CensusEasy
COUNTY

Spencer County

Kentucky · 20,998 residents (2025 est.) · 186.67 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Louisville/Jefferson County metro government metro area
Compare
Notable rankings
#34Highest homeownership rateof 3,14487.9%#150Highest median household incomeof 3,143$102,618
The short version

Spencer County is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $102,618. The county has grown rapidly, with population up 72% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $330,000. It ranks in the top 1% of US counties for household income. Households here earn about 61% more than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 59%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,193
+72%since 2000
from 11,766 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
108 / sq mi
+21%since 2009
from 90 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.9
+22%since 2000
from 35.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:20,998 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K9K13K18K22K1990201020202024Spencer County
202420K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.2%(1,060)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.9%(1,183)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.3%(1,481)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.4%(1,285)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.1%(1,020)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.1%(2,045)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4414.2%(2,860)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5414.3%(2,889)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416.1%(3,242)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.3%(2,073)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.3%(862)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1%(193)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$102,618
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,042 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$43,368
+119%since 2000
from $19,848 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
63.2%
+26.8 ptssince 2009
from 36.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.8%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 8.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.395
+8%since 2010
from 0.366 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance9.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Information9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services6.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$330,000
+59%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $114,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$987
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $426 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
87.9%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 82.6% in 2000
12.1% rent
Vacancy rate
5.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.5%
−9.5 ptssince 2009
from 25.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.0%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 40.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
+10%since 2009
from 2.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
78
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Spencer County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.7%(11,377)
Black1.1%(132)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(132)
Asian0.1%(10)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic92.5%(18,687)
Black0.8%(156)
Hispanic / Latino2.7%(539)
Asian0.5%(108)
Other3.5%(703)
Diversity Score
18
+51%since 2009
from 12 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
10
−34%since 2020
from 16 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
Mexican1.4%(287)
Puerto Rican0.9%(186)
Salvadoran0.1%(15)
Cuban0.1%(11)
Asian origin
Chinese0.3%(55)
Filipino0.1%(30)
Asian Indian0.1%(23)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(7)
Ancestry
German16.7%(3,369)
English16.2%(3,273)
Irish13.2%(2,669)
American9.4%(1,900)
Italian2.9%(592)
Scottish2.6%(521)
Dutch1.4%(281)
French1.4%(278)
Polish0.9%(180)
Portuguese0.7%(134)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(123)
Norwegian0.6%(113)
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.5%(111)
Arab0.4%(80)
Lebanese0.4%(80)
Belgian0.4%(80)
Welsh0.3%(55)
Slovak0.3%(53)
Austrian0.1%(28)
Russian0.1%(27)
British0.1%(25)
Swiss0.1%(18)
Brazilian0.1%(13)
Czech0%(10)
Serbian0%(8)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
23.6%
+12.5 ptssince 2000
from 11.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.0%
+17.6 ptssince 2000
from 75.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.6%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 4.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
32.7 min
+45%since 2000
from 22.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.8%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 83.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.9%
−5.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.3%
+10.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.8%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.0%
−4.6 ptssince 2011
from 9.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.7%
−7.2 ptssince 2011
from 70.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.0%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.2%
−21.8 ptssince 2009
from 57.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Female
49.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Foreign born
0.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.0%
−42.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.8%
+0.9 ptssince 2012
from 12.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.9%
−87.5 ptssince 2013
from 91.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.3%
+8.7 ptssince 2017
from 83.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 97.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.7%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 0.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married26.8%(2,224)
Married59.5%(4,928)
Widowed2.7%(224)
Divorced11%(913)
Women 15+
Never married21.4%(1,751)
Married61.7%(5,046)
Widowed6.6%(536)
Divorced10.4%(847)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Spencer County

Park County
Pop 18,314
Pitkin County
Pop 16,625
Routt County
Pop 25,329
Pike County
Pop 20,932
Places similar to Spencer County
Head to head

Compare Spencer County to nearby counties

SPENCER COUNTY VS
Shelby County
Income$82,604−20%
Home value$304,800−8%
Population51,243+144%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SPENCER COUNTY VS
Nelson County
Income$69,562−32%
Home value$238,000−28%
Population49,036+134%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SPENCER COUNTY VS
Anderson County
Income$74,488−27%
Home value$225,100−32%
Population25,225+20%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SPENCER COUNTY VS
Washington County
Income$61,616−40%
Home value$179,200−46%
Population12,368−41%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Spencer County, Kentucky?

Spencer County, Kentucky has about 20,193 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Spencer County, Kentucky earns about $102,618 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Spencer County, Kentucky expensive?

In Spencer County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $330,000, and the typical rent is about $987 a month.

How educated are people in Spencer County, Kentucky?

About 23.6% of adults age 25 and over in Spencer County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Spencer County, Kentucky?

About 9.8% of people in Spencer County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Spencer County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Spencer County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 13,392 residents, a change of about 197 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

4 census tracts
Census Tract 801.02Census Tract 802Census Tract 801.01Census Tract 801.03
2 ZIP codes
ZIP 40071ZIP 40046
Up the hierarchy
All counties in Kentucky
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →