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Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026

As of 2026, Kentucky has a total population of 4,510,725, with a median household income of $62,417, which is 21% lower the national average. The poverty rate is 16.1%.

Kentucky Quick Facts

Population 4,510,725
Median Household Income $62,417
Median Home Value $192,300
Poverty Rate 16.1%
Unemployment Rate 4.8%
Median Age 39.1 years
Homeownership Rate 68.3%
Affordability Ratio 3.1x
Bachelor's Degree+ 27.0%
High School Graduation 88.5%
Counties 120
Cities/Places 552
Population 4,510,725
Median Income $62,417 21% lower national
Poverty Rate 16.1%
Unemployment 4.8%

Economy & Housing

Employment

4.8% Unemployment Rate State: 4.8% | National: 5.2%
59.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 68.3%
Renter 31.7%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.1x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

31out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 31 | National average: 60

Education

Largest Cities in Kentucky

#CityPopulationMedian IncomePoverty
1Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance)627,210$64,73116.1%
2Lexington-Fayette urban county321,122$67,63115.7%
3Bowling Green city73,638$48,41925.4%
4Owensboro city60,112$53,29519.9%
5Covington city40,902$58,81421.8%
6Georgetown city38,206$78,37312.2%
7Richmond city35,498$48,22321.6%
8Florence city32,334$68,5089.7%
9Elizabethtown city31,870$56,25015.7%
10Nicholasville city31,625$67,51412.4%

Richest Cities in Kentucky

#CityMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+
1Anchorage city$215,156$827,00080.7%
2Indian Hills city$188,750$666,20084.8%
3Prospect city$172,361$494,00071.4%
4Buckner CDP$149,700$389,90056.3%
5Francisville CDP$146,280$374,10051.0%
6Pewee Valley city$139,688$532,90052.7%
7Union city$139,013$382,90059.4%
8Elk Creek CDP$127,487$358,60038.8%
9Verona CDP$121,250$331,10046.2%
10Edgewood city$121,045$289,70056.9%

Most Affordable Cities in Kentucky

By home-value-to-income ratio (lower = more affordable). Min. population 1,000.

#CityRatioHome ValueIncome
1Providence city1.3x$66,800$53,208
2Westwood CDP1.3x$94,100$70,012
3Clinton city1.5x$48,700$32,991
4Wurtland city1.5x$84,100$56,250
5Annville CDP1.6x$84,800$53,421
6Sebree city1.6x$99,500$62,222
7Olive Hill city1.6x$111,100$69,063
8Muldraugh city1.6x$77,300$47,059
9West Van Lear CDP1.7x$131,100$78,625
10Greenville city1.7x$118,500$70,401

Explore Kentucky Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

All Counties in Kentucky (120)

120 results
City ↕Population ↓Median Income ↕Poverty ↕Home Value ↕
Jefferson County777,392$67,84914.5%$237,200
Fayette County321,122$67,63115.7%$272,100
Kenton County169,817$79,42111.9%$227,500
Boone County137,676$94,7526.6%$253,200
Warren County137,549$64,80116.8%$242,600
Hardin County111,452$67,60811.7%$205,900
Daviess County103,195$65,32315.3%$185,800
Madison County94,064$62,40715.8%$220,700
Campbell County93,193$77,27110.8%$234,500
Bullitt County83,209$77,6409.5%$233,700
Christian County72,599$54,19017.2%$149,200
Oldham County68,600$121,4914.0%$375,000
McCracken County67,584$62,38515.3%$182,900
Pulaski County65,503$50,94320.3%$156,300
Laurel County62,731$56,99921.3%$143,400
Scott County58,269$83,66010.4%$264,200
Pike County57,466$42,17925.1%$104,200
Jessamine County53,792$74,88610.5%$245,100
Franklin County51,563$66,47013.4%$198,700
Shelby County48,599$82,6718.6%$277,500
Boyd County48,043$60,65917.7%$126,300
Nelson County47,102$67,8889.7%$224,100
Hopkins County45,143$57,61019.2%$128,800
Barren County44,670$49,17121.1%$166,900
Henderson County44,493$58,23915.4%$165,700
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All Cities & Places in Kentucky (552)

552 results
City ↕Population ↓Median Income ↕Poverty ↕Home Value ↕
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance)627,210$64,73116.1%$221,500
Lexington-Fayette urban county321,122$67,63115.7%$272,100
Bowling Green city73,638$48,41925.4%$232,100
Owensboro city60,112$53,29519.9%$162,900
Covington city40,902$58,81421.8%$167,900
Georgetown city38,206$78,37312.2%$244,200
Richmond city35,498$48,22321.6%$205,900
Florence city32,334$68,5089.7%$196,200
Elizabethtown city31,870$56,25015.7%$223,200
Nicholasville city31,625$67,51412.4%$210,700
Hopkinsville city31,011$47,42820.1%$140,200
Independence city29,024$98,6538.5%$240,500
Jeffersontown city28,988$78,1856.8%$236,800
Frankfort city28,452$54,43818.7%$171,600
Henderson city27,994$47,17619.7%$151,400
Paducah city26,894$51,24321.5%$164,600
Radcliff city22,967$60,97613.3%$163,300
Ashland city21,405$52,19922.8%$125,300
Erlanger city19,677$78,42011.0%$189,400
Madisonville city19,442$56,90220.9%$152,300
Winchester city19,133$57,65315.8%$180,400
Mount Washington city18,228$93,8524.6%$253,700
Burlington CDP18,090$101,5505.7%$229,700
Murray city17,888$40,34824.9%$193,300
St. Matthews city17,491$80,7168.0%$325,700
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Download Kentucky Data

Free CSV downloads of Kentucky demographic data — no account or payment required.

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Cities Data (CSV) All cities: population, income, housing, race, education
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Counties Data (CSV) All counties: population, income, housing, race, education

Population Overview

Kentucky has a total population of 4,510,725, making it a mid-sized state in the nation. The median age is 39.1 years, 1% higher the national median of 38.7 years.

Age Demographics

The median age in Kentucky is 39.1 years. This is 1% higher than the state median of 38.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Kentucky is $62,417. This is 21% lower than the state median of $78,538. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 21% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.1%. This is 30% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.4%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 7% lower than the state rate of 5.2%. The median home value is $192,300. Housing costs are 37% lower than the state median of $303,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 68.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 65.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Kentucky is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 7.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.7%) is well below the state average of 19.0%. The Asian population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

27.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 23% lower than the state rate of 35.0%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.5%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Kentucky?

Kentucky has a total population of 4,510,725 according to the U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median income in Kentucky?

The median household income in Kentucky is $62,417, which is 21% lower the national median of $78,538.

How many cities are in Kentucky?

Kentucky has 552 Census-designated places (cities, towns, and CDPs) and 120 counties.

What is the poverty rate in Kentucky?

The poverty rate in Kentucky is 16.1%, compared to the national average of 12.4%.

What is the largest city in Kentucky?

The largest city in Kentucky is Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance) with a population of 627,210.