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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Laurel County

Kentucky · 62,613 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 $43,745. Population has grown 19% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $116,300. The poverty rate of 22.7% is well above the national figure.

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

Total population
62,613
+19%since 2000
from 52,715 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
40.2
+13%since 2000
from 35.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
41K47K53K59K65K1990201020202024Laurel County
202463K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 56%(3,758)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.3%(3,967)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.9%(4,327)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.5%(4,079)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.7%(3,595)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412%(7,495)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4412.7%(7,973)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5413.3%(8,344)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6413.6%(8,485)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7410.4%(6,492)
US avg: 10%
75 to 844.9%(3,063)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.7%(1,035)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$43,745
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,015 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,283
+64%since 2000
from $14,165 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
27.0%
+7.8 ptssince 2009
from 19.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
22.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 21.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information16.2%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade12.5%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance8.2%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical7%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade4.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services4.6%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration2.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.9%
US avg: 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 2%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.8%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.9%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$116,300
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $64,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$680
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $377 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
69.5%
−7.5 ptssince 2000
from 77.0% in 2000
30.5% rent
Afford Score
2.7
+1%since 2009
from 2.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic93.4%(58,503)
Black0.7%(440)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(1,011)
Asian0.7%(426)
Other1.9%(1,191)
Segregation Score
30
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
Mexican0.8%(506)
Puerto Rican0.5%(320)
Dominican0.1%(34)
Asian origin
Thai0.1%(67)
Japanese0%(27)
Pakistani0%(18)
Filipino0%(10)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(11)
Ancestry
American14.7%(8,892)
Irish10.8%(6,518)
English9.1%(5,522)
German7.2%(4,386)
French1.6%(965)
Scotch-Irish1.4%(826)
Scottish1.1%(684)
Italian0.7%(447)
Swiss0.5%(320)
British0.5%(282)
Polish0.5%(275)
Dutch0.3%(158)
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.2%(133)
Hungarian0.2%(116)
West Indian0.1%(88)
Swedish0.1%(76)
Norwegian0.1%(48)
Czech0.1%(35)
Jamaican0%(25)
Russian0%(12)
Greek0%(8)
Somali0%(3)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest French population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.1%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 10.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
81.5%
+17.6 ptssince 2000
from 63.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
7.0%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 4.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.6 min
+44%since 2000
from 15.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
83.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 83.1% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.0%
−6.4 ptssince 2011
from 11.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
52.2%
−4.4 ptssince 2011
from 56.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
30.1%
−28.8 ptssince 2009
from 58.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
50.9%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
0.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
6.9%
−74.3 ptssince 2013
from 81.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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
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Head to head

Compare Laurel County to nearby counties

LAUREL COUNTY VS
Rockcastle County
Income$48,862+12%
Home value$123,600+6%
Population16,148−75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAUREL COUNTY VS
Jackson County
Income$40,000−9%
Home value$111,500−4%
Population13,325−79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAUREL COUNTY VS
Knox County
Income$32,527−26%
Home value$118,700+2%
Population29,532−54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAUREL COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income$40,900−7%
Home value$90,700−22%
Population19,465−69%
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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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

How we source and harmonize this data →