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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Perry County

Kentucky · 28,473 residents · 339.724 sq mi
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The short version

Perry County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $39,594. Population has declined 3% since 2000. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $78,900.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.0
US median: 38.8
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 27%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
28,473
−3%since 2000
from 29,390 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
42.0
+16%since 2000
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
26K27K28K30K31K1990201020202024Perry County
202427K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.5%(1,566)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.9%(1,678)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.5%(1,863)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.2%(1,779)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.3%(1,507)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.6%(3,293)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4412.9%(3,674)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5414.1%(4,008)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.7%(4,196)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7411.2%(3,180)
US avg: 10%
75 to 844.7%(1,347)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.3%(382)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$39,594
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,089 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,466
+100%since 2000
from $12,224 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
23.7%
+7.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
20.2%
−8.9 ptssince 2000
from 29.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12.5%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade8.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade3.9%
US avg: 10%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.7%
US avg: 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, food3.6%
US avg: 2%
Finance & insurance3.5%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services3.4%
US avg: 6.6%
Manufacturing3%
US avg: 0.5%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.8%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$78,900
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$703
+55%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $302 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
70.8%
−6.6 ptssince 2000
from 77.4% in 2000
29.2% rent
Afford Score
2.0
+14%since 2009
from 1.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic93.9%(26,748)
Black1.3%(374)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(221)
Asian0.9%(255)
Other1.3%(359)
Segregation Score
35
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
Mexican0.4%(97)
Puerto Rican0.2%(42)
Asian origin
Filipino0.9%(229)
Vietnamese0.1%(36)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(6)
Ancestry
American9.6%(2,520)
Irish9.4%(2,482)
English9%(2,366)
German6.5%(1,714)
Scottish3.5%(911)
Scotch-Irish2.9%(755)
Italian1.6%(432)
Welsh0.5%(135)
Swiss0.4%(112)
French0.4%(106)
British0.3%(87)
Dutch0.2%(50)
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.2%(49)
Romanian0.1%(18)
Austrian0.1%(15)
Slovak0%(1)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.3%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 8.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
79.4%
+21.0 ptssince 2000
from 58.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
8.5%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.3 min
+52%since 2000
from 15.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
76.8%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 80.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
9.5%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2011
from 8.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
50.8%
+2.6 ptssince 2011
from 48.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
31.1%
−25.2 ptssince 2009
from 56.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
50.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
1.5%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
4.7%
−76.7 ptssince 2013
from 81.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
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

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Pop 28,801
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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$35,934−9%
Home value$69,000−13%
Population9,627−64%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PERRY COUNTY VS
Knott County
Income$41,761+5%
Home value$77,000−2%
Population13,321−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PERRY COUNTY VS
Breathitt County
Income$34,808−12%
Home value$70,300−11%
Population12,558−53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PERRY COUNTY VS
Letcher County
Income$41,793+6%
Home value$67,400−15%
Population19,952−25%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Perry County, Kentucky?

Perry County, Kentucky has about 28,473 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Perry County, Kentucky earns about $39,594 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 $78,900, and the typical rent is about $703 a month.

How educated are people in Perry County, Kentucky?

About 14.3% 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 20.2% 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 1,810 residents, a change of about -6 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 →