Knox County, Kentucky Demographics 2026
Knox County, Kentucky has a population of 29,865, the 36th most populous county in Kentucky. The median household income is $32,527 and the median home value is $118,700. The poverty rate is 36.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Knox County Quick Facts
How Knox County 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 | 30,034 | 29,865 | -0.6% |
| Median household income | $33,153 | $32,527 | -1.9% |
| Median home value | $109,200 | $118,700 | +8.7% |
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+)
Cities & Places in Knox County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbourville | 3,146 | $22,046 | 51.8% | $182,400 |
| Flat Lick | 634 | $17,303 | 100.0% | $9,999 |
| Artemus | 426 | $21,141 | 62.0% | N/A |
Explore Kentucky Rankings
Population Overview
Knox County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 29,865. It is the 36th most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Knox County is 39.7 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Knox County is $32,527. This is 49% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 60% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 36.9%. This is 130% 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 8.1%. This is 67% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $118,700. Housing costs are 42% lower than the state median of $205,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 65.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 68.3%.
Race & Ethnicity
Knox County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.3%. The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 7.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 5.0%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.
Education
13.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 51% 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 76.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Knox 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Knox County, Kentucky?
Knox County has a population of 29,865, making it the 36th most populous county in Kentucky.
What is the median income in Knox County?
The median household income in Knox County is $32,527 with a poverty rate of 36.9%.
How many cities are in Knox County, Kentucky?
Knox County contains 3 Census-designated places.