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COUNTY

Knott County

Kentucky · 13,321 residents (2025 est.) · 351.524 sq mi
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#117Fastest shrinkingof 3,135-6.5%
The short version

Knott County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $41,761. Population has fallen 22% since 2000, a loss of 3,819 residents. 19% 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 $77,000. With a median age of 44.6, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 34% less than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% 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
13,830
−22%since 2000
from 17,649 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
39 / sq mi
−20%since 2009
from 49 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
44.6
+24%since 2000
from 35.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:13,321 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
13K15K16K17K18K1990201020202024Knott County
202414K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.4%(605)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.6%(778)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.2%(860)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.1%(978)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.7%(926)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.3%(1,419)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.6%(1,471)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.1%(1,809)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415.3%(2,122)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.3%(1,839)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.1%(846)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.3%(177)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,761
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $20,373 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,721
+110%since 2000
from $11,297 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
30.4%
+18.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
23.3%
−7.8 ptssince 2000
from 31.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.450
−3%since 2010
from 0.463 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services6.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance5.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade4.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3%
US avg: 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing2.2%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food2.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services2%
US avg: 0.9%
Retail trade1.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$77,000
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$756
+42%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $293 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
72.7%
−6.8 ptssince 2000
from 79.6% in 2000
27.3% rent
Vacancy rate
17.4%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.3%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
29.7%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 28.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.8
−5%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
30
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Knott County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.8%(17,252)
Black0.7%(129)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(112)
Asian0.2%(27)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic96.7%(13,376)
Black1.1%(157)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(80)
Asian0.2%(25)
Other1.4%(192)
Diversity Score
8
+24%since 2009
from 6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
17
+75%since 2020
from 10 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
Mexican0.2%(34)
Colombian0.1%(10)
Guatemalan0.1%(7)
Asian origin
Filipino0.1%(16)
Chinese0.1%(8)
Korean0%(1)
Ancestry
Irish13.4%(1,853)
American10.6%(1,470)
English9.6%(1,329)
German3.9%(538)
Scotch-Irish1.4%(194)
Scottish0.8%(104)
Italian0.6%(78)
British0.5%(72)
Norwegian0.3%(42)
Swedish0.3%(42)
French0.2%(33)
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.1%(19)
Greek0.1%(11)
Dutch0%(3)
RANKED:Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Scotch-Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.5%
+9.3 ptssince 2000
from 10.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
72.9%
+14.2 ptssince 2000
from 58.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.6%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 5.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.1 min
+30%since 2000
from 20.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.3%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 80.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.3%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.6%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% 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
8.9%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2011
from 9.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
42.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2011
from 42.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
20.2%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
40.1%
−14.7 ptssince 2009
from 54.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.0%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
50.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
0.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.2%
−44.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
26.4%
−1.1 ptssince 2012
from 27.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.4%
−80.8 ptssince 2013
from 83.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.1%
+22.9 ptssince 2017
from 61.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 98.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.7%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 0.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married30.1%(1,731)
Married51.3%(2,957)
Widowed5.3%(307)
Divorced13.3%(765)
Women 15+
Never married20.1%(1,173)
Married53.1%(3,094)
Widowed13.4%(778)
Divorced13.4%(782)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 12,703
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Pop 12,492
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Pop 14,255
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Pop 11,756
Places similar to Knott County
Head to head

Compare Knott County to nearby counties

KNOTT COUNTY VS
Perry County
Income$42,181+1%
Home value$91,800+19%
Population26,555+99%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KNOTT COUNTY VS
Letcher County
Income$41,793same
Home value$67,400−12%
Population19,952+50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KNOTT COUNTY VS
Floyd County
Income$41,279−1%
Home value$98,700+28%
Population34,401+158%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KNOTT COUNTY VS
Breathitt County
Income$34,808−17%
Home value$70,300−9%
Population12,558−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Knott County, Kentucky?

Knott County, Kentucky has about 13,830 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Knott County, Kentucky earns about $41,761 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Knott County, Kentucky expensive?

In Knott County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $77,000, and the typical rent is about $756 a month.

How educated are people in Knott County, Kentucky?

About 19.5% of adults age 25 and over in Knott County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Knott County, Kentucky?

About 23.3% of people in Knott County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Knott County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Knott County, Kentucky has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 4,076 residents, a change of about -23 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 9603Census Tract 9605Census Tract 9602Census Tract 9604Census Tract 9601
21 ZIP codes
ZIP 41822ZIP 41844ZIP 41773ZIP 41862ZIP 41640ZIP 41722ZIP 41831ZIP 41836ZIP 41759ZIP 41740ZIP 41828ZIP 41839ZIP 41817ZIP 41725ZIP 41847ZIP 41859ZIP 41772ZIP 41834ZIP 41843ZIP 41861ZIP 41643
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →