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COUNTY

McLean County

Kentucky · 9,064 residents (2025 est.) · 252.525 sq mi
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The short version

McLean County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $65,596. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $148,500.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 57%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
9,114
−8%since 2000
from 9,938 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
36 / sq mi
−6%since 2009
from 38 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
43.3
+14%since 2000
from 38.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:9,064 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
9K9K10K10K10K1990201020202024McLean County
20249K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.5%(500)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.7%(521)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147%(634)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.2%(568)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246%(548)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411%(999)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.5%(1,052)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.5%(1,141)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.1%(1,286)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.5%(1,049)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.1%(649)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.8%(167)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$65,596
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,675 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,651
+110%since 2000
from $16,046 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
45.4%
+21.3 ptssince 2009
from 24.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.5%
−6.5 ptssince 2000
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.430
−3%since 2010
from 0.442 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade15.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance8.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade7.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing3.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$148,500
+57%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $52,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$641
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $318 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
82.8%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 80.3% in 2000
17.2% rent
Vacancy rate
12.7%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
30.9%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 32.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.3
+23%since 2009
from 1.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
79
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in McLean County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.1%(9,749)
Black0.4%(36)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(83)
Asian0%(4)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic94.1%(8,576)
Black0.5%(48)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(203)
Asian0.3%(28)
Other2.8%(259)
Diversity Score
14
+74%since 2009
from 8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
18
−25%since 2020
from 24 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
Mexican1.9%(172)
Peruvian0.2%(15)
Spaniard0.1%(5)
Cuban0%(1)
Asian origin
Chinese0.2%(21)
Korean0%(3)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English20.5%(1,871)
German11.6%(1,059)
American8.9%(810)
Irish8.9%(808)
Scottish2.2%(203)
French2.1%(194)
Italian1.3%(116)
Dutch1%(94)
Scotch-Irish0.7%(66)
Welsh0.7%(62)
Swiss0.7%(60)
Swedish0.5%(50)
+ 13 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.4%(32)
Norwegian0.3%(30)
Hungarian0.2%(20)
Israeli0.2%(20)
West Indian0.2%(20)
Czech0.1%(13)
Ukrainian0.1%(8)
Austrian0.1%(6)
Romanian0.1%(5)
Russian0%(3)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.8%
+8.2 ptssince 2000
from 8.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.7%
+20.9 ptssince 2000
from 70.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.2%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
31.4 min
+45%since 2000
from 21.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.7%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 78.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.1%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.8%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.6%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.5%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 7.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.3%
−1.6 ptssince 2011
from 56.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.5%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.6%
−23.6 ptssince 2009
from 59.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Female
49.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Foreign born
0.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.1%
−43.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2012
from 18.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.9%
−83.9 ptssince 2013
from 87.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.3%
+17.8 ptssince 2017
from 67.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2016
from 98.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 1.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married26.6%(994)
Married60.8%(2,275)
Widowed3.7%(139)
Divorced8.9%(333)
Women 15+
Never married16.8%(625)
Married62.2%(2,314)
Widowed10.5%(391)
Divorced10.4%(388)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 8,883
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Pop 8,792
Hamilton County
Pop 7,859
Martin County
Pop 9,856
Places similar to McLean County
Head to head

Compare McLean County to nearby counties

MCLEAN COUNTY VS
Daviess County
Income$68,214+4%
Home value$199,900+35%
Population104,898+1057%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MCLEAN COUNTY VS
Hopkins County
Income$56,815−13%
Home value$142,800−4%
Population45,127+398%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MCLEAN COUNTY VS
Muhlenberg County
Income$51,927−21%
Home value$127,400−14%
Population30,634+238%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MCLEAN COUNTY VS
Webster County
Income$59,628−9%
Home value$112,900−24%
Population12,929+43%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in McLean County, Kentucky?

McLean County, Kentucky has about 9,114 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in McLean County, Kentucky earns about $65,596 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is McLean County, Kentucky expensive?

In McLean County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $148,500, and the typical rent is about $641 a month.

How educated are people in McLean County, Kentucky?

About 16.8% of adults age 25 and over in McLean County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in McLean County, Kentucky?

About 9.5% of people in McLean County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has McLean County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, McLean County, Kentucky has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 514 residents, a change of about -5 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

3 census tracts
Census Tract 9702Census Tract 9701Census Tract 9705
6 ZIP codes
ZIP 42327ZIP 42352ZIP 42372ZIP 42350ZIP 42371ZIP 42322
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →