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COUNTY

Rockcastle County

Kentucky · 16,148 residents (2025 est.) · 316.567 sq mi
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The short version

Rockcastle County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $48,862. 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 $123,600. The poverty rate of 25.6% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 50%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
16,163
−3%since 2000
from 16,582 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
51 / sq mi
−2%since 2009
from 52 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.8
+18%since 2000
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:16,148 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
15K15K16K17K17K1990201020202024Rockcastle County
202416K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.3%(863)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.1%(827)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.7%(1,087)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.2%(1,002)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.4%(877)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.7%(1,890)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.6%(1,880)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.7%(2,207)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.9%(2,414)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.4%(1,840)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.2%(999)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.7%(277)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$48,862
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $23,475 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,074
+119%since 2000
from $12,337 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
32.4%
+21.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
25.6%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 23.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.482
−4%since 2010
from 0.503 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information14.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.9%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.3%
US avg: 2.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$123,600
+50%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$676
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $282 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.3%
−5.2 ptssince 2000
from 79.5% in 2000
25.7% rent
Vacancy rate
11.6%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.2%
−10.4 ptssince 2009
from 27.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
32.6%
−16.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
−5%since 2009
from 2.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
53
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Rockcastle County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.3%(16,301)
Black0.1%(23)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(102)
Asian0.1%(20)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic95.3%(15,409)
Black0.6%(97)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(204)
Asian0.1%(13)
Other2.7%(440)
Diversity Score
11
+108%since 2009
from 5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
30
−27%since 2020
from 42 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
Mexican0.8%(124)
Guatemalan0.3%(43)
Cuban0.1%(19)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.1%(13)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(23)
Ancestry
American24.1%(3,903)
English13.2%(2,129)
German6%(976)
Irish5.7%(929)
Scottish1.9%(302)
Scotch-Irish1.3%(210)
Italian0.7%(120)
Dutch0.4%(69)
French0.3%(51)
Welsh0.3%(45)
Portuguese0.2%(30)
Swedish0.2%(27)
+ 7 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.2%(26)
Polish0.1%(18)
Hungarian0.1%(16)
British0.1%(11)
Czech0.1%(10)
Russian0%(4)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.7%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 8.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
83.4%
+25.7 ptssince 2000
from 57.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.7%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.4 min
+22%since 2000
from 21.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.3%
−5.2 ptssince 2009
from 83.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.6%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.4%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% 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
9.3%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.6%
−5.8 ptssince 2011
from 10.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
48.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2011
from 49.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.4%
−24.2 ptssince 2009
from 54.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
50.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
0.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.6%
−44.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
23.1%
+0.6 ptssince 2012
from 22.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.8%
−78.4 ptssince 2013
from 85.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
80.0%
+16.6 ptssince 2017
from 63.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 99.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.9%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 0.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married25.6%(1,679)
Married56.8%(3,734)
Widowed3.7%(246)
Divorced13.9%(911)
Women 15+
Never married20.2%(1,374)
Married52.3%(3,563)
Widowed14.6%(998)
Divorced12.9%(881)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 15,872
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Pop 16,711
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Pop 16,238
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Pop 16,186
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Head to head

Compare Rockcastle County to nearby counties

ROCKCASTLE COUNTY VS
Jackson County
Income$40,000−18%
Home value$111,500−10%
Population13,325−17%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROCKCASTLE COUNTY VS
Lincoln County
Income$52,440+7%
Home value$147,300+19%
Population25,353+57%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROCKCASTLE COUNTY VS
Laurel County
Income$57,771+18%
Home value$159,500+29%
Population63,746+295%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROCKCASTLE COUNTY VS
Garrard County
Income$63,087+29%
Home value$204,900+66%
Population18,207+13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Rockcastle County, Kentucky?

Rockcastle County, Kentucky has about 16,163 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Rockcastle County, Kentucky earns about $48,862 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rockcastle County, Kentucky expensive?

In Rockcastle County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $123,600, and the typical rent is about $676 a month.

How educated are people in Rockcastle County, Kentucky?

About 13.7% of adults age 25 and over in Rockcastle County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Rockcastle County, Kentucky?

About 25.6% of people in Rockcastle County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Rockcastle County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Rockcastle County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,360 residents, a change of about 9 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 9503Census Tract 9502.01Census Tract 9502.02Census Tract 9501Census Tract 9504
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 40456ZIP 40409ZIP 40460ZIP 40445
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →