United States › Kentucky › Rowan County COUNTY
Rowan County Kentucky · 24,476 residents (2025 est.) · 280 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 24,578 people, Rowan County is a county in Kentucky. The median age is 31.7, younger than the US median of 38.9. 24.2% of locals live below the federal poverty line. 1% of locals were born outside the United States. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $161,800. 26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 31.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
26% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 35%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 22,094 in 2000
24,476 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 81 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 29.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
20K 21K 23K 24K 25K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Rowan County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $54,321
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,055 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $13,888 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 21.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.489 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 4.2%
Public administration 3.1%
Education & health services 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.3%
Transportation & warehousing 0.6%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$161,800
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $65,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$825
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $421 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 69.8% in 2000
38.5% rent
from 16.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.25 people
−10%since 2009
from 2.51 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 18.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 50.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.8 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 95.3%(21,063)
Hispanic / Latino 1.1%(235)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 93.5%(22,983)
Hispanic / Latino 2.4%(588)
from 14 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
from 37 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 Ancestry
+ 19 more ancestry groups with data from 21.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 70.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 17.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 73.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 6.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 53.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 68.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 19.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 32.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 16.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 17.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 76.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 88.9% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 82.6% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 95.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 2.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 43.9%(4,353)
Women 15+
Never married 39.4%(4,205)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 17.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 52.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 10.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 18.3% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 31.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 62.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 46.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
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, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 36.6%(393)
Gulf War (1990s) 25.3%(272)
Share of the 1,074 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Rowan County Head to head
Compare Rowan County to nearby counties ROWAN COUNTY VS
Bath County
Income $56,541 +4%
Home value $129,800 −20%
Population 13,176 −46%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROWAN COUNTY VS
Fleming County
Income $49,307 −9%
Home value $134,700 −17%
Population 15,787 −36%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROWAN COUNTY VS
Elliott County
Income $45,776 −16%
Home value $123,500 −24%
Population 7,265 −70%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROWAN COUNTY VS
Menifee County
Income $45,096 −17%
Home value $125,800 −22%
Population 6,430 −74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Rowan County, Kentucky? Rowan County, Kentucky has about 24,578 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Rowan County, Kentucky? The typical household in Rowan County, Kentucky earns about $54,321 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Rowan County, Kentucky expensive? In Rowan County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $161,800, and the typical rent is about $825 a month.
How educated are people in Rowan County, Kentucky? About 25.9% of adults age 25 and over in Rowan County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Rowan County, Kentucky? About 24.2% of people in Rowan County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.
Has Rowan County, Kentucky grown since 1990? Yes, Rowan County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,225 residents, a change of about 21 percent over that period.
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