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COUNTY

Estill County

Kentucky · 13,962 residents (2025 est.) · 253.081 sq mi
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The short version

Estill County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $46,051. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 12% 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 $119,500. With a median age of 44.4, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 28% less than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 46%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
14,035
−8%since 2000
from 15,307 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
55 / sq mi
−6%since 2009
from 59 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
44.4
+21%since 2000
from 36.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:13,962 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
14K14K15K15K15K1990201020202024Estill County
202414K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.9%(681)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.1%(999)
US avg: 6%
10 to 144.9%(690)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.2%(873)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.7%(655)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.4%(1,596)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.6%(1,627)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5414.3%(2,010)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415.4%(2,155)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.7%(1,636)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846%(838)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2%(275)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,051
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $23,318 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,226
+105%since 2000
from $12,285 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
31.4%
+16.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.7%
−5.7 ptssince 2000
from 26.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.446
−8%since 2010
from 0.485 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance8.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration1.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$119,500
+46%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$711
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $332 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.4%
−3.6 ptssince 2000
from 74.0% in 2000
29.6% rent
Vacancy rate
13.0%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.3%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 26.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
33.9%
−8.4 ptssince 2009
from 42.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
−4%since 2009
from 2.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
59
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Estill County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.7%(15,102)
Black0.1%(17)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(81)
Asian0%(5)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic96%(13,472)
Black0.1%(10)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(132)
Asian1%(140)
Other2%(281)
Diversity Score
10
+98%since 2009
from 5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
18
−48%since 2020
from 34 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
Cuban0.8%(116)
Mexican0.1%(16)
Asian origin
Chinese0.9%(131)
Japanese0.1%(8)
Ancestry
American20%(2,809)
English11.9%(1,667)
Irish7%(985)
German5%(706)
Scotch-Irish1.7%(245)
Scottish1.7%(240)
Italian1%(136)
Dutch0.6%(81)
French0.6%(78)
British0.3%(44)
Lithuanian0.1%(15)
Polish0.1%(8)
+ 3 more ancestry groups with data
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
12.2%
+5.3 ptssince 2000
from 6.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
78.6%
+20.1 ptssince 2000
from 58.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.3%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 2.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
35.3 min
+23%since 2000
from 28.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 76.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.4%
−9.6 ptssince 2009
from 19.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.0%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.5%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.9%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.0%
−6.5 ptssince 2011
from 13.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
47.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2011
from 46.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
24.6%
−32.6 ptssince 2009
from 57.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
Female
50.3%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
Foreign born
1.9%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.3%
−42.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
24.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2012
from 25.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.3%
−75.0 ptssince 2013
from 81.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
80.7%
+22.2 ptssince 2017
from 58.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.0%
−1.4 ptssince 2016
from 99.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 0.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married30.6%(1,748)
Married53.2%(3,043)
Widowed2.9%(168)
Divorced13.3%(761)
Women 15+
Never married21.2%(1,260)
Married53.5%(3,179)
Widowed12%(715)
Divorced13.3%(791)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Estill County

Glades County
Pop 13,270
Howard County
Pop 12,306
Crenshaw County
Pop 13,175
Brooks County
Pop 16,101
Places similar to Estill County
Head to head

Compare Estill County to nearby counties

ESTILL COUNTY VS
Powell County
Income$40,309−12%
Home value$141,100+18%
Population12,812−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ESTILL COUNTY VS
Lee County
Income$37,568−18%
Home value$83,900−30%
Population7,297−48%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ESTILL COUNTY VS
Madison County
Income$63,351+38%
Home value$232,000+94%
Population101,696+628%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ESTILL COUNTY VS
Jackson County
Income$40,000−13%
Home value$111,500−7%
Population13,325−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Estill County, Kentucky?

Estill County, Kentucky has about 14,035 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Estill County, Kentucky earns about $46,051 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Estill County, Kentucky expensive?

In Estill County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $119,500, and the typical rent is about $711 a month.

How educated are people in Estill County, Kentucky?

About 12.2% of adults age 25 and over in Estill County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Estill County, Kentucky?

About 20.7% of people in Estill County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Estill County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Estill County, Kentucky has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 579 residents, a change of about -4 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

6 census tracts
Census Tract 9202.02Census Tract 9203.02Census Tract 9202.01Census Tract 9203.01Census Tract 9204Census Tract 9201
2 ZIP codes
ZIP 40336ZIP 40472
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Estill County, Kentucky: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy