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COUNTY

Fayette County

Kentucky · 329,751 residents (2025 est.) · 284 sq mi
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Part of the Lexington-Fayette urban county metro area
The short version

Fayette County is home to 323,725 people in Kentucky. This is an unusually credentialed place: 48% of adults have a four-year degree. Owners hold 54% of the housing stock. This skews young, with a median age of 35.3. The population is up 24% since 2000. 80% were living in the same home a year earlier.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.3
US median: 38.9
More educated
48% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 47%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
323,725
+24%since 2000
from 260,512 in 2000
329,751 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,140 / sq mi
+13%since 2009
from 1,013 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
35.3
+7%since 2000
from 33.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
284 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
216K245K275K304K334K19902000201020202024Fayette County
2024324K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.7%(18,393)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.7%(18,473)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.9%(19,240)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.1%(23,076)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2410.2%(32,992)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3415%(48,473)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.2%(42,583)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.5%(37,262)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411%(35,607)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748.9%(28,885)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.3%(13,893)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.5%(4,848)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$69,479
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,813 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$43,790
+89%since 2000
from $23,109 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.8%
+16.8 ptssince 2009
from 30.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.9%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 12.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.492
+2%since 2010
from 0.481 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade4.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$293,500
+47%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $109,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,164
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $528 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
53.8%
−1.5 ptssince 2000
from 55.3% in 2000
46.2% rent
Vacancy rate
6.2%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.23 people
−4%since 2009
from 2.33 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
17.6%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 22.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
47.0%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 45.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.2
+27%since 2009
from 3.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
61
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic79.1%(206,174)
Black13.4%(34,876)
Hispanic / Latino3.3%(8,561)
Asian2.4%(6,360)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic66.7%(216,082)
Black14.4%(46,573)
Hispanic / Latino9.5%(30,824)
Asian4.3%(14,064)
Other5%(16,182)
Diversity Score
65
+29%since 2009
from 50 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
28
−5%since 2020
from 30 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
Mexican6.1%(19,837)
Central American1.2%(3,802)
South American0.7%(2,199)
Puerto Rican0.6%(1,947)
Honduran0.5%(1,674)
Guatemalan0.4%(1,330)
Cuban0.4%(1,220)
Venezuelan0.3%(855)
Spaniard0.2%(588)
Peruvian0.2%(503)
Panamanian0.2%(487)
Colombian0.1%(383)
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data
Chilean0.1%(209)
Dominican0.1%(189)
Argentine0.1%(169)
Uruguayan0%(10)
Asian origin
Chinese1%(3,274)
Asian Indian0.8%(2,701)
Nepalese0.7%(2,191)
Korean0.4%(1,237)
Japanese0.4%(1,219)
Filipino0.3%(996)
Cambodian0.2%(660)
Vietnamese0.1%(336)
Pakistani0.1%(284)
Bangladeshi0.1%(180)
Thai0.1%(167)
Bhutanese0%(128)
+ 7 more asian origin groups with data
Taiwanese0%(127)
Kazakh0%(82)
Mongolian0%(23)
Burmese0%(20)
Malaysian0%(15)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(33)
Ancestry
English14.4%(46,494)
German12.4%(40,249)
Irish10.9%(35,439)
American7.5%(24,323)
Scottish2.6%(8,335)
Italian2.5%(8,154)
Scotch-Irish1.8%(5,670)
French1.7%(5,396)
Polish1.3%(4,236)
Arab1%(3,189)
Dutch0.8%(2,741)
+ 49 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.8%(2,456)
British0.7%(2,141)
Norwegian0.6%(1,893)
Swedish0.5%(1,638)
Nigerian0.4%(1,211)
Russian0.3%(1,015)
West Indian0.3%(958)
Iranian0.3%(939)
Ukrainian0.3%(877)
Hungarian0.2%(679)
Egyptian0.2%(627)
Swiss0.2%(613)
Ghanaian0.2%(601)
Danish0.2%(561)
Canadian0.2%(555)
Portuguese0.2%(537)
Czech0.2%(529)
Greek0.2%(516)
Lebanese0.1%(412)
Haitian0.1%(405)
Slovak0.1%(390)
Belgian0.1%(368)
Bulgarian0.1%(355)
Jamaican0.1%(352)
Palestinian0.1%(342)
Syrian0.1%(328)
Iraqi0.1%(316)
Lithuanian0.1%(255)
Austrian0.1%(253)
Turkish0.1%(216)
Jordanian0.1%(184)
Kenyan0%(158)
Slovene0%(153)
Finnish0%(129)
Armenian0%(124)
Romanian0%(115)
Brazilian0%(112)
Croatian0%(100)
Moroccan0%(91)
Ethiopian0%(77)
Latvian0%(42)
Guyanese0%(34)
Serbian0%(21)
Israeli0%(11)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
48.3%
+12.6 ptssince 2000
from 35.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.1%
+6.3 ptssince 2000
from 85.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
21.0%
+6.5 ptssince 2000
from 14.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.9 min
+77%since 2000
from 11.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
73.1%
−6.7 ptssince 2009
from 79.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.7%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.2%
+9.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.9%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 7.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.4%
−1.1 ptssince 2011
from 69.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
78.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2020
from 77.6% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
14.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
47.4%
+6.8 ptssince 2009
from 40.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Female
50.7%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Foreign born
11.9%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.0%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.3%
+2.0 ptssince 2012
from 11.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.2%
−7.0 ptssince 2013
from 14.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.5%
+10.8 ptssince 2017
from 81.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
96.8%
+2.1 ptssince 2020
from 94.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
79.8%
+2.7 ptssince 2020
from 77.1% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
84.1%
−3.8 ptssince 2016
from 87.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.6%
+1.5 ptssince 2016
from 6.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married41.3%(54,115)
Married45.8%(59,956)
Widowed2%(2,673)
Divorced10.8%(14,150)
Women 15+
Never married37%(50,534)
Married42.8%(58,498)
Widowed6.8%(9,362)
Divorced13.4%(18,331)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
7.2%
−7.0 ptssince 2013
from 14.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
60.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2020
from 61.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
11.5%
−1.0 ptssince 2020
from 12.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
15.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2020
from 14.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
20.4%
+1.3 ptssince 2020
from 19.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2020
from 2.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
69.5%
−1.9 ptssince 2020
from 71.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
34.5%
+1.7 ptssince 2020
from 32.8% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

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, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)24.1%(3,098)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)25.1%(3,219)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era33.5%(4,306)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.3%(558)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.7%(88)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 12,848 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Fayette County to nearby counties

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FAYETTE COUNTY VS
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FAYETTE COUNTY VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Fayette County, Kentucky?

Fayette County, Kentucky has about 323,725 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Fayette County, Kentucky earns about $69,479 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Fayette County, Kentucky expensive?

In Fayette County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $293,500, and the typical rent is about $1,164 a month.

How educated are people in Fayette County, Kentucky?

About 48.3% of adults age 25 and over in Fayette County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Fayette County, Kentucky?

About 14.9% of people in Fayette County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Fayette County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Fayette County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 98,359 residents, a change of about 44 percent over that period.

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

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