United States › Kentucky › Laurel County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Laurel County Kentucky · 62,613 residents · 434 sq mi
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The short version
Laurel County is home to 62,613 people in Kentucky. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. The foreign-born share is 1%. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $116,300. The poverty rate is 22.7%, above the 12.8% national rate. Median rent is $680 a month.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 40.2
US median: 38.8
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 35.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
41K 47K 53K 59K 65K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Laurel County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $43,745
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,015 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $14,165 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 19.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 21.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 7%
Public administration 2.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.4%
Transportation & warehousing 1.3%
Education & health services 1.2%
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$116,300
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $64,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$680
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $377 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 77.0% in 2000
30.5% rent
from 2.78 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 97.2%(51,254)
Hispanic / Latino 0.6%(291)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 93.4%(58,503)
Hispanic / Latino 1.6%(1,011)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data from 10.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 63.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 4.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 15.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 83.1% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 11.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 56.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 26.8% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 18.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
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: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 16.7%(524)
Gulf War (1990s) 15.9%(500)
Share of the 3,145 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Laurel County Head to head
Compare Laurel County to nearby counties LAUREL COUNTY VS
Rockcastle County
Income $48,862 +12%
Home value $123,600 +6%
Population 16,148 −75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAUREL COUNTY VS
Jackson County
Income $40,000 −9%
Home value $111,500 −4%
Population 13,325 −79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAUREL COUNTY VS
Knox County
Income $32,527 −26%
Home value $118,700 +2%
Population 29,532 −54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAUREL COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income $40,900 −7%
Home value $90,700 −22%
Population 19,465 −69%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Laurel County, Kentucky? Laurel County, Kentucky has about 62,613 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Laurel County, Kentucky? The typical household in Laurel County, Kentucky earns about $43,745 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 $116,300, and the typical rent is about $680 a month.
How educated are people in Laurel County, Kentucky? About 16.1% 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 22.7% 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 19,175 residents, a change of about 44 percent over that period.
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