Laurel County, Kentucky Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Laurel County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 62,731. It is the 15th most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Laurel County is 39.9 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Laurel County is $56,999. This is 9% lower than the state median of $62,417. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 27% lower. The poverty rate stands at 21.3%. This is 32% 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 3.6%. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $143,400. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $192,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Laurel County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 71.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Laurel County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.7%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 7.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 4.7%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 1.5%.

Education

16.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 39% 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 83.1%.