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
median household income $54,321, 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
Unique to this place
What stands out about Rowan County
What changed most since 1990
White share97.5% → 93.5%(−4.0 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Adults with a bachelor's degree17.3% → 25.9%(+8.7 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Homes owned by their occupants66.7% → 61.5%(−5.2 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
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)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)25.3%(272)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era31.6%(339)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War1.5%(16)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
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.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Rowan County, decade by decade
Rowan County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
20,353
$38,214
$106,323
17.3%
6.1
2000
22,094
$51,107
$119,683
21.9%
11.3
2010
23,333
$45,465
$130,047
24.7%
11.1
2020
24,662
$51,820
$153,808
25.8%
18.3
2024
24,578
$54,321
$161,800
25.9%
15.5
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
