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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Lawrence County

Kentucky · 16,293 residents · 416 sq mi
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The short version

Lawrence County is a county of 16,293 people in Kentucky. 9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $91,800. 25.7% of people here live below the federal poverty line. Households here earn about 37% less than in Kentucky as a whole. The foreign-born share is 1%.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.0
US median: 38.8
Less educated
9% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 41%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

16,293
+5%since 2000
from 15,569 in 2000
1990 – 2025
42.0
+15%since 2000
from 36.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
416 sq mi
Population, 19902024
14K14K15K16K17K19902000201020202024Lawrence County
202416K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.5%(890)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.4%(1,036)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 147.4%(1,209)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196%(979)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.8%(788)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411%(1,788)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4412.8%(2,085)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5413.5%(2,202)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.6%(2,384)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7411.4%(1,862)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845.2%(855)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.3%(215)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$32,856
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $21,610 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$17,882
+49%since 2000
from $12,008 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
19.5%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
25.7%
−5.0 ptssince 2000
from 30.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12.9%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade9.7%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance9.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical8.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade4.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4%
US avg: 1.7%
Manufacturing3.6%
US avg: 0.5%
Other services3.4%
US avg: 6.6%
Transportation & warehousing3%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food2.9%
US avg: 2%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.8%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$91,800
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$632
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $362 in 2000
US average: $1,124
73.8%
−4.3 ptssince 2000
from 78.1% in 2000
26.2% rent
2.78 people
+3%since 2009
from 2.70 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
2.8
+23%since 2009
from 2.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
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-Hispanic98.6%(15,348)
Black0.1%(14)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(64)
Asian0.1%(11)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic96.5%(15,721)
Black0.2%(36)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(148)
Asian0.1%(23)
Other0.8%(128)
46
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
Mexican0.9%(140)
Puerto Rican0.4%(65)
Asian origin
Chinese0.5%(73)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(7)
Ancestry
English32.1%(5,007)
American15.2%(2,374)
Irish8%(1,246)
German5%(783)
Scottish1.7%(266)
Italian0.9%(142)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(89)
Dutch0.5%(77)
Welsh0.5%(72)
French0.4%(70)
Serbian0.2%(38)
Norwegian0.2%(26)
+ 3 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.2%(25)
Finnish0.1%(18)
Austrian0.1%(15)
Section 05

Education

9.2%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 6.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
75.2%
+17.0 ptssince 2000
from 58.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
4.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 2.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

28.1 min
+8%since 2000
from 26.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
86.5%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 83.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
6.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

5.8%
−4.9 ptssince 2011
from 10.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
39.8%
−7.4 ptssince 2011
from 47.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
45.5%
US average: 73.3%
26.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 26.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

49.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
50.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
1.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
8.0%
−10.6 ptssince 2013
from 18.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
75.0%
US average: 91.9%
95.3%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married25%(1,562)
Married58.6%(3,667)
Widowed3.4%(211)
Divorced13%(813)
Women 15+
Never married18.2%(1,224)
Married59.3%(3,987)
Widowed11.4%(766)
Divorced11.1%(747)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

8.0%
−10.6 ptssince 2013
from 18.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
42.3%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
8.5%
US average: 13.7%
23.9%
US average: 17.6%
35.8%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
2.3%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
49.3%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
55.3%
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)13.9%(74)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)12.4%(66)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era43.5%(232)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War17.3%(92)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 533 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
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Lawrence County, Kentucky?

Lawrence County, Kentucky has about 16,293 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Lawrence County, Kentucky earns about $32,856 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lawrence County, Kentucky expensive?

In Lawrence County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $91,800, and the typical rent is about $632 a month.

How educated are people in Lawrence County, Kentucky?

About 9.2% of adults age 25 and over in Lawrence County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lawrence County, Kentucky?

About 25.7% of people in Lawrence County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lawrence County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Lawrence County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,295 residents, a change of about 16 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →