Lexington-Fayette urban county, Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Lexington-Fayette urban county is a major urban center located in Kentucky. The total population is 321,122. It ranks as the 2nd most populous out of 552 cities and towns in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lexington-Fayette urban county is 35.2 years. This is 10% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lexington-Fayette urban county is $67,631. This is 8% higher than the state median of $62,417. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 14% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.7%. This is 3% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 4% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $272,100. Housing costs are 41% higher than the state median of $192,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 53.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% lower than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lexington-Fayette urban county is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 14.3%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (14.3% vs 7.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (9.2% vs 4.7%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (4.1% vs 1.5%).

Education

47.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 75% higher 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 92.4%. Notably, 20.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Lexington-Fayette urban county, Kentucky is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. 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. For official data, visit data.census.gov.