CensusEasy
STATE · ADMITTED 1792 · 2000 CENSUS

Kentucky

4,041,769 residents · 120 counties · 554 cities · 1,306 census tracts
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The short version

Kentucky has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $33,672. Population has held roughly steady since 1990. Median home value has risen by half since 1990, reaching $79,600.

KY
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
4,041,769
+10%since 1990
from 3,685,296 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Population density
102 / sq mi
+10%since 1990
from 93 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
35.9
+9%since 1990
from 33.1 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
3.6M3.9M4.1M4.4M4.6M1990201020202024Kentucky
20244.5M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$33,672
+13%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $22,534 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$18,093
+62%since 1990
from $11,153 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
15.8%
−3.2 ptssince 1990
from 19.0% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$79,600
+21%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $50,100 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$445
+6%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $319 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
70.8%
+1.1 ptssince 1990
from 69.6% in 1990
29.2% rent
Afford Score
2.4
+6%since 1990
from 2.2 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Kentucky on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic92.1%(3,392,615)
Black7.1%(262,057)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(20,363)
Asian0.5%(17,309)
Diversity Score19.6%(722,098)
2000
White, non-Hispanic89.3%(3,608,013)
Black7.3%(293,639)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(59,939)
Asian0.7%(29,368)
Diversity Score22.1%(894,275)
Diversity Score
22
+13%since 1990
from 20 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.1%
+3.5 ptssince 1990
from 13.6% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
74.1%
+9.5 ptssince 1990
from 64.6% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
6.9%
+1.4 ptssince 1990
from 5.5% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.8 min
−24%since 1990
from 20.7 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Section 02

Largest cities

1.Louisville/Jefferson County metro government641,962
2.Lexington-Fayette urban county329,751
3.Bowling Green78,505
4.Owensboro60,892
5.Covington41,847
6.Georgetown40,883
7.Richmond40,663
8.Elizabethtown35,448
9.Florence34,018
10.Nicholasville33,857
11.Hopkinsville30,411
12.Independence30,198
Frequently asked

How many people live in Kentucky?

Kentucky has about 4,041,769 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Kentucky?

The typical household in Kentucky earns about $33,672 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Kentucky expensive?

In Kentucky, the median home is worth about $79,600, and the typical rent is about $445 a month.

How educated are people in Kentucky?

About 17.1% of adults age 25 and over in Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Kentucky?

About 15.8% of people in Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 356,473 residents, a change of about 10 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

Largest cities
LouisvilleLexingtonBowling GreenOwensboroCovingtonGeorgetownRichmondElizabethtown
All 120 counties
Jefferson CountyFayette CountyKenton CountyWarren CountyBoone CountyHardin CountyDaviess CountyMadison CountyCampbell CountyBullitt CountyOldham CountyChristian CountyMcCracken CountyPulaski CountyLaurel CountyScott CountyJessamine CountyPike CountyFranklin CountyShelby CountyNelson CountyBoyd CountyBarren CountyHopkins CountyHenderson CountyCalloway CountyClark CountyWhitley CountyGraves CountyGreenup CountyFloyd CountyMarshall CountyBoyle CountyMeade CountyMuhlenberg CountyKnox CountyMontgomery CountyLogan CountyWoodford CountyGrayson CountyTaylor CountyPerry CountyGrant CountyCarter CountyLincoln CountyAnderson CountyHarlan CountyRowan CountyOhio CountyMercer CountyBell CountyAllen CountyJohnson CountyBreckinridge CountySpencer CountySimpson CountyBourbon CountyHart CountyMarion CountyLetcher CountyHarrison CountyWayne CountyClay CountyAdair CountyRussell CountyGarrard CountyMcCreary CountyMason CountyHenry CountyCasey CountyRockcastle CountyFleming CountyLawrence CountyLarue CountyPendleton CountyTrigg CountyMorgan CountyEstill CountyJackson CountyKnott CountyBath CountyTodd CountyWebster CountyLewis CountyUnion CountyPowell CountyEdmonson CountyCaldwell CountyBreathitt CountyButler CountyWashington CountyGreen CountyOwen CountyMonroe CountyCarroll CountyMagoffin CountyMartin CountyMetcalfe CountyLeslie CountyClinton CountyLyon CountyMcLean CountyHancock CountyLivingston CountyGallatin CountyCrittenden CountyTrimble CountyBracken CountyNicholas CountyBallard CountyLee CountyElliott CountyMenifee CountyWolfe CountyFulton CountyCumberland CountyCarlisle CountyHickman CountyOwsley CountyRobertson County
Metro areas
LouisvilleLexingtonBowling GreenCorbinRichmondElizabethtownOwensboroPaducahPikevilleFrankfortSomersetHenderson
Rankings
Highest income cities in KentuckyFastest growing citiesAll US state rankings

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

How we source and harmonize this data →