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COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Laurel County

Kentucky · 43,438 residents · 433.703 sq mi
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The short version

Laurel County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $18,584. Population has fallen 18% since 2000, a loss of 9,277 residents. 8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $46,300. The poverty rate of 24.8% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 32.5
US median: 33.0
Less educated
8% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
43,438
−18%vs 2000
vs 52,715 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
32.5
−8%vs 2000
vs 35.5 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
41K47K53K59K65K1990201020202024Laurel County
202463K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 56.7%(2,909)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 97.5%(3,266)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 148.5%(3,708)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 198%(3,466)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 247%(3,052)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3416.5%(7,159)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4415.5%(6,732)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5410.2%(4,444)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 648.6%(3,746)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 746.6%(2,873)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 843.8%(1,662)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1%(421)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$18,584
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $27,015 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$8,879
−37%vs 2000
vs $14,165 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
24.8%
+3.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 21.3% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$46,300
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $64,100 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$280
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $377 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
76.4%
−0.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 77.0% in 2000
23.6% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Laurel County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.2%(51,254)
Black0.6%(324)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(291)
Asian0.3%(179)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic99.2%(43,078)
Black0.4%(182)
Hispanic / Latino0.2%(102)
Asian0.1%(44)
Other0.3%(134)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican1%(623)
Puerto Rican0.2%(139)
Salvadoran0.2%(135)
Dominican0.1%(62)
Cuban0.1%(35)
Honduran0%(23)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.2%(117)
Filipino0.1%(35)
Chinese0%(28)
Korean0%(5)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English15.4%(9,670)
American12.6%(7,962)
Irish9.5%(6,002)
German7.8%(4,913)
Scottish1.4%(909)
Italian0.9%(543)
Scotch-Irish0.8%(508)
French0.6%(364)
Swiss0.5%(284)
Polish0.4%(243)
Dutch0.4%(240)
Welsh0.3%(192)
+ 19 more ancestry groups with data
British0.2%(119)
Norwegian0.2%(111)
Arab0.2%(96)
Greek0.1%(78)
Lebanese0.1%(75)
Swedish0.1%(63)
Russian0.1%(54)
Ukrainian0.1%(52)
Austrian0.1%(41)
Belgian0.1%(39)
Czech0%(25)
Hungarian0%(16)
Canadian0%(13)
Slovak0%(9)
Syrian0%(4)
Somali0%(2)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
8.2%
−2.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 10.6% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
52.7%
−11.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 63.9% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
3.3%
−1.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 4.3% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.4 min
+36%vs 2000
vs 15.0 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married29.8%(7,479)
Married53.2%(13,359)
Widowed3.6%(914)
Divorced13.3%(3,342)
Women 15+
Never married21.7%(5,671)
Married53.9%(14,084)
Widowed11.4%(2,985)
Divorced12.9%(3,372)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Laurel County

Pope County
Pop 64,976
Walker County
Pop 65,140
Vermilion County
Pop 71,259
Walker County
Pop 70,250
Places similar to Laurel County
Head to head

Compare Laurel County to nearby counties

LAUREL COUNTY VS
Rockcastle County
Income$48,862+163%
Home value$123,600+167%
Population16,148−75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAUREL COUNTY VS
Jackson County
Income$40,000+115%
Home value$111,500+141%
Population13,325−79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAUREL COUNTY VS
Knox County
Income$32,527+75%
Home value$118,700+156%
Population29,532−54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAUREL COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income$40,900+120%
Home value$90,700+96%
Population19,465−69%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Laurel County, Kentucky?

Laurel County, Kentucky has about 43,438 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in Laurel County, Kentucky earns about $18,584 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 $46,300, and the typical rent is about $280 a month.

How educated are people in Laurel County, Kentucky?

About 8.2% 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 24.8% of people in Laurel County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

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Explore from here

16 census tracts
Census Tract 9707Census Tract 9708Census Tract 9703Census Tract 9710.01Census Tract 9702.01Census Tract 9705Census Tract 9704Census Tract 9710.03Census Tract 9709Census Tract 9711.03Census Tract 9711.04Census Tract 9701Census Tract 9706Census Tract 9710.04Census Tract 9711.01Census Tract 9702.02
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 40741ZIP 40744ZIP 40729ZIP 40740ZIP 40737
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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