Chaplin, Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 337, Chaplin's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Chaplin is a small community located in Kentucky, within Nelson County. The total population is 337. It ranks as the 404th most populous out of 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Chaplin is 49.1 years. This is 26% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 14.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 10.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Chaplin is $94,352. This is 48% higher than the state median of $63,726. It is also 17% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 22.3%. This is 39% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Chaplin, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $217,200. Housing costs are 6% higher than the state median of $205,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Chaplin is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 99.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 45% higher than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Chaplin is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 15.7%. The Black or African American population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 7.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (15.7% vs 5.0%).

Education

15.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% 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 86.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Chaplin, Kentucky is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Kentucky state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.