Keene, Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 346, Keene's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Keene is a small community located in Kentucky, within Jessamine County. The total population is 346. It ranks as the 400th most populous out of 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Keene is 42.7 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. Only 0.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Keene is $130,625. This is 105% higher than the state median of $63,726. It is also 62% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.0%. This is 62% 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 3.5%. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $115,300. Housing costs are 44% lower than the state median of $205,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 0.9x, Keene is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 89.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 31% higher than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Keene is Black or African American, making up 83.8% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 15.9%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (15.9%) is well below the state average of 81.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (83.8% vs 7.5%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 5.0%.

Education

2.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 91% 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 87.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Keene, 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.