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STATE · ADMITTED 1792 · 2010 ACS

Kentucky

4,339,367 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 $41,576. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value is $116,800.

KY
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
4,339,367
+7%since 2000
from 4,041,769 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
110 / sq mi
+7%since 2000
from 102 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
38.1
+6%since 2000
from 35.9 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
3.6M3.9M4.1M4.4M4.6M1990201020202024Kentucky
20244.5M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,576
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,672 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,515
+24%since 2000
from $18,093 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
24.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 23.5% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
17.7%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 15.8% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.464
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade14.1%
US avg: 10.9%
Information11.8%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade6.8%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance6%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5.7%
US avg: 7%
Professional, scientific, technical5%
US avg: 4.2%
Public administration4.2%
US avg: 4.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 2.4%
Construction1.8%
US avg: 1.4%
Manufacturing1.2%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$116,800
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,600 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$601
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $445 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
44.0%
−26.7 ptssince 2000
from 70.8% in 2000
31.3% rent
Vacancy rate
12.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
21.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 21.5% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.1%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 40.5% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.8
+19%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Kentucky on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.3%(3,608,013)
Black7.3%(293,639)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(59,939)
Asian0.7%(29,368)
Other0%
Diversity Score22.1%(894,275)
2010
White, non-Hispanic86.3%(3,745,655)
Black7.7%(333,075)
Hispanic / Latino3.1%(132,836)
Asian1.1%(48,338)
Other1.7%(71,754)
Diversity Score30.6%(1,329,007)
Diversity Score
31
+38%since 2000
from 22 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.3%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 17.1% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
81.0%
+6.8 ptssince 2000
from 74.1% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
8.2%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 6.9% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.5 min
+43%since 2000
from 15.8 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
81.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 81.5% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
11.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
1.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
3.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
2.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
7.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
12.9%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
31.4%
−29.9 ptssince 2009
from 61.3% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Female
50.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Foreign born
3.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
10.2%
−37.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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 4,339,367 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Kentucky?

The typical household in Kentucky earns about $41,576 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Kentucky expensive?

In Kentucky, the median home is worth about $116,800, and the typical rent is about $601 a month.

How educated are people in Kentucky?

About 20.3% of adults age 25 and over in Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Kentucky?

About 17.7% 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 654,071 residents, a change of about 18 percent over that period.

Keep going

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 →