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COUNTY

Lee County

Kentucky · 7,297 residents (2025 est.) · 208.821 sq mi
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The short version

Lee County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $37,568. Population has declined 7% since 2000. 9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $83,900. The poverty rate of 27.4% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 41% less than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
9% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
7,339
−7%since 2000
from 7,916 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
35 / sq mi
−1%since 2009
from 36 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
43.6
+17%since 2000
from 37.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:7,297 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7K7K7K8K8K1990201020202024Lee County
20247K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.7%(343)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.2%(383)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.4%(467)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194.3%(313)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.6%(340)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413.9%(1,018)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.2%(969)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.3%(978)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.9%(1,093)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.5%(919)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.1%(377)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.9%(139)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$37,568
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $18,544 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,415
+61%since 2000
from $13,325 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
23.2%
+16.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
27.4%
−3.1 ptssince 2000
from 30.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.459
−1%since 2010
from 0.464 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance9.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade9.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Other services3.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing2.3%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services1.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.2%
US avg: 2.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$83,900
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$603
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $268 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.7%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 76.6% in 2000
22.3% rent
Vacancy rate
19.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 19.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.5%
−10.9 ptssince 2009
from 31.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
55.0%
+9.3 ptssince 2009
from 45.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.2
−17%since 2009
from 2.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
22
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lee County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.9%(7,510)
Black3.8%(298)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(29)
Asian0.1%(7)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.4%(6,857)
Black3%(223)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(83)
Asian0%(0)
Other2.4%(176)
Diversity Score
16
+129%since 2009
from 7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
8
−78%since 2020
from 36 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

Hispanic origin
Guatemalan0.4%(30)
Mexican0.4%(29)
Colombian0.1%(5)
Ancestry
English23.8%(1,749)
American15.4%(1,133)
German12.8%(940)
Irish12.2%(895)
Scottish2.4%(175)
French1.1%(78)
Welsh1%(76)
Scotch-Irish0.9%(67)
Italian0.7%(49)
Russian0.3%(25)
Dutch0.3%(23)
West Indian0.2%(14)
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.1%(8)
Norwegian0.1%(7)
Danish0.1%(6)
Polish0.1%(4)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
9.2%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 6.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
75.1%
+24.1 ptssince 2000
from 50.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 3.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
43.4 min
+60%since 2000
from 27.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.9%
−14.6 ptssince 2009
from 86.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
16.6%
+9.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.3%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.8%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
13.1%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.7%
−5.2 ptssince 2011
from 9.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
41.4%
−1.4 ptssince 2011
from 42.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.5%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 19.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
25.4%
−32.9 ptssince 2009
from 58.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
56.6%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 52.8% in 2009
Female
43.4%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
Foreign born
0.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.7%
−46.9 ptssince 2009
from 52.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
27.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2012
from 28.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.7%
−74.9 ptssince 2013
from 80.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
75.5%
+25.3 ptssince 2017
from 50.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2016
from 99.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 0.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married37%(1,327)
Married42.1%(1,510)
Widowed4.5%(161)
Divorced16.4%(586)
Women 15+
Never married19.1%(489)
Married50.1%(1,283)
Widowed14.4%(368)
Divorced16.5%(422)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Lee County

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Pop 7,425
Wheeler County
Pop 7,570
Turner County
Pop 8,983
Lee County
Pop 8,029
Places similar to Lee County
Head to head

Compare Lee County to nearby counties

LEE COUNTY VS
Owsley County
Income$22,188−41%
Home value$80,100−5%
Population3,932−46%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEE COUNTY VS
Estill County
Income$46,051+23%
Home value$119,500+42%
Population13,962+91%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEE COUNTY VS
Powell County
Income$40,309+7%
Home value$141,100+68%
Population12,812+76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEE COUNTY VS
Wolfe County
Income$30,417−19%
Home value$75,800−10%
Population6,298−14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lee County, Kentucky?

Lee County, Kentucky has about 7,339 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Lee County, Kentucky earns about $37,568 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lee County, Kentucky expensive?

In Lee County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $83,900, and the typical rent is about $603 a month.

How educated are people in Lee County, Kentucky?

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

What is the poverty rate in Lee County, Kentucky?

About 27.4% of people in Lee County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lee County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Lee County, Kentucky has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 83 residents, a change of about -1 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

3 census tracts
Census Tract 9501Census Tract 9503Census Tract 9502
2 ZIP codes
ZIP 41311ZIP 41397
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →