United States › Kentucky › Laurel County COUNTY
Laurel County Kentucky · 63,746 residents (2025 est.) · 434 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 62,983 people, Laurel County is a county in Kentucky. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. 1% of locals were born outside the United States. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $159,500. The poverty rate is 20.5%, above the 12.5% national rate. Renters pay $813 a month at the median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 37%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 52,715 in 2000
63,746 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
145 / sq mi
+10%since 2009
from 131 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 35.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
41K 47K 53K 59K 65K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Laurel County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $57,771
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,015 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $14,165 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 19.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 21.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.471 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 5.4%
Public administration 3.2%
Transportation & warehousing 1.8%
Education & health services 1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.7%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$159,500
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $64,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$813
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $377 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 77.0% in 2000
28.4% rent
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.78 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 23.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 37.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.6 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 97.2%(51,254)
Hispanic / Latino 0.6%(291)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 94.8%(59,725)
Hispanic / Latino 1.7%(1,061)
from 8 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
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 Ancestry
+ 19 more ancestry groups with data from 10.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 63.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 15.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 83.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 11.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 56.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 59.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 26.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 17.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 18.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 70.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 84.8% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 89.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 98.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 29.8%(7,479)
Women 15+
Never married 21.7%(5,671)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 18.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 43.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 10.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 21.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 33.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 53.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 52.0% 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) 23%(616)
Gulf War (1990s) 21.9%(585)
Share of the 2,675 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
Places similar to Laurel County Head to head
Compare Laurel County to nearby counties LAUREL COUNTY VS
Rockcastle County
Income $48,862 −15%
Home value $123,600 −23%
Population 16,148 −75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAUREL COUNTY VS
Jackson County
Income $40,000 −31%
Home value $111,500 −30%
Population 13,325 −79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAUREL COUNTY VS
Knox County
Income $32,527 −44%
Home value $118,700 −26%
Population 29,532 −54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAUREL COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income $40,900 −29%
Home value $90,700 −43%
Population 19,465 −69%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Laurel County, Kentucky? Laurel County, Kentucky has about 62,983 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Laurel County, Kentucky? The typical household in Laurel County, Kentucky earns about $57,771 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Laurel County, Kentucky expensive? In Laurel County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $159,500, and the typical rent is about $813 a month.
How educated are people in Laurel County, Kentucky? About 17.5% of adults age 25 and over in Laurel County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Laurel County, Kentucky? About 20.5% of people in Laurel County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.
Has Laurel County, Kentucky grown since 1990? Yes, Laurel County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 19,545 residents, a change of about 45 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 