Knox County, Kentucky Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Knox County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 30,034. It is the 35th most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Knox County is 39.8 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Knox County is $33,153. This is 47% lower than the state median of $62,417. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 58% lower. The poverty rate stands at 36.7%. This is 128% 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 7.9%. This is 64% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $109,200. Housing costs are 43% lower than the state median of $192,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 65.6% 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 95.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.2%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 7.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 4.7%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.5%.

Education

13.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 50% lower 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 75.7%.