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COUNTY

Whitley County

Kentucky · 37,297 residents (2025 est.) · 437.922 sq mi
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The short version

Whitley County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $44,615. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $131,800. The poverty rate of 26.3% 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
Younger
median age 35.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 46%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
36,920
+3%since 2000
from 35,865 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
84 / sq mi
−3%since 2009
from 87 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
35.2
−1%since 2000
from 35.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:37,297 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
33K34K36K37K39K1990201020202024Whitley County
202437K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 57.1%(2,619)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.5%(2,385)
US avg: 6%
10 to 148.2%(3,044)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 198.1%(2,995)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 247.4%(2,746)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.5%(4,605)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.4%(4,215)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.2%(4,139)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411.9%(4,388)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 749.3%(3,448)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.6%(1,715)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.7%(621)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,615
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,075 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,353
+83%since 2000
from $12,777 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
29.6%
+16.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
26.3%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 26.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.480
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.481 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade6.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$131,800
+46%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $49,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$798
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $352 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
66.8%
−5.8 ptssince 2000
from 72.6% in 2000
33.2% rent
Vacancy rate
13.4%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.3%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 21.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
39.0%
+4.6 ptssince 2009
from 34.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.0
+23%since 2009
from 2.4 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 Whitley County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.8%(35,062)
Black0.3%(122)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(249)
Asian0.2%(70)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic94.4%(34,846)
Black1.1%(389)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(776)
Asian0.3%(96)
Other2.2%(813)
Diversity Score
14
+75%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
26
−12%since 2020
from 30 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%(398)
Puerto Rican0.7%(253)
Spaniard0.1%(41)
Argentine0.1%(21)
Honduran0%(18)
Asian origin
Chinese0.1%(31)
Asian Indian0.1%(29)
Filipino0.1%(23)
Korean0%(9)
Ancestry
English13.7%(5,048)
American10.2%(3,761)
Irish9.8%(3,619)
German8.5%(3,143)
Scotch-Irish2.4%(869)
Italian1.4%(516)
Scottish1.2%(461)
Polish0.7%(273)
Welsh0.6%(232)
Dutch0.6%(229)
French0.6%(222)
Norwegian0.5%(202)
+ 19 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.3%(107)
Russian0.3%(104)
British0.2%(75)
Portuguese0.2%(73)
Czech0.2%(71)
Finnish0.1%(55)
Lithuanian0.1%(55)
Romanian0.1%(41)
Nigerian0.1%(37)
Arab0.1%(27)
Greek0.1%(23)
Swiss0.1%(21)
Belgian0.1%(19)
Croatian0%(14)
Canadian0%(13)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Scotch-Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.9%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 13.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.3%
+22.9 ptssince 2000
from 61.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.0%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 6.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.5 min
+49%since 2000
from 16.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.5%
−8.2 ptssince 2009
from 80.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
14.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.9%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.4%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.4%
−4.9 ptssince 2011
from 10.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
51.8%
+2.8 ptssince 2011
from 49.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.1%
−24.5 ptssince 2009
from 59.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
Female
50.7%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.1% in 2009
Foreign born
0.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.1%
−43.0 ptssince 2009
from 47.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.9%
−1.3 ptssince 2012
from 23.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.2%
−76.5 ptssince 2013
from 82.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.3%
+23.9 ptssince 2017
from 59.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.1%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 98.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2016
from 0.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married34.6%(4,842)
Married49.2%(6,876)
Widowed3.9%(550)
Divorced12.3%(1,719)
Women 15+
Never married24.5%(3,649)
Married49.8%(7,406)
Widowed11.2%(1,666)
Divorced14.5%(2,164)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 36,906
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Pop 36,665
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Pop 33,688
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Pop 34,253
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Head to head

Compare Whitley County to nearby counties

WHITLEY COUNTY VS
Knox County
Income$32,527−27%
Home value$118,700−10%
Population29,532−21%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WHITLEY COUNTY VS
McCreary County
Income$33,750−24%
Home value$85,300−35%
Population17,124−54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WHITLEY COUNTY VS
Laurel County
Income$57,771+29%
Home value$159,500+21%
Population63,746+71%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WHITLEY COUNTY VS
Campbell County
Income$51,557+16%
Home value$186,500+42%
Population40,290+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Whitley County, Kentucky?

Whitley County, Kentucky has about 36,920 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Whitley County, Kentucky earns about $44,615 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Whitley County, Kentucky expensive?

In Whitley County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $131,800, and the typical rent is about $798 a month.

How educated are people in Whitley County, Kentucky?

About 20.9% of adults age 25 and over in Whitley County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Whitley County, Kentucky?

About 26.3% of people in Whitley County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Whitley County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Whitley County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,594 residents, a change of about 11 percent over that period.

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12 census tracts
Census Tract 9205.02Census Tract 9203.02Census Tract 9206.02Census Tract 9204.02Census Tract 9207Census Tract 9202Census Tract 9201Census Tract 9208Census Tract 9204.01Census Tract 9203.01Census Tract 9205.01Census Tract 9206.01
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 40701ZIP 40769ZIP 40759ZIP 40763
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

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