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COUNTY

Muhlenberg County

Kentucky · 30,634 residents (2025 est.) · 467.28 sq mi
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The short version

Muhlenberg County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $51,927. Population has declined 4% since 2000. 15% 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 $127,400.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 36%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
30,591
−4%since 2000
from 31,839 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
65 / sq mi
−3%since 2009
from 67 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
43.2
+12%since 2000
from 38.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:30,634 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
30K31K31K32K32K1990201020202024Muhlenberg County
202431K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.4%(1,648)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.9%(1,796)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.8%(1,762)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196%(1,839)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.4%(1,653)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.1%(3,690)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.2%(3,746)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.5%(4,129)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.6%(4,158)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.6%(3,535)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.2%(1,882)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.5%(753)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,927
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,566 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,585
+107%since 2000
from $14,798 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
35.0%
+20.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.4%
−1.3 ptssince 2000
from 19.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.474
+6%since 2010
from 0.446 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade15.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing2.3%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services1.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$127,400
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $51,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$718
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $330 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
78.8%
−4.0 ptssince 2000
from 82.8% in 2000
21.2% rent
Vacancy rate
10.6%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.9%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 22.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
33.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 33.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
+22%since 2009
from 2.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
34
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Muhlenberg County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.7%(29,836)
Black4.6%(1,472)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(232)
Asian0.1%(40)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.9%(28,119)
Black2%(618)
Hispanic / Latino2%(626)
Asian1%(318)
Other3%(910)
Diversity Score
19
+18%since 2009
from 16 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
33
−17%since 2020
from 40 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
Mexican1.3%(391)
Puerto Rican0.3%(80)
Guatemalan0.2%(73)
Cuban0.1%(20)
Salvadoran0.1%(16)
Asian origin
Taiwanese0.7%(212)
Vietnamese0.1%(37)
Filipino0.1%(28)
Asian Indian0.1%(22)
Chinese0%(10)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English14.2%(4,357)
American12.1%(3,710)
Irish6.5%(1,977)
German5.7%(1,736)
Scotch-Irish1.8%(545)
Scottish1.7%(513)
Italian1.1%(324)
Swedish0.6%(182)
French0.6%(179)
Dutch0.4%(118)
Welsh0.3%(81)
Polish0.3%(78)
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data
Canadian0.2%(62)
Greek0.2%(61)
Norwegian0.1%(40)
Ukrainian0.1%(24)
West Indian0.1%(23)
Arab0.1%(19)
British0.1%(17)
Haitian0%(9)
Czech0%(6)
Swiss0%(1)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Scotch-Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.7%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 8.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.3%
+18.6 ptssince 2000
from 65.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.9%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 4.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.0 min
+52%since 2000
from 17.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
86.0%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 83.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.1%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.0%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% 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
5.2%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.7%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 8.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
51.7%
+3.4 ptssince 2011
from 48.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 16.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.9%
−25.0 ptssince 2009
from 57.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.2%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Female
48.8%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Foreign born
1.8%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.3%
−41.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
22.3%
+4.3 ptssince 2012
from 18.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.8%
−80.2 ptssince 2013
from 85.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.2%
+19.8 ptssince 2017
from 64.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2016
from 98.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married28.8%(3,696)
Married54.4%(6,975)
Widowed4.8%(620)
Divorced12%(1,539)
Women 15+
Never married18%(2,256)
Married52.1%(6,539)
Widowed14.1%(1,770)
Divorced15.9%(1,990)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Muhlenberg County to nearby counties

MUHLENBERG COUNTY VS
McLean County
Income$65,596+26%
Home value$148,500+17%
Population9,064−70%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MUHLENBERG COUNTY VS
Hopkins County
Income$56,815+9%
Home value$142,800+12%
Population45,127+47%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MUHLENBERG COUNTY VS
Ohio County
Income$57,798+11%
Home value$121,400−5%
Population23,934−22%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MUHLENBERG COUNTY VS
Butler County
Income$56,092+8%
Home value$111,100−13%
Population12,520−59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky?

Muhlenberg County, Kentucky has about 30,591 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky earns about $51,927 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Muhlenberg County, Kentucky expensive?

In Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $127,400, and the typical rent is about $718 a month.

How educated are people in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky?

About 14.7% of adults age 25 and over in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky?

About 18.4% of people in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Muhlenberg County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 727 residents, a change of about -2 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

10 census tracts
Census Tract 9604Census Tract 9603Census Tract 9602.01Census Tract 9606Census Tract 9607Census Tract 9605Census Tract 9602.02Census Tract 9608Census Tract 9609Census Tract 9601
13 ZIP codes
ZIP 42345ZIP 42330ZIP 42325ZIP 42337ZIP 42324ZIP 42367ZIP 42323ZIP 42339ZIP 42344ZIP 42321ZIP 42326ZIP 42374ZIP 42332
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →