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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Letcher County

Kentucky · 21,548 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 $33,181. Population has declined 15% since 2000. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $54,700. The poverty rate of 29.7% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 36% less than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 43.6
US median: 38.8
Less educated
11% 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
21,548
−15%since 2000
from 25,277 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
64 / sq mi
−15%since 2000
from 75 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
43.6
+15%since 2000
from 37.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
20K22K24K26K28K1990201020202024Letcher County
202421K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$33,181
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $21,110 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,103
+84%since 2000
from $11,984 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
17.1%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
29.7%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 27.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information13.9%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance6.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical5.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.5%
US avg: 1.7%
Manufacturing5.4%
US avg: 0.5%
Retail trade4.3%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade3.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services2.6%
US avg: 6.6%
Arts, entertainment, food2%
US avg: 2%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration1.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.8%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$54,700
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,700 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$529
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $309 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
75.2%
−5.7 ptssince 2000
from 80.9% in 2000
24.8% rent
Afford Score
1.6
−3%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Diversity Score3%(770)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic96.4%(20,773)
Black0.4%(87)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(133)
Asian0.3%(57)
Other1.3%(283)
Diversity Score6.4%(1,389)
Segregation Score25.7%(5,535)
Diversity Score
6
+112%since 2000
from 3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
26
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
10.8%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 7.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
77.8%
+19.3 ptssince 2000
from 58.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
5.9%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.6 min
+36%since 2000
from 19.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
78.7%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 80.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
8.3%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2011
from 10.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
45.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2011
from 44.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
32.8%
−20.5 ptssince 2009
from 53.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Female
51.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Foreign born
0.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
4.2%
−78.6 ptssince 2013
from 82.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+60%
Home value$118,600+117%
Population34,824+75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LETCHER COUNTY VS
Knott County
Income$41,761+26%
Home value$77,000+41%
Population13,321−33%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LETCHER COUNTY VS
Norton
Income$41,495+25%
Home value$110,000+101%
Population3,477−83%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LETCHER COUNTY VS
Perry County
Income$42,181+27%
Home value$91,800+68%
Population26,555+33%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Letcher County, Kentucky?

Letcher County, Kentucky has about 21,548 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Letcher County, Kentucky earns about $33,181 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 $54,700, and the typical rent is about $529 a month.

How educated are people in Letcher County, Kentucky?

About 10.8% 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 29.7% 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 5,452 residents, a change of about -20 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

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