Fayette County, Kentucky Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Fayette County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 321,122. It is the 2nd most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Fayette County is 35.2 years. This is 10% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Fayette County is $67,631. This is 8% higher than the state median of $62,417. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 14% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.7%. This is 3% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 4% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $272,100. Housing costs are 41% higher than the state median of $192,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 53.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% lower than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Fayette County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 14.3%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (14.3% vs 7.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (9.2% vs 4.7%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (4.1% vs 1.5%).

Education

47.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Fayette County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 75% higher than the state rate of 27.0%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.4%. Notably, 20.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.