United States › Kentucky › Owsley County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Owsley County Kentucky · 4,051 residents · 197 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Owsley County is a county of 4,051 people in Kentucky. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. At a median age of 45.1, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 28.1% of locals live below the federal poverty line. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $67,400. Households here earn about 44% less than in Kentucky as a whole.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 45.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 30%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 38.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
4K 4K 5K 5K 5K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Owsley County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $29,406
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $15,805 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $10,742 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 45.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 7.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 6.5%
Education & health services 4.5%
Public administration 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.1%
Transportation & warehousing 0.5%
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$67,400
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$325
−22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $276 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 78.5% in 2000
28.6% rent
from 2.68 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 3.4 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 98.5%(4,785)
Hispanic / Latino 0.7%(35)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 96.4%(3,905)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry from 7.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 49.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 4.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 21.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 79.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 17.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 33.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 27.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 19.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 19.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 15.6%(23)
Share of the 147 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Owsley County Head to head
Compare Owsley County to nearby counties OWSLEY COUNTY VS
Lee County
Income $37,568 +28%
Home value $83,900 +24%
Population 7,297 +86%
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OWSLEY COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income $40,900 +39%
Home value $90,700 +35%
Population 19,465 +395%
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OWSLEY COUNTY VS
Jackson County
Income $40,000 +36%
Home value $111,500 +65%
Population 13,325 +239%
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OWSLEY COUNTY VS
Breathitt County
Income $34,808 +18%
Home value $70,300 +4%
Population 12,558 +219%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Owsley County, Kentucky? Owsley County, Kentucky has about 4,051 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Owsley County, Kentucky? The typical household in Owsley County, Kentucky earns about $29,406 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Owsley County, Kentucky expensive? In Owsley County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $67,400, and the typical rent is about $325 a month.
How educated are people in Owsley County, Kentucky? About 14.5% of adults age 25 and over in Owsley County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Owsley County, Kentucky? About 28.1% of people in Owsley County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.
Has Owsley County, Kentucky grown since 1990? Yes, Owsley County, Kentucky has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 985 residents, a change of about -20 percent over that period.
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