CensusEasy
COUNTY

Simpson County

Kentucky · 20,788 residents (2025 est.) · 234.175 sq mi
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The short version

Simpson County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $59,858. Population has grown 22% since 2000. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $229,400.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 55%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
19,972
+22%since 2000
from 16,405 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
85 / sq mi
+17%since 2009
from 73 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
38.8
+8%since 2000
from 35.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:20,788 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
15K16K18K19K20K1990201020202024Simpson County
202420K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.4%(1,070)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 98%(1,607)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.2%(1,230)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.1%(1,228)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246%(1,196)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413.7%(2,742)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.4%(2,476)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412%(2,403)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414%(2,801)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 749.5%(1,889)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.2%(1,038)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.5%(292)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,858
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,432 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,249
+82%since 2000
from $17,150 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.0%
+16.7 ptssince 2009
from 19.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.5%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.441
+7%since 2010
from 0.411 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade21.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information14.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance10.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade7.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services2.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Other services1.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$229,400
+55%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $81,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,012
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $469 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
66.7%
−5.1 ptssince 2000
from 71.8% in 2000
33.3% rent
Vacancy rate
7.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.9%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 20.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
39.2%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 38.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.8
+41%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
43
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Simpson County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic87.3%(14,314)
Black10.2%(1,670)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(150)
Asian0.5%(89)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic83.9%(16,757)
Black6.9%(1,381)
Hispanic / Latino3.6%(726)
Asian0.2%(30)
Other5.4%(1,078)
Diversity Score
36
+19%since 2009
from 30 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
14
−33%since 2020
from 20 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
Mexican2.2%(432)
Honduran0.5%(107)
Salvadoran0.3%(55)
Cuban0.3%(52)
Puerto Rican0.1%(21)
Guatemalan0.1%(21)
Ecuadorian0.1%(17)
Asian origin
Japanese0.1%(22)
Ancestry
American16.7%(3,334)
English16.5%(3,291)
German9.7%(1,930)
Irish8.9%(1,778)
Scottish3.1%(628)
Italian1%(191)
French0.8%(155)
Polish0.7%(134)
Portuguese0.6%(121)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(111)
Norwegian0.5%(90)
Dutch0.4%(87)
+ 18 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.4%(74)
Serbian0.3%(63)
Danish0.3%(57)
West Indian0.3%(57)
Jamaican0.3%(51)
Romanian0.2%(30)
Finnish0.1%(26)
British0.1%(22)
Swedish0.1%(20)
Arab0.1%(19)
Czech0.1%(17)
Hungarian0.1%(16)
Slovak0%(8)
Russian0%(3)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.8%
+6.8 ptssince 2000
from 11.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.9%
+17.3 ptssince 2000
from 73.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.1%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 4.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.0 min
+45%since 2000
from 14.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.2%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 83.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.2%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.3%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.3%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.6%
−5.1 ptssince 2011
from 8.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.7%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 63.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.0%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.3%
−27.3 ptssince 2009
from 58.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Female
50.3%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Foreign born
1.8%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.7%
−40.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2012
from 14.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.3%
−75.6 ptssince 2013
from 83.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.7%
+24.0 ptssince 2017
from 64.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.8%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 98.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married28.6%(2,260)
Married56.1%(4,428)
Widowed1.9%(151)
Divorced13.3%(1,053)
Women 15+
Never married26.5%(2,166)
Married50.5%(4,126)
Widowed6.8%(554)
Divorced16.2%(1,327)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Simpson County to nearby counties

SIMPSON COUNTY VS
Logan County
Income$60,382+1%
Home value$164,900−28%
Population28,669+38%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SIMPSON COUNTY VS
Warren County
Income$65,794+10%
Home value$258,000+12%
Population149,375+619%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SIMPSON COUNTY VS
Sumner County
Income$90,301+51%
Home value$393,100+71%
Population215,538+937%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SIMPSON COUNTY VS
Allen County
Income$61,403+3%
Home value$192,300−16%
Population22,536+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Simpson County, Kentucky?

Simpson County, Kentucky has about 19,972 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Simpson County, Kentucky earns about $59,858 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Simpson County, Kentucky expensive?

In Simpson County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $229,400, and the typical rent is about $1,012 a month.

How educated are people in Simpson County, Kentucky?

About 18.8% of adults age 25 and over in Simpson County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Simpson County, Kentucky?

About 15.5% of people in Simpson County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Simpson County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Simpson County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,827 residents, a change of about 32 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 9702Census Tract 9704.01Census Tract 9703Census Tract 9701Census Tract 9704.02
1 ZIP code
ZIP 42134
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →