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COUNTY

Mason County

Kentucky · 16,936 residents (2025 est.) · 240.127 sq mi
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The short version

Mason County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $52,178. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 20% 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 $161,500.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% 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
16,956
+1%since 2000
from 16,800 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
71 / sq mi
−1%since 2009
from 72 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.5
+12%since 2000
from 38.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:16,936 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
17K17K17K17K18K1990201020202024Mason County
202417K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.7%(962)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97%(1,195)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.5%(940)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196%(1,013)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.2%(883)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.5%(2,113)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.2%(1,901)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413%(2,212)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.1%(2,391)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.7%(2,152)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.3%(902)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.7%(292)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,178
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,195 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,189
+88%since 2000
from $16,589 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
34.2%
+13.6 ptssince 2009
from 20.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.8%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 16.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.499
+3%since 2010
from 0.484 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18%
US avg: 9.9%
Information14.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance6.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Wholesale trade3.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services2.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Construction2.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services2.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration1.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing1.6%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$161,500
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $71,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$727
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $369 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
66.1%
−1.3 ptssince 2000
from 67.4% in 2000
33.9% rent
Vacancy rate
12.9%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.6%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.5%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 41.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+22%since 2009
from 2.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
32
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Mason County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.5%(15,201)
Black7.1%(1,200)
Hispanic / Latino1%(160)
Asian0.4%(62)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic86.9%(14,739)
Black5.9%(997)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(402)
Asian0.9%(158)
Other3.9%(660)
Diversity Score
30
+30%since 2009
from 23 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
25
−1%since 2020
from 25 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
Mexican0.8%(140)
Puerto Rican0.7%(117)
Dominican0.5%(92)
Asian origin
Burmese0.8%(129)
Chinese0.1%(14)
Korean0.1%(10)
Ancestry
American19.2%(3,259)
English18.6%(3,154)
German11.9%(2,010)
Irish10.6%(1,798)
Scottish2%(342)
Italian1.9%(329)
Scotch-Irish1.5%(253)
French0.7%(123)
Greek0.7%(116)
Polish0.7%(113)
Dutch0.5%(87)
Norwegian0.4%(64)
+ 10 more ancestry groups with data
Portuguese0.3%(46)
Canadian0.2%(35)
Czech0.1%(20)
Welsh0.1%(19)
Swedish0.1%(13)
Arab0.1%(11)
Syrian0.1%(11)
Swiss0%(3)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.0%
+5.6 ptssince 2000
from 14.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.3%
+13.0 ptssince 2000
from 73.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.8%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 5.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.8 min
+78%since 2000
from 15.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.8%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 78.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.9%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.1%
+4.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.1%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.9%
−4.7 ptssince 2011
from 9.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.6%
−4.5 ptssince 2011
from 60.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.3%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.9%
−33.4 ptssince 2009
from 63.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
51.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
1.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.9%
−40.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
22.1%
+5.7 ptssince 2012
from 16.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.4%
−81.8 ptssince 2013
from 86.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.0%
+18.6 ptssince 2017
from 66.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.7%
+3.2 ptssince 2016
from 94.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.9%
−1.9 ptssince 2016
from 2.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married34.1%(2,301)
Married50.4%(3,407)
Widowed4.2%(284)
Divorced11.3%(765)
Women 15+
Never married23.9%(1,696)
Married48.7%(3,460)
Widowed13.9%(990)
Divorced13.5%(956)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Mason County

Cross County
Pop 16,186
Arkansas County
Pop 15,836
Trinity County
Pop 15,720
Van Buren County
Pop 16,238
Places similar to Mason County
Head to head

Compare Mason County to nearby counties

MASON COUNTY VS
Robertson County
Income$51,830−1%
Home value$165,100+2%
Population2,325−86%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MASON COUNTY VS
Bracken County
Income$66,319+27%
Home value$125,000−23%
Population8,511−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MASON COUNTY VS
Fleming County
Income$49,307−6%
Home value$134,700−17%
Population15,787−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MASON COUNTY VS
Nicholas County
Income$59,531+14%
Home value$123,000−24%
Population7,949−53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Mason County, Kentucky?

Mason County, Kentucky has about 16,956 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Mason County, Kentucky earns about $52,178 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Mason County, Kentucky expensive?

In Mason County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $161,500, and the typical rent is about $727 a month.

How educated are people in Mason County, Kentucky?

About 20.0% of adults age 25 and over in Mason County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Mason County, Kentucky?

About 18.8% of people in Mason County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Mason County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Mason County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 290 residents, a change of about 2 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 9604Census Tract 9603Census Tract 9602Census Tract 9601Census Tract 9605
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 41056ZIP 41055ZIP 41044ZIP 41034
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →