Kentucky
With a population of 4,534,824, Kentucky is the #26 most populous state in the U.S., spanning 120 counties. The median age of residents is 39.1 years. Households earn a median income of $63,726, 15% below the national median, with a poverty rate of 16.1% and a median home value of $205,600.
Demographics
Kentucky has a population of 4,534,824, making it the #26 most populous state. The median age is 39.1 years.
Population Trend
Rankings →Year-over-Year Population Growth
Age & Sex Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Nativity
Language at Home
Geographic Mobility (Past Year)
Economy
The median household income in Kentucky is $63,726, ranking #47 among all states. The poverty rate is 16.1% and unemployment stands at 4.8%.
Median Household Income Trend
Rankings →Income Distribution
Industry of Employment
Occupation
Housing
The median home value in Kentucky is $205,600. Renters pay a median of $967/mo and the homeownership rate is 68.3%.
Median Home Value Trend
Rankings →Household Type
Education
In Kentucky, 27.6% of adults age 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher, which is 18.2% below the national average, ranking #48 out of 52 states.
Bachelor's Degree or Higher Trend
Rankings →Health & Wellbeing
Life expectancy in Kentucky is 73.5 years. 21.4% of adults report poor or fair health and 6.6% lack health insurance. 94.0% of residents have health insurance coverage (ACS). Data from County Health Rankings (2025).
Life Expectancy Trend
Substance Use
19.0% of adults in Kentucky smoke , 38.5% are obese , and 15.8% report excessive drinking. The drug overdose death rate is 51.1 per 100,000.
Adult Smoking Trend
Safety
The homicide rate in Kentucky is 8.7 per 100,000 and the suicide rate is 17.7 per 100,000. Motor vehicle deaths occur at a rate of 17.4 per 100,000.
Homicide Rate Trend
Families & Children
20.3% of children in Kentucky live in poverty and the infant mortality rate is 6.0 per 1,000 live births. The teen birth rate is 24.9 per 1,000 females age 15-19.
Infant Mortality Trend
Civic & Transportation
Voter turnout in Kentucky is 63.6%. The mean commute time is 26.2 min, which is 5.2% below the national average.
Voter Turnout Trend
Mean Commute Time Trend
Rankings →Elections
In the 2024 presidential election, Kentucky voted Republican with a margin of 30.5%. The vote was 34% Dem / 64.5% Rep. Compared to 2020, the margin shifted 4.6 toward Republicans .
Vote Share Over Time
Counties in Kentucky
Kentucky has 120 counties. The highest median income county is Oldham County at $122,497.
Highest Income Counties
| 1 | Oldham County | $122,497 |
| 2 | Spencer County | $102,618 |
| 3 | Boone County | $99,414 |
| 4 | Scott County | $85,158 |
| 5 | Woodford County | $83,788 |
| 6 | Shelby County | $82,604 |
| 7 | Bullitt County | $80,558 |
| 8 | Kenton County | $80,548 |
| 9 | Campbell County | $77,567 |
| 10 | Jessamine County | $74,576 |
Lowest Income Counties
| 120 | Owsley County | $22,188 |
| 119 | Wolfe County | $30,417 |
| 118 | Bell County | $31,354 |
| 117 | Knox County | $32,527 |
| 116 | Magoffin County | $33,080 |
| 115 | McCreary County | $33,750 |
| 114 | Breathitt County | $34,808 |
| 113 | Leslie County | $35,934 |
| 112 | Martin County | $37,042 |
| 111 | Lee County | $37,568 |
All 120 Counties
About Kentucky
All data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 5-Year Estimates. Values are estimates and subject to margin of error. For more information, see our methodology.