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COUNTY

Letcher County

Kentucky · 19,952 residents (2025 est.) · 337.934 sq mi
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#88Fastest shrinkingof 3,135-7.4%
The short version

Letcher County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $41,793. Population has fallen 18% since 2000, a loss of 4,469 residents. 12% 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 $67,400. The poverty rate of 24.4% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 34% less than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
12% 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
20,808
−18%since 2000
from 25,277 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
62 / sq mi
−13%since 2009
from 71 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
43.5
+15%since 2000
from 37.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:19,952 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
20K22K24K26K28K1990201020202024Letcher County
202421K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.2%(1,090)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.5%(1,138)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.1%(1,474)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.9%(1,226)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.7%(971)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411%(2,279)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.2%(2,545)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.9%(2,686)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.7%(3,059)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.2%(2,747)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.2%(1,280)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.5%(313)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,793
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $21,110 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,681
+89%since 2000
from $11,984 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
26.8%
+11.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
24.4%
−2.7 ptssince 2000
from 27.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.429
−10%since 2010
from 0.477 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance9.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing3.7%
US avg: 0.4%
Other services3.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade2.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Education & health services2.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$67,400
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$669
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $309 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.1%
−6.8 ptssince 2000
from 80.9% in 2000
25.9% rent
Vacancy rate
20.2%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 17.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 16.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
24.7%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.6
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
7
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Letcher County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.3%(24,853)
Black0.5%(129)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(110)
Asian0.3%(70)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic96.5%(20,089)
Black0.6%(128)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(160)
Asian0.2%(40)
Other1.9%(391)
Diversity Score
8
+58%since 2009
from 5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
26
+2%since 2020
from 26 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
Puerto Rican0.5%(107)
Cuban0.2%(44)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.1%(11)
Chinese0%(10)
Korean0%(6)
Ancestry
English12.2%(2,536)
American9.9%(2,058)
Irish9.8%(2,046)
German7.1%(1,480)
Italian1.7%(355)
Scottish1.3%(280)
French1.3%(272)
Scotch-Irish1.2%(242)
Dutch0.8%(157)
Welsh0.6%(125)
Polish0.2%(49)
+ 10 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.2%(41)
Cape Verdean0.2%(34)
West Indian0.2%(33)
Hungarian0.1%(27)
Arab0%(7)
British0%(7)
Slovak0%(4)
Slovene0%(4)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.5%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 7.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
82.4%
+23.9 ptssince 2000
from 58.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.5%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.3 min
+45%since 2000
from 19.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.5%
−9.4 ptssince 2009
from 80.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
15.2%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.6%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.4%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.5%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.2%
−3.9 ptssince 2011
from 10.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
43.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2011
from 44.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
23.9%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 17.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.0%
−19.2 ptssince 2009
from 53.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Female
49.8%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Foreign born
0.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.2%
−41.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
29.8%
+2.3 ptssince 2012
from 27.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.4%
−79.4 ptssince 2013
from 82.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.6%
+22.2 ptssince 2017
from 64.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.0%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 99.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 0.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married27.8%(2,344)
Married57.3%(4,834)
Widowed4.4%(375)
Divorced10.5%(887)
Women 15+
Never married18.8%(1,631)
Married51%(4,417)
Widowed15.3%(1,330)
Divorced14.9%(1,288)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Letcher County

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Pop 18,965
St. Francis County
Pop 21,800
Ben Hill County
Pop 17,099
Marengo County
Pop 18,311
Places similar to Letcher County
Head to head

Compare Letcher County to nearby counties

LETCHER COUNTY VS
Wise County
Income$52,943+27%
Home value$118,600+76%
Population34,824+75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LETCHER COUNTY VS
Knott County
Income$41,761same
Home value$77,000+14%
Population13,321−33%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LETCHER COUNTY VS
Norton
Income$41,495−1%
Home value$110,000+63%
Population3,477−83%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LETCHER COUNTY VS
Perry County
Income$42,181+1%
Home value$91,800+36%
Population26,555+33%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Letcher County, Kentucky?

Letcher County, Kentucky has about 20,808 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Letcher County, Kentucky earns about $41,793 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Letcher County, Kentucky expensive?

In Letcher County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $67,400, and the typical rent is about $669 a month.

How educated are people in Letcher County, Kentucky?

About 12.5% of adults age 25 and over in Letcher County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Letcher County, Kentucky?

About 24.4% of people in Letcher County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Letcher County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Letcher County, Kentucky has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 6,192 residents, a change of about -23 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

10 census tracts
Census Tract 9504.01Census Tract 9504.04Census Tract 9506.02Census Tract 9502.01Census Tract 9504.03Census Tract 9502.02Census Tract 9501Census Tract 9506.01Census Tract 9505Census Tract 9503
24 ZIP codes
ZIP 41858ZIP 41537ZIP 41840ZIP 41804ZIP 41837ZIP 40826ZIP 41815ZIP 41855ZIP 41838ZIP 41824ZIP 41826ZIP 41835ZIP 40862ZIP 41832ZIP 41821ZIP 41810ZIP 41825ZIP 41819ZIP 41812ZIP 41845ZIP 41833ZIP 41517ZIP 41849ZIP 41848
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →