Henderson, Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Henderson, Kentucky had a total population of 27,852, the 15th largest city in Kentucky, with a median household income of $48,186, which is 24% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 18.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 2.4%.
Henderson Quick Facts
How Henderson 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 | 27,994 | 27,852 | -0.5% |
| Median household income | $47,176 | $48,186 | +2.1% |
| Median home value | $151,400 | $160,100 | +5.7% |
How Henderson Compares
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+)
Henderson Rankings in Kentucky
Explore Kentucky Rankings
Other Cities in Henderson County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corydon | 741 | $56,304 | 28.9% | $131,700 |
| Robards | 483 | $80,250 | 7.0% | $152,100 |
| Poole | 256 | N/A | 1.9% | $175,800 |
| Spottsville | 194 | $59,866 | 24.2% | $95,500 |
| Anthoston | 144 | N/A | 22.9% | $167,900 |
Cities Similar to Henderson
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paducah | 26,845 | $49,915 | $165,300 | 28.8% | 22.3% |
| Frankfort | 28,503 | $53,073 | $183,700 | 28.4% | 19.1% |
| Hopkinsville | 30,906 | $49,139 | $172,100 | 23.3% | 19.3% |
| Elizabethtown | 32,576 | $60,760 | $245,900 | 28.2% | 17.0% |
| Radcliff | 22,864 | $58,559 | $169,600 | 18.3% | 16.0% |
Population Overview
Henderson is a mid-sized community located in Kentucky, within Henderson County. The total population is 27,852. It ranks as the 15th most populous out of 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky.
Age Demographics
The median age in Henderson is 39.9 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Henderson is $48,186. This is 24% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 40% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 18.7%. This is 16% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 2.4%. This is 51% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $160,100. Housing costs are 22% lower than the state median of $205,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 54.1% 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 Henderson is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.0% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 12.3%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (12.3% vs 7.5%). The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.
Education
19.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% 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 88.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Henderson, 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.
Free data download: Get all Kentucky city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Henderson, Kentucky?
Henderson, Kentucky has a population of 27,852 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Henderson, KY?
The median household income in Henderson is $48,186, which is 40% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Henderson, KY?
The poverty rate in Henderson is 18.7%. This means approximately 5,041 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Henderson, Kentucky?
Henderson's population is 78.0% White, 12.3% Black, 5.1% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.6% Asian.
What is the median home value in Henderson, KY?
The median home value in Henderson is $160,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x.
How educated is Henderson, Kentucky?
19.4% of adults (25+) in Henderson hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 6.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.