RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 86 SHOWN OF 86

Fastest shrinking, Kentucky cities

Kentucky cities with the steepest population decline since the prior decennial census. This list covers the 86 cities in Kentucky that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

RELATEDLargest by population Fastest growing Most densely populated Most sparsely populated Best broadband access Worst broadband access

YEAR2000 2010 2020

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION GROWTHVS 2000

01Louisville, KYKY641,962-35.2%–

02Fort Knox, KYKY8,836-23.5%−45%

03Middlesborough, KYKY8,776-9.0%+8%

04Newport, KYKY13,998-7.4%−24%

05Monticello, KYKY5,721-7.0%−160%

06Bellevue, KYKY5,847-6.8%−8%

07Fort Campbell North, KYKY11,356-6.3%−74%

08London, KYKY7,637-5.3%+367%

09Leitchfield, KYKY7,015-4.4%−119%

10Highland Heights, KYKY6,341-3.8%−107%

11Henderson, KYKY27,822-2.7%−149%

12Central City, KYKY5,793-2.7%−114%

13Murray, KYKY18,964-2.4%−169%

14Villa Hills, KYKY7,797-2.4%−189%

15Edgewood, KYKY8,503-1.6%−111%

16Maysville, KYKY8,688-1.5%−106%

17Flatwoods, KYKY7,439-1.3%−47%

18Hopkinsville, KYKY30,411-1.3%−234%

19Cynthiana, KYKY6,576-1.1%−71%

20Princeton, KYKY6,168-0.9%−84%

21Douglass Hills, KYKY5,575-0.5%−116%

22Ashland, KYKY20,996-0.3%−96%

23Madisonville, KYKY19,428-0.3%−101%

24Mayfield, KYKY9,851-0.1%−102%

25Lyndon, KYKY11,301+0.1%−100%

26St. Matthews, KYKY17,868+0.4%+4%

27Reidland, KYKY5,277+0.8%−89%

28Covington, KYKY41,847+0.8%+222%

29Williamsburg, KYKY5,371+1.5%−124%

30Fort Wright, KYKY6,240+2.2%−116%

31Shively, KYKY15,895+2.4%−198%

32Oakbrook, KYKY10,211+2.6%−97%

33Russellville, KYKY7,454+2.9%−172%

34Taylor Mill, KYKY7,144+4.1%−84%

35Winchester, KYKY19,514+4.2%−29%

36Morehead, KYKY6,776+4.5%−115%

37Hebron, KYKY6,407+4.5%–

38Owensboro, KYKY60,892+5.1%+427%

39Cold Spring, KYKY6,640+5.1%−84%

40Hillview, KYKY9,020+5.5%−63%

41Oak Grove, KYKY7,830+5.9%−96%

42Fort Mitchell, KYKY8,751+6.0%−31%

43Dayton, KYKY5,974+6.1%−166%

44Radcliff, KYKY22,576+6.2%−44%

45Danville, KYKY17,736+6.3%−75%

46Somerset, KYKY12,695+6.5%+13%

47Florence, KYKY34,018+6.7%−75%

48Fort Thomas, KYKY17,142+6.8%+118%

49Glasgow, KYKY15,302+7.0%+30%

50Jeffersontown, KYKY29,193+7.1%−52%

51Corbin, KYKY7,911+7.6%+41%

52Elsmere, KYKY9,521+8.4%−56%

53Paducah, KYKY26,730+8.4%−343%

54Erlanger, KYKY20,158+8.5%+94%

55Harrodsburg, KYKY9,576+8.7%−6%

56Burlington, KYKY18,008+8.7%−89%

57Lexington, KYKY329,751+9.0%–

58Mount Sterling, KYKY7,586+9.6%+0%

59Elizabethtown, KYKY35,448+10.0%−58%

60Richmond, KYKY40,663+10.3%−64%

61Nicholasville, KYKY33,857+11.0%−75%

62Lawrenceburg, KYKY12,329+11.6%−78%

63Frankfort, KYKY28,657+12.0%+76%

64Pikeville, KYKY7,270+12.3%−2788%

65Lebanon, KYKY6,699+13.3%+3186%

66Berea, KYKY16,662+14.6%+84%

67Independence, KYKY30,198+15.8%−64%

68Bardstown, KYKY14,161+16.0%−70%

69Paris, KYKY10,130+18.9%+265%

70Versailles, KYKY10,734+20.8%+524%

71Franklin, KYKY10,759+21.0%+311%

72Alexandria, KYKY10,994+22.0%−58%

73Shelbyville, KYKY18,453+23.0%−63%

74Bowling Green, KYKY78,505+24.5%+15%

75La Grange, KYKY10,669+24.6%−48%

76Francisville, KYKY10,565+25.3%–

77Campbellsville, KYKY11,783+25.5%+165%

78Shepherdsville, KYKY14,931+26.5%−64%

79Georgetown, KYKY40,883+27.5%−53%

80Middletown, KYKY9,944+34.5%+138%

81Crestwood, KYKY6,582+36.5%−7%

82Union, KYKY7,937+37.9%−80%

83Vine Grove, KYKY7,018+45.1%+177%

84Walton, KYKY5,868+50.2%+145%

85Wilmore, KYKY6,380+62.8%+57%

86Mount Washington, KYKY18,989+98.4%+58%

SHOWING 1–86 OF 86

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES