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COUNTY

Perry County

Kentucky · 26,555 residents (2025 est.) · 339.724 sq mi
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#105Fastest shrinkingof 3,135-6.7%
The short version

Perry County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $42,181. Population has declined 6% 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 $91,800. The poverty rate of 26.8% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 34% less than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% 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
27,499
−6%since 2000
from 29,390 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
81 / sq mi
−6%since 2009
from 86 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
41.5
+14%since 2000
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:26,555 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
26K27K28K30K31K1990201020202024Perry County
202427K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56%(1,648)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.7%(1,292)
US avg: 6%
10 to 148.7%(2,398)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.8%(1,606)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.7%(1,304)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.2%(3,359)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.5%(3,451)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.1%(3,589)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.2%(3,904)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.2%(3,084)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.9%(1,354)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.9%(510)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$42,181
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,089 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,931
+137%since 2000
from $12,224 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
31.2%
+15.4 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
26.8%
−2.3 ptssince 2000
from 29.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.557
+3%since 2010
from 0.539 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8%
US avg: 6.9%
Arts, entertainment, food4.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Finance & insurance4.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Retail trade4.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Manufacturing3.9%
US avg: 0.4%
Other services3.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing0.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$91,800
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$798
+45%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $302 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.4%
−7.0 ptssince 2000
from 77.4% in 2000
29.6% rent
Vacancy rate
16.7%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 16.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 16.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.8%
+13.1 ptssince 2009
from 29.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.2
+24%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
27
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Perry County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.9%(28,469)
Black1.6%(478)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(154)
Asian0.5%(143)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.7%(25,765)
Black1.7%(470)
Hispanic / Latino0.2%(67)
Asian0.6%(165)
Other3.8%(1,032)
Diversity Score
15
+55%since 2009
from 10 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
41
+16%since 2020
from 35 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
Puerto Rican0.2%(43)
Mexican0.1%(24)
Asian origin
Filipino0.3%(81)
Asian Indian0.3%(75)
Chinese0%(9)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English13.6%(3,745)
American10.1%(2,769)
Irish9.5%(2,622)
German5%(1,363)
Scottish1.9%(525)
Scotch-Irish1.8%(506)
French1.4%(390)
Italian0.7%(185)
Welsh0.5%(151)
Polish0.5%(146)
Dutch0.5%(135)
British0.1%(41)
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data
Belgian0.1%(29)
Swedish0.1%(21)
Norwegian0.1%(15)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.8%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 8.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
80.4%
+22.1 ptssince 2000
from 58.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.6%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.8 min
+62%since 2000
from 15.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.9%
−7.8 ptssince 2009
from 80.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
16.2%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.2%
+5.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.0%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% 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
7.2%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.8%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 8.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
47.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2011
from 48.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.1%
−22.2 ptssince 2009
from 56.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
50.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
0.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.0%
−42.8 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
30.9%
+6.6 ptssince 2012
from 24.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.4%
−79.0 ptssince 2013
from 81.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.7%
+19.2 ptssince 2017
from 69.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.3%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 98.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 0.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married27.3%(2,947)
Married53.8%(5,808)
Widowed4.8%(518)
Divorced14%(1,513)
Women 15+
Never married20.3%(2,312)
Married51%(5,800)
Widowed16.3%(1,855)
Divorced12.4%(1,408)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Perry County

Sumter County
Pop 28,801
Johnson County
Pop 26,225
St. Francis County
Pop 21,800
Barbour County
Pop 24,607
Places similar to Perry County
Head to head

Compare Perry County to nearby counties

PERRY COUNTY VS
Leslie County
Income$35,934−15%
Home value$69,000−25%
Population9,627−64%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PERRY COUNTY VS
Knott County
Income$41,761−1%
Home value$77,000−16%
Population13,321−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PERRY COUNTY VS
Breathitt County
Income$34,808−17%
Home value$70,300−23%
Population12,558−53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PERRY COUNTY VS
Letcher County
Income$41,793−1%
Home value$67,400−27%
Population19,952−25%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Perry County, Kentucky?

Perry County, Kentucky has about 27,499 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Perry County, Kentucky earns about $42,181 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Perry County, Kentucky expensive?

In Perry County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $91,800, and the typical rent is about $798 a month.

How educated are people in Perry County, Kentucky?

About 14.8% of adults age 25 and over in Perry County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Perry County, Kentucky?

About 26.8% of people in Perry County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Perry County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Perry County, Kentucky has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,784 residents, a change of about -9 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

10 census tracts
Census Tract 9710Census Tract 9704Census Tract 9703Census Tract 9705.01Census Tract 9705.02Census Tract 9708Census Tract 9706.01Census Tract 9706.02Census Tract 9707Census Tract 9709
21 ZIP codes
ZIP 41701ZIP 41774ZIP 41727ZIP 41723ZIP 41731ZIP 41719ZIP 41754ZIP 41763ZIP 41745ZIP 41746ZIP 41712ZIP 41721ZIP 41760ZIP 41735ZIP 41751ZIP 41367ZIP 41739ZIP 41729ZIP 41778ZIP 41713ZIP 40981
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →