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COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Letcher County

Kentucky · 27,000 residents · 337.934 sq mi
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The short version

Letcher County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $15,112. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $26,400. The poverty rate of 31.8% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 33% less than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 32.6
US median: 33.0
Less educated
7% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
27,000
+7%vs 2000
vs 25,277 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
32.6
−14%vs 2000
vs 37.9 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
20K22K24K26K28K1990201020202024Letcher County
202421K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 56.2%(1,682)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 97.8%(2,107)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 149.4%(2,549)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 198.3%(2,236)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 246.6%(1,781)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3416%(4,314)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4415.3%(4,133)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5410.3%(2,777)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 648.4%(2,261)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 746.9%(1,861)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 844%(1,091)
US avg: 4%
85 and over0.8%(208)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$15,112
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $21,110 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$7,340
−39%vs 2000
vs $11,984 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
31.8%
+4.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 27.1% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$26,400
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $35,700 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$226
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $309 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
78.6%
−2.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 80.9% in 2000
21.4% rent
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%
1990
White, non-Hispanic99.3%(26,820)
Black0.4%(106)
Hispanic / Latino0%(8)
Asian0.1%(33)
Other0.2%(41)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

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
6.7%
−1.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 7.7% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
45.6%
−12.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 58.5% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
2.8%
−0.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 3.4% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.7 min
+21%vs 2000
vs 19.5 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
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

Monroe County
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+250%
Home value$118,600+349%
Population34,824+75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LETCHER COUNTY VS
Knott County
Income$41,761+176%
Home value$77,000+192%
Population13,321−33%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LETCHER COUNTY VS
Norton
Income$41,495+175%
Home value$110,000+317%
Population3,477−83%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LETCHER COUNTY VS
Perry County
Income$42,181+179%
Home value$91,800+248%
Population26,555+33%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Letcher County, Kentucky?

Letcher County, Kentucky has about 27,000 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in Letcher County, Kentucky earns about $15,112 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 $26,400, and the typical rent is about $226 a month.

How educated are people in Letcher County, Kentucky?

About 6.7% 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 31.8% of people in Letcher County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

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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

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