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COUNTY

Caldwell County

Kentucky · 12,609 residents (2025 est.) · 344.835 sq mi
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The short version

Caldwell County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $59,583. Population has declined 3% since 2000. 17% 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 $118,500.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
17% 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
12,618
−3%since 2000
from 13,060 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
37 / sq mi
−2%since 2009
from 37 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.4
+3%since 2000
from 41.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:12,609 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
13K13K13K13K13K1990201020202024Caldwell County
202413K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56%(757)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.2%(653)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.7%(976)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.6%(833)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.3%(543)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.3%(1,428)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.8%(1,364)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.6%(1,591)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414%(1,769)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.8%(1,487)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.5%(941)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.2%(276)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,583
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,686 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,830
+90%since 2000
from $16,264 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
40.3%
+22.6 ptssince 2009
from 17.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 15.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.428
−4%since 2010
from 0.447 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade20%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Finance & insurance7.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Construction4.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing3.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing3.1%
US avg: 0.4%
Other services2.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Education & health services1.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration0.7%
US avg: 4.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$118,500
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $54,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$767
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $348 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.2%
−7.2 ptssince 2000
from 77.4% in 2000
29.8% rent
Vacancy rate
17.1%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.0%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
36.7%
+13.7 ptssince 2009
from 23.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.0
+7%since 2009
from 1.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
49
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Caldwell County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.7%(12,231)
Black4.8%(623)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(80)
Asian0.2%(21)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic89.7%(11,321)
Black6%(755)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(186)
Asian0%(0)
Other2.8%(356)
Diversity Score
24
+44%since 2009
from 17 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
26
−47%since 2020
from 49 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
Mexican0.8%(95)
Peruvian0.5%(62)
Venezuelan0.1%(11)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English15.7%(1,986)
American9.5%(1,199)
German9.2%(1,160)
Irish8%(1,012)
French2.3%(285)
Italian1.8%(231)
Scotch-Irish1.3%(161)
Dutch1.2%(151)
Swiss1.2%(149)
Scottish0.9%(118)
Hungarian0.8%(101)
Swedish0.6%(70)
+ 6 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.5%(64)
Norwegian0.3%(37)
Welsh0.3%(34)
British0.3%(33)
Russian0.1%(18)
Danish0.1%(16)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest French population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.1%
+7.1 ptssince 2000
from 10.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.2%
+18.2 ptssince 2000
from 73.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.9%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 5.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.4 min
+46%since 2000
from 16.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.5%
−5.2 ptssince 2009
from 85.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.4%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.0%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.7%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.4%
−6.0 ptssince 2011
from 10.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.0%
+2.2 ptssince 2011
from 53.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.0%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
27.5%
−34.2 ptssince 2009
from 61.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.1% in 2009
Female
50.7%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 52.9% in 2009
Foreign born
1.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.0%
−39.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
27.0%
+5.7 ptssince 2012
from 21.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.2%
−75.7 ptssince 2013
from 83.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.0%
+22.4 ptssince 2017
from 64.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.7%
−2.1 ptssince 2016
from 99.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married25.2%(1,247)
Married55.3%(2,740)
Widowed5.9%(293)
Divorced13.6%(671)
Women 15+
Never married25.7%(1,358)
Married52.1%(2,753)
Widowed10.9%(578)
Divorced11.2%(592)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Caldwell County to nearby counties

CALDWELL COUNTY VS
Lyon County
Income$65,066+9%
Home value$189,500+60%
Population9,123−28%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CALDWELL COUNTY VS
Crittenden County
Income$46,656−22%
Home value$127,300+7%
Population8,807−30%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CALDWELL COUNTY VS
Hopkins County
Income$56,815−5%
Home value$142,800+21%
Population45,127+258%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CALDWELL COUNTY VS
Trigg County
Income$59,857same
Home value$207,700+75%
Population14,512+15%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Caldwell County, Kentucky?

Caldwell County, Kentucky has about 12,618 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Caldwell County, Kentucky earns about $59,583 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Caldwell County, Kentucky expensive?

In Caldwell County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $118,500, and the typical rent is about $767 a month.

How educated are people in Caldwell County, Kentucky?

About 17.1% of adults age 25 and over in Caldwell County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Caldwell County, Kentucky?

About 15.1% of people in Caldwell County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Caldwell County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Caldwell County, Kentucky has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 614 residents, a change of about -5 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

4 census tracts
Census Tract 9202Census Tract 9203.01Census Tract 9201Census Tract 9203.02
2 ZIP codes
ZIP 42445ZIP 42411
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →