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COUNTY

Wolfe County

Kentucky · 6,298 residents (2025 est.) · 222.159 sq mi
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The short version

Wolfe County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $30,417. Population has declined 9% since 2000. 9% 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 $75,800. The poverty rate of 37.7% is well above the national figure. It falls in the bottom 10% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
9% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
6,443
−9%since 2000
from 7,065 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
29 / sq mi
−9%since 2009
from 32 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.3
+16%since 2000
from 36.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:6,298 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6K7K7K7K7K1990201020202024Wolfe County
20246K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.1%(392)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.3%(406)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.3%(409)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.7%(430)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.6%(294)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.2%(659)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.3%(730)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5414.7%(950)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.3%(924)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.8%(763)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.5%(422)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1%(64)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$30,417
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $19,310 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$17,627
+71%since 2000
from $10,321 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
16.8%
+10.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
37.7%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 35.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.418
−12%since 2010
from 0.474 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade9.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Information8.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services1.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$75,800
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$501
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $250 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 73.9% in 2000
26.4% rent
Vacancy rate
12.4%
−17.8 ptssince 2009
from 30.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
23.2%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 27.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.9%
+8.5 ptssince 2009
from 41.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
−4%since 2009
from 2.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
15
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wolfe County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.8%(6,981)
Black0.2%(17)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(36)
Asian0%(2)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic95.1%(6,126)
Black0.2%(10)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(102)
Asian0%(0)
Other3.2%(205)
Diversity Score
12
+890%since 2009
from 1 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
5
−70%since 2020
from 17 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
Cuban1.6%(102)
Ancestry
English14.7%(946)
American10.5%(677)
German5.4%(348)
Irish5.4%(346)
Scottish1.6%(106)
Scotch-Irish1.6%(102)
Polish1.2%(80)
Dutch0.8%(52)
Swedish0.2%(11)
Italian0.1%(9)
Russian0%(1)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
8.7%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 10.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
70.1%
+16.4 ptssince 2000
from 53.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 5.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
32.1 min
+13%since 2000
from 28.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 80.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.4%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
−7.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.2%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% 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
10.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
13.1%
+4.8 ptssince 2011
from 8.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
36.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2011
from 36.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
20.1%
−6.5 ptssince 2009
from 26.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
26.9%
−30.6 ptssince 2009
from 57.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Female
50.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Foreign born
1.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.0%
−45.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
29.4%
+2.5 ptssince 2012
from 26.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.9%
−82.8 ptssince 2013
from 85.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.1%
+33.9 ptssince 2017
from 55.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.0%
−1.8 ptssince 2016
from 99.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.8%
+1.6 ptssince 2016
from 0.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married29.9%(779)
Married51%(1,330)
Widowed7.2%(188)
Divorced11.9%(311)
Women 15+
Never married13.1%(345)
Married55.9%(1,468)
Widowed11.7%(308)
Divorced19.3%(507)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Wolfe County

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Pop 6,156
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Pop 7,067
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Pop 4,631
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Pop 9,780
Places similar to Wolfe County
Head to head

Compare Wolfe County to nearby counties

WOLFE COUNTY VS
Menifee County
Income$45,096+48%
Home value$125,800+66%
Population6,430+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WOLFE COUNTY VS
Lee County
Income$37,568+24%
Home value$83,900+11%
Population7,297+16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WOLFE COUNTY VS
Morgan County
Income$47,913+58%
Home value$118,200+56%
Population14,415+129%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WOLFE COUNTY VS
Breathitt County
Income$34,808+14%
Home value$70,300−7%
Population12,558+99%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wolfe County, Kentucky?

Wolfe County, Kentucky has about 6,443 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Wolfe County, Kentucky earns about $30,417 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wolfe County, Kentucky expensive?

In Wolfe County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $75,800, and the typical rent is about $501 a month.

How educated are people in Wolfe County, Kentucky?

About 8.7% of adults age 25 and over in Wolfe County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wolfe County, Kentucky?

About 37.7% of people in Wolfe County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wolfe County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Wolfe County, Kentucky has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 60 residents, a change of about -1 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 9302Census Tract 9301
3 ZIP codes
ZIP 41301ZIP 41365ZIP 41360
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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