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COUNTY

Russell County

Kentucky · 18,608 residents (2025 est.) · 253.272 sq mi
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The short version

Russell County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $44,738. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $163,200. The poverty rate of 23.1% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 30% less than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 66%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
18,221
+12%since 2000
from 16,315 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
72 / sq mi
+6%since 2009
from 68 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.0
+5%since 2000
from 39.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:18,608 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
14K15K16K18K19K1990201020202024Russell County
202418K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.6%(1,022)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.5%(1,176)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.9%(1,258)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.9%(1,264)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.1%(934)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.6%(2,115)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.3%(1,882)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.4%(2,254)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.1%(2,568)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.4%(2,253)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.7%(1,039)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.5%(456)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,738
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,042 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,055
+120%since 2000
from $13,183 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
30.4%
+17.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
23.1%
−1.2 ptssince 2000
from 24.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.496
+1%since 2010
from 0.493 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade21.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction3.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance2.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$163,200
+66%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $54,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$681
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $313 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.8%
−8.7 ptssince 2000
from 79.5% in 2000
29.2% rent
Vacancy rate
25.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 26.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.3%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.1%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 40.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.6
+34%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
45
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Russell County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.7%(15,942)
Black0.6%(92)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(140)
Asian0.1%(23)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.5%(16,679)
Black1.1%(203)
Hispanic / Latino4.6%(842)
Asian0.3%(50)
Other2.5%(447)
Diversity Score
20
+160%since 2009
from 8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
15
−54%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
Mexican3.7%(676)
Guatemalan0.7%(121)
Asian origin
Nepalese0.2%(33)
Filipino0.1%(10)
Uzbek0%(7)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(13)
Ancestry
English14.2%(2,586)
American13.6%(2,476)
Irish10.7%(1,946)
German10.5%(1,905)
Scottish1.8%(335)
French1.5%(274)
Italian0.7%(134)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(94)
Swiss0.5%(91)
Polish0.5%(88)
Dutch0.3%(55)
Welsh0.2%(28)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
Austrian0.1%(22)
British0.1%(17)
Norwegian0.1%(14)
Russian0.1%(13)
Swedish0.1%(13)
Czech0.1%(12)
Arab0.1%(10)
Lebanese0.1%(10)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.4%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 9.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
81.8%
+19.9 ptssince 2000
from 61.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.6%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 5.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.8 min
+26%since 2000
from 15.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.5%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 82.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.8%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.3%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% 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
6.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.4%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 8.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
54.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2011
from 53.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.3%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 18.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.3%
−30.2 ptssince 2009
from 61.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
50.5%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
2.0%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.0%
−41.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
24.0%
+4.7 ptssince 2012
from 19.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.6%
−72.2 ptssince 2013
from 79.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
82.2%
+22.0 ptssince 2017
from 60.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2016
from 96.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 2.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married27.8%(1,996)
Married51.7%(3,713)
Widowed3.2%(230)
Divorced17.3%(1,240)
Women 15+
Never married21.7%(1,649)
Married50.1%(3,802)
Widowed13.1%(994)
Divorced15%(1,141)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 18,100
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Pop 18,122
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Pop 19,237
Marengo County
Pop 18,311
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Head to head

Compare Russell County to nearby counties

RUSSELL COUNTY VS
Adair County
Income$53,553+20%
Home value$150,800−8%
Population19,423+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUSSELL COUNTY VS
Wayne County
Income$45,739+2%
Home value$135,700−17%
Population19,597+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUSSELL COUNTY VS
Clinton County
Income$44,844same
Home value$122,200−25%
Population9,139−51%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUSSELL COUNTY VS
Cumberland County
Income$40,000−11%
Home value$141,100−14%
Population5,992−68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Russell County, Kentucky?

Russell County, Kentucky has about 18,221 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Russell County, Kentucky earns about $44,738 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Russell County, Kentucky expensive?

In Russell County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $163,200, and the typical rent is about $681 a month.

How educated are people in Russell County, Kentucky?

About 15.4% of adults age 25 and over in Russell County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Russell County, Kentucky?

About 23.1% of people in Russell County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Russell County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Russell County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,505 residents, a change of about 24 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 9601.02Census Tract 9601.01Census Tract 9603Census Tract 9604Census Tract 9602
2 ZIP codes
ZIP 42642ZIP 42629
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

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