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COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

McCreary County

Kentucky · 17,080 residents · 426.705 sq mi
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The short version

McCreary County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $19,348. Population has held roughly steady since 1990. 7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 24%. Median home value is $36,600. The poverty rate of 32.2% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 43% less than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 34.2
US median: 35.2
Less educated
7% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
17,080
+9%since 1990
from 15,603 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
34.2
+12%since 1990
from 30.4 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
15K16K17K18K19K1990201020202024McCreary County
202417K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 56.7%(1,152)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 97.5%(1,289)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 148.1%(1,379)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 198.4%(1,432)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 246.7%(1,152)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413.9%(2,366)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4414.4%(2,458)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5413.7%(2,341)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 6410%(1,701)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 746.1%(1,037)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 843.5%(595)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1%(178)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$19,348
+39%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $10,598 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$9,896
+92%since 1990
from $5,153 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
32.2%
−13.3 ptssince 1990
from 45.5% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$36,600
+4%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $26,700 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$320
+12%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $217 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
75.7%
+0.9 ptssince 1990
from 74.7% in 1990
24.3% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in McCreary County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic98.6%(15,384)
Black0.8%(131)
Hispanic / Latino0.1%(12)
Asian0%(0)
2000
White, non-Hispanic97.6%(16,671)
Black0.6%(106)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(106)
Asian0%(3)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

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

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.7%(113)
Puerto Rican0.3%(58)
Asian origin
Filipino0.1%(9)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
American11.6%(1,949)
English8.5%(1,436)
Irish4.9%(824)
German3.9%(654)
Scottish1.8%(311)
Italian0.5%(76)
Dutch0.4%(72)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(67)
Polish0.2%(27)
French0.1%(24)
British0.1%(16)
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data
Arab0%(8)
Welsh0%(5)
Somali0%(2)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
6.7%
+2.1 ptssince 1990
from 4.6% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
52.6%
+12.5 ptssince 1990
from 40.2% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
3.7%
+0.9 ptssince 1990
from 2.8% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.8 min
−16%since 1990
from 23.7 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married23.5%(1,529)
Married62.8%(4,090)
Widowed3.1%(204)
Divorced10.6%(687)
Women 15+
Never married16.6%(1,121)
Married58.8%(3,982)
Widowed11.6%(788)
Divorced13%(882)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Drill deeper

Places similar to McCreary County

Sumter County
Pop 11,588
Hale County
Pop 15,194
Ben Hill County
Pop 17,099
Jeff Davis County
Pop 15,219
Places similar to McCreary County
Head to head

Compare McCreary County to nearby counties

MCCREARY COUNTY VS
Wayne County
Income$45,739+136%
Home value$135,700+271%
Population19,597+14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MCCREARY COUNTY VS
Whitley County
Income$44,615+131%
Home value$131,800+260%
Population37,297+118%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MCCREARY COUNTY VS
Scott County
Income$44,711+131%
Home value$124,900+241%
Population22,671+32%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MCCREARY COUNTY VS
Pulaski County
Income$51,898+168%
Home value$166,900+356%
Population67,384+294%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in McCreary County, Kentucky?

McCreary County, Kentucky has about 17,080 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in McCreary County, Kentucky earns about $19,348 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is McCreary County, Kentucky expensive?

In McCreary County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $36,600, and the typical rent is about $320 a month.

How educated are people in McCreary County, Kentucky?

About 6.7% of adults age 25 and over in McCreary County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in McCreary County, Kentucky?

About 32.2% of people in McCreary County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has McCreary County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, McCreary County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,477 residents, a change of about 9 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

6 census tracts
Census Tract 9603.01Census Tract 9604.02Census Tract 9604.01Census Tract 9603.02Census Tract 9601Census Tract 9602
7 ZIP codes
ZIP 42635ZIP 42653ZIP 42647ZIP 42649ZIP 42634ZIP 42638ZIP 42631
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →