Boyd County, Kentucky Demographics 2026
Boyd County, Kentucky has a population of 47,911, the 21st most populous county in Kentucky. The median household income is $61,118 and the median home value is $130,700. The poverty rate is 17.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Boyd County Quick Facts
How Boyd County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 48,043 | 47,911 | -0.3% |
| Median household income | $60,659 | $61,118 | +0.8% |
| Median home value | $126,300 | $130,700 | +3.5% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 33 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Boyd County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland | 21,295 | $52,715 | 22.4% | $125,000 |
| Westwood | 4,473 | $73,511 | 9.6% | $92,200 |
| Catlettsburg | 1,557 | $38,276 | 20.1% | $82,500 |
| Cannonsburg | 1,129 | $76,450 | 11.4% | $179,900 |
| Ironville | 411 | $36,856 | 16.1% | N/A |
Explore Kentucky Rankings
Population Overview
Boyd County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 47,911. It is the 21st most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Boyd County is 42.3 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Boyd County is $61,118. This is 4% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 24% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.0%. This is 6% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 6.4%. This is 31% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $130,700. Housing costs are 36% lower than the state median of $205,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Boyd County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 68.3%.
Race & Ethnicity
Boyd County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.2% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 2.3%. The Black or African American population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 7.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 5.0%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.
Education
20.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 27.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Boyd County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Kentucky and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Boyd County, Kentucky?
Boyd County has a population of 47,911, making it the 21st most populous county in Kentucky.
What is the median income in Boyd County?
The median household income in Boyd County is $61,118 with a poverty rate of 17.0%.
How many cities are in Boyd County, Kentucky?
Boyd County contains 5 Census-designated places.