Fayette County, Kentucky Demographics 2026
Fayette County, Kentucky has a population of 323,725, the 2nd most populous county in Kentucky. The median household income is $69,479 and the median home value is $293,500. The poverty rate is 14.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Fayette County Quick Facts
How Fayette 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 | 321,122 | 323,725 | +0.8% |
| Median household income | $67,631 | $69,479 | +2.7% |
| Median home value | $272,100 | $293,500 | +7.9% |
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
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 33 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Fayette County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette | 323,725 | $69,479 | 14.9% | $293,500 |
Explore Kentucky Rankings
Population Overview
Fayette County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 323,725. It is the 2nd most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.
Age Demographics
The median age in Fayette County is 35.3 years. This is 10% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Fayette County is $69,479. This is 9% higher than the state median of $63,726. It is also 14% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.9%. This is 7% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.9%. The median home value is $293,500. Housing costs are 43% higher than the state median of $205,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 53.8% 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 66.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 14.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (14.4% vs 7.5%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (9.5% vs 5.0%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (4.3% vs 1.6%).
Education
48.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Fayette County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 75% higher 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 92.1%. Notably, 21.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Fayette 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 Fayette County, Kentucky?
Fayette County has a population of 323,725, making it the 2nd most populous county in Kentucky.
What is the median income in Fayette County?
The median household income in Fayette County is $69,479 with a poverty rate of 14.9%.
How many cities are in Fayette County, Kentucky?
Fayette County contains 1 Census-designated place.