Jefferson County, Kentucky Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Jefferson County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 777,392. It is the 1st most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Jefferson County is 38.4 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Jefferson County is $67,849. This is 9% 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 14.5%. This is 10% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. The median home value is $237,200. Housing costs are 23% higher than the state median of $192,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 61.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Jefferson County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 63.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 21.7%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (21.7% vs 7.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (7.8% vs 4.7%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (2.9% vs 1.5%).

Education

36.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Jefferson County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 36% 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 91.5%. Notably, 15.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.