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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Perry County

Kentucky · 28,473 residents · 340 sq mi
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The short version

Perry County is home to 28,473 people in Kentucky. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 14% of adults. The typical home is worth $78,900, having more than doubled since 2000. 1% of people here were born outside the United States. Households take in $39,594 at the median, 40% less than the US figure. Households here earn about 24% less than in Kentucky as a whole.

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

28,473
−3%since 2000
from 29,390 in 2000
1990 – 2025
42.0
+16%since 2000
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
340 sq mi
Population, 19902024
26K27K28K30K31K19902000201020202024Perry 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

$39,594
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,089 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$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%
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

$78,900
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$703
+55%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $302 in 2000
US average: $1,124
70.8%
−6.6 ptssince 2000
from 77.4% in 2000
29.2% rent
2.26 people
−12%since 2009
from 2.56 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
2.0
+14%since 2009
from 1.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
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-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)
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)
Section 05

Education

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%
8.5%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

23.3 min
+52%since 2000
from 15.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
76.8%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 80.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
9.5%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

9.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2011
from 8.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
50.8%
+2.6 ptssince 2011
from 48.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
63.9%
US average: 73.3%
31.1%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 27.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

49.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
50.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
1.5%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
4.7%
−13.9 ptssince 2013
from 18.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
83.4%
US average: 91.9%
87.4%
US average: 86.2%
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
Section 09

Health coverage

4.7%
−13.9 ptssince 2013
from 18.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
40.8%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
9.6%
US average: 13.7%
23.3%
US average: 17.6%
40.8%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
3.0%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
50.5%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
58.9%
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)9.4%(115)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)15%(183)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era35.6%(433)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War8.2%(100)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II4.5%(55)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 1,217 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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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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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →