
13,718
−15%since 2000
from 16,100 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
28 / sq mi
−15%since 2000
from 33 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
42.7
+19%since 2000
from 35.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
13K14K15K15K16K1990201020202024Breathitt County
202413K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$29,538
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $19,155 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$20,325
+84%since 2000
from $11,044 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
20.2%
+12.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
33.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 33.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information9.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade8.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade6.7%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance4.9%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.6%
US avg: 1.7%
Manufacturing3.1%
US avg: 0.5%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 2%
Other services1.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration1.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.8%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$53,000
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$473
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $297 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
74.8%
−1.7 ptssince 2000
from 76.5% in 2000
25.2% rent
Afford Score
1.8
+7%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Diversity Score3.3%(535)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic95%(13,038)
Black0.4%(57)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(93)
Asian0.3%(37)
Other0.5%(63)
Diversity Score4.7%(638)
Segregation Score33%(4,521)
Diversity Score
5
+40%since 2000
from 3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
33
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.1%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 10.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
77.5%
+19.9 ptssince 2000
from 57.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
9.4%
+4.9 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
30.7 min
+30%since 2000
from 23.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
83.8%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 77.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
14.8%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2011
from 9.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
40.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2011
from 41.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
36.8%
−21.3 ptssince 2009
from 58.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.2%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Female
49.8%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Foreign born
0.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
3.7%
−76.7 ptssince 2013
from 80.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+3%
Home value$75,800+43%
Population6,298−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BREATHITT COUNTY VS
Magoffin County
Income$33,080+12%
Home value$89,000+68%
Population11,110−12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BREATHITT COUNTY VS
Perry County
Income$42,181+43%
Home value$91,800+73%
Population26,555+111%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BREATHITT COUNTY VS
Owsley County
Income$22,188−25%
Home value$80,100+51%
Population3,932−69%
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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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
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →