Hickman County, Kentucky Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Hickman County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 4,439. It is the 118th most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hickman County is 45.2 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 11.8% 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 Hickman County is $60,867. This is 4% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 25% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.5%. This is 28% 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 3.1%. This is 37% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $115,700. Housing costs are 44% lower than the state median of $205,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Hickman County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Hickman County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.6% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 8.2%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

15.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 45% 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 85.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Hickman 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.