Graves County, Kentucky Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Graves County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 36,612. It is the 29th most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Graves County is 40.0 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Graves County is $50,576. This is 19% lower than the state median of $62,417. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 36% lower. The poverty rate stands at 20.5%. This is 27% 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 unemployment rate is 4.0%. This is 17% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $139,000. Housing costs are 28% lower than the state median of $192,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Graves County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Graves County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (7.8% vs 4.7%). The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.5%.

Education

17.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 35% lower 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 88.7%.