Laurel County, Kentucky Demographics 2026
Laurel County, Kentucky has a population of 62,983, the 15th most populous county in Kentucky. The median household income is $57,771 and the median home value is $159,500. The poverty rate is 20.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Laurel County Quick Facts
How Laurel 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 | 62,731 | 62,983 | +0.4% |
| Median household income | $56,999 | $57,771 | +1.4% |
| Median home value | $143,400 | $159,500 | +11.2% |
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 Laurel County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corbin | 8,246 | $51,065 | 26.0% | $166,000 |
| London | 7,561 | $47,591 | 30.1% | $170,200 |
| North Corbin | 2,190 | $51,447 | 34.0% | $157,700 |
| East Bernstadt | 669 | $35,903 | 25.0% | $91,900 |
Explore Kentucky Rankings
Population Overview
Laurel County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 62,983. It is the 15th most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Laurel County is 40.1 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Laurel County is $57,771. This is 9% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 28% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.5%. This is 27% 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 28% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $159,500. Housing costs are 22% lower than the state median of $205,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Laurel County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 71.6% 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 94.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.7%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 7.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 5.0%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.
Education
17.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 36% 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 84.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Laurel 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 Laurel County, Kentucky?
Laurel County has a population of 62,983, making it the 15th most populous county in Kentucky.
What is the median income in Laurel County?
The median household income in Laurel County is $57,771 with a poverty rate of 20.5%.
How many cities are in Laurel County, Kentucky?
Laurel County contains 4 Census-designated places.