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COUNTY

Rowan County

Kentucky · 24,476 residents (2025 est.) · 279.881 sq mi
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#80Youngest by median ageof 3,14431.7
The short version

Rowan County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $54,321. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $161,800. At a median age of 31.7, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 24.2% is well above the national figure.

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

Total population
24,578
+11%since 2000
from 22,094 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
88 / sq mi
+9%since 2009
from 81 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
31.7
+6%since 2000
from 29.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:24,476 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
20K21K23K24K25K1990201020202024Rowan County
202425K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.3%(1,300)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.6%(1,137)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.3%(1,548)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 1911.8%(2,897)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2413.4%(3,287)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.5%(3,067)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410%(2,463)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410%(2,455)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411.2%(2,741)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748.7%(2,131)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.5%(1,118)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.8%(434)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$54,321
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,055 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,395
+119%since 2000
from $13,888 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
34.5%
+16.8 ptssince 2009
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
24.2%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 21.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.510
+4%since 2010
from 0.489 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade8.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance6.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade5.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services2.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$161,800
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $65,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$825
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $421 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
61.5%
−8.3 ptssince 2000
from 69.8% in 2000
38.5% rent
Vacancy rate
9.7%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.6%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 18.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.9%
−8.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.0
+7%since 2009
from 2.8 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 Rowan County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.3%(21,063)
Black1.5%(342)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(235)
Asian0.9%(197)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.5%(22,983)
Black1.4%(338)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(588)
Asian0.8%(196)
Other1.9%(473)
Diversity Score
16
+7%since 2009
from 14 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
24
−36%since 2020
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

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.1%(281)
Puerto Rican0.5%(126)
Guatemalan0.1%(26)
Cuban0.1%(15)
Asian origin
Chinese0.3%(76)
Filipino0.3%(69)
Nepalese0.1%(20)
Asian Indian0.1%(19)
Ancestry
American20.6%(5,072)
English16.1%(3,964)
German12.2%(3,009)
Irish11.7%(2,878)
Scottish2.2%(530)
Scotch-Irish1.8%(445)
French1.7%(407)
Dutch1%(243)
Italian0.9%(227)
Welsh0.7%(171)
Polish0.5%(112)
West Indian0.3%(76)
+ 19 more ancestry groups with data
Hungarian0.3%(69)
Greek0.2%(57)
Haitian0.2%(56)
Swedish0.2%(48)
British0.2%(46)
Danish0.2%(43)
Iranian0.1%(31)
Austrian0.1%(24)
Norwegian0.1%(23)
Swiss0.1%(20)
Russian0%(9)
Czech0%(7)
Finnish0%(7)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.9%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 21.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.3%
+16.4 ptssince 2000
from 70.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
14.5%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.7 min
+44%since 2000
from 17.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.3%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 73.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.7%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.5%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
7.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% 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
8.4%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.1%
−2.2 ptssince 2011
from 6.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.4%
+2.6 ptssince 2011
from 53.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 19.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.2%
−26.5 ptssince 2009
from 62.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Female
51.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Foreign born
1.1%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.5%
−42.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
20.1%
+3.5 ptssince 2012
from 16.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.1%
−76.6 ptssince 2013
from 82.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.4%
+16.8 ptssince 2017
from 76.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.1%
+2.9 ptssince 2016
from 95.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.9%
−1.9 ptssince 2016
from 2.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married43.9%(4,353)
Married43.4%(4,306)
Widowed2.7%(267)
Divorced9.9%(986)
Women 15+
Never married39.4%(4,205)
Married38.3%(4,087)
Widowed8.3%(887)
Divorced14.1%(1,502)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Rowan County

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Pop 24,408
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Pop 26,413
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Pop 25,672
Franklin County
Pop 25,948
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%
Population13,176−46%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROWAN COUNTY VS
Fleming County
Income$49,307−9%
Home value$134,700−17%
Population15,787−36%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROWAN COUNTY VS
Elliott County
Income$45,776−16%
Home value$123,500−24%
Population7,265−70%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROWAN COUNTY VS
Menifee County
Income$45,096−17%
Home value$125,800−22%
Population6,430−74%
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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Explore from here

6 census tracts
Census Tract 9501Census Tract 9502.02Census Tract 9504Census Tract 9503.02Census Tract 9502.01Census Tract 9503.01
2 ZIP codes
ZIP 40351ZIP 40313
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →