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COUNTY

Powell County

Kentucky · 12,812 residents (2025 est.) · 178.962 sq mi
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The short version

Powell County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $40,309. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 14% 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 $141,100. The poverty rate of 22.5% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 37% less than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 44%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
13,038
−2%since 2000
from 13,237 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
73 / sq mi
−4%since 2009
from 76 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
39.3
+13%since 2000
from 34.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:12,812 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
11K12K13K13K14K1990201020202024Powell County
202413K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.9%(769)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.1%(792)
US avg: 6%
10 to 148.4%(1,092)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.4%(961)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.7%(617)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.4%(1,623)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.6%(1,638)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413%(1,700)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.3%(1,733)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.6%(1,383)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.1%(535)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.5%(195)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$40,309
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,515 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,040
+76%since 2000
from $13,060 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
32.6%
+20.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
22.5%
−1.0 ptssince 2000
from 23.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.467
+5%since 2010
from 0.444 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information18.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade14.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade11.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing0.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$141,100
+44%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $53,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$747
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $406 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
68.2%
−5.7 ptssince 2000
from 74.0% in 2000
31.8% rent
Vacancy rate
15.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.1%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 22.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
52.4%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 56.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.5
+35%since 2009
from 2.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
28
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Powell County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98%(12,969)
Black0.6%(82)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(88)
Asian0%(6)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.6%(12,201)
Black2%(264)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(214)
Asian0%(0)
Other2.8%(359)
Diversity Score
15
+131%since 2009
from 7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
22
−32%since 2020
from 32 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 Rican1.1%(144)
Mexican0.2%(29)
Spaniard0.2%(27)
Ancestry
American16.4%(2,136)
English14.4%(1,874)
Irish10.2%(1,328)
German7.3%(957)
French2.9%(381)
Finnish0.9%(112)
Polish0.8%(102)
Scottish0.8%(100)
Italian0.8%(99)
Dutch0.2%(26)
+ 6 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.1%(18)
Greek0.1%(13)
Swedish0%(4)
Slovak0%(2)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Scotch-Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.8%
+7.3 ptssince 2000
from 6.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
82.0%
+25.9 ptssince 2000
from 56.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.6%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 2.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.6 min
+10%since 2000
from 24.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
88.6%
+8.5 ptssince 2009
from 80.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.2%
−8.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% 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
8.9%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.8%
−4.2 ptssince 2011
from 10.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
50.2%
+0.4 ptssince 2011
from 49.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.1%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
22.8%
−31.0 ptssince 2009
from 53.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
50.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
0.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.9%
−43.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
25.2%
−1.6 ptssince 2012
from 26.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.7%
−77.9 ptssince 2013
from 83.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
79.7%
+23.4 ptssince 2017
from 56.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 98.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 0.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married26.5%(1,361)
Married54.4%(2,788)
Widowed3%(152)
Divorced16.1%(826)
Women 15+
Never married26.7%(1,403)
Married48.9%(2,572)
Widowed12.5%(656)
Divorced11.9%(627)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Powell County to nearby counties

POWELL COUNTY VS
Estill County
Income$46,051+14%
Home value$119,500−15%
Population13,962+9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POWELL COUNTY VS
Lee County
Income$37,568−7%
Home value$83,900−41%
Population7,297−43%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POWELL COUNTY VS
Menifee County
Income$45,096+12%
Home value$125,800−11%
Population6,430−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
POWELL COUNTY VS
Montgomery County
Income$56,396+40%
Home value$172,200+22%
Population28,822+125%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Powell County, Kentucky?

Powell County, Kentucky has about 13,038 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Powell County, Kentucky earns about $40,309 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Powell County, Kentucky expensive?

In Powell County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $141,100, and the typical rent is about $747 a month.

How educated are people in Powell County, Kentucky?

About 13.8% of adults age 25 and over in Powell County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Powell County, Kentucky?

About 22.5% of people in Powell County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Powell County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Powell County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,352 residents, a change of about 12 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

4 census tracts
Census Tract 9701.02Census Tract 9702.01Census Tract 9702.02Census Tract 9701.01
3 ZIP codes
ZIP 40380ZIP 40312ZIP 40376
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

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