CensusEasy
COUNTY

Nicholas County

Kentucky · 7,949 residents (2025 est.) · 195.306 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Nicholas County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $59,531. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 10% 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 $123,000.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
10% 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
7,708
+13%since 2000
from 6,813 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
39 / sq mi
+11%since 2009
from 35 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.6
+6%since 2000
from 38.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:7,949 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7K7K7K8K8K1990201020202024Nicholas County
20248K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.6%(435)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.7%(366)
US avg: 6%
10 to 149.9%(761)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.4%(490)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.1%(472)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 348.8%(681)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4414.3%(1,101)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.9%(998)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.3%(1,105)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.1%(782)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.3%(412)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.4%(105)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,531
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,886 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,299
+59%since 2000
from $15,880 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
39.5%
+23.1 ptssince 2009
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.6%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 13.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.396
−4%since 2010
from 0.412 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information17.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance8.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Public administration3.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services3.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction3%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$123,000
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $59,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$728
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $296 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 74.7% in 2000
25.5% rent
Vacancy rate
16.7%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.0%
−5.2 ptssince 2009
from 22.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
31.6%
−9.2 ptssince 2009
from 40.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.1
+3%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
22
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Nicholas County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98%(6,676)
Black0.8%(57)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(37)
Asian0.1%(7)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic95.5%(7,362)
Black1.2%(91)
Hispanic / Latino1%(80)
Asian0%(0)
Other2.3%(175)
Diversity Score
11
+70%since 2009
from 6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
18
−16%since 2020
from 22 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
Mexican0.6%(49)
Guatemalan0.1%(11)
Ancestry
American25.4%(1,960)
English11%(849)
Irish10.7%(824)
German5.8%(448)
Dutch2.1%(159)
Portuguese1.2%(92)
British1%(78)
Scottish0.9%(68)
Italian0.6%(44)
French0.5%(39)
Welsh0.5%(35)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(18)
+ 3 more ancestry groups with data
Croatian0.2%(15)
Polish0.2%(14)
Swedish0.1%(8)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Dutch population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
9.8%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 7.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.7%
+24.8 ptssince 2000
from 62.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
35.6 min
+30%since 2000
from 27.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
84.1%
+6.9 ptssince 2009
from 77.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.2%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% 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
11.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2011
from 5.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.3%
−4.6 ptssince 2011
from 59.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.8%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
28.4%
−28.5 ptssince 2009
from 57.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
Female
50.5%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
Foreign born
0.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.1%
−43.0 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.8%
+5.4 ptssince 2012
from 16.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.5%
−76.3 ptssince 2013
from 79.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
81.6%
+22.9 ptssince 2017
from 58.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.0%
+3.3 ptssince 2016
from 95.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.0%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 1.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married34%(1,071)
Married46.8%(1,473)
Widowed2.2%(68)
Divorced17.1%(537)
Women 15+
Never married22.2%(665)
Married52.3%(1,567)
Widowed9.3%(278)
Divorced16.2%(487)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Nicholas County

Liberty County
Pop 8,035
Modoc County
Pop 8,426
Power County
Pop 8,246
Lincoln County
Pop 8,112
Places similar to Nicholas County
Head to head

Compare Nicholas County to nearby counties

NICHOLAS COUNTY VS
Robertson County
Income$51,830−13%
Home value$165,100+34%
Population2,325−71%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NICHOLAS COUNTY VS
Bourbon County
Income$61,354+3%
Home value$229,300+86%
Population20,243+155%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NICHOLAS COUNTY VS
Fleming County
Income$49,307−17%
Home value$134,700+10%
Population15,787+99%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NICHOLAS COUNTY VS
Harrison County
Income$66,442+12%
Home value$202,100+64%
Population19,627+147%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Nicholas County, Kentucky?

Nicholas County, Kentucky has about 7,708 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Nicholas County, Kentucky earns about $59,531 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Nicholas County, Kentucky expensive?

In Nicholas County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $123,000, and the typical rent is about $728 a month.

How educated are people in Nicholas County, Kentucky?

About 9.8% of adults age 25 and over in Nicholas County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Nicholas County, Kentucky?

About 17.6% of people in Nicholas County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Nicholas County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Nicholas County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 983 residents, a change of about 15 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 9602Census Tract 9601
2 ZIP codes
ZIP 40311ZIP 40350
Up the hierarchy
All counties in Kentucky
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Nicholas County, Kentucky: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy