Lincoln County, Kentucky Demographics 2026
Lincoln County, Kentucky has a population of 24,504, the 47th most populous county in Kentucky. The median household income is $52,440 and the median home value is $147,300. The poverty rate is 16.3%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Lincoln County Quick Facts
How Lincoln 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 | 24,415 | 24,504 | +0.4% |
| Median household income | $50,862 | $52,440 | +3.1% |
| Median home value | $139,300 | $147,300 | +5.7% |
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 Lincoln County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford | 3,643 | $49,337 | 12.0% | $155,000 |
| Crab Orchard | 739 | $34,632 | 24.1% | $98,200 |
| Hustonville | 612 | $40,288 | 22.7% | $132,000 |
| McKinney | 28 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
Explore Kentucky Rankings
Population Overview
Lincoln County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 24,504. It is the 47th most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Lincoln County is 40.7 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Lincoln County is $52,440. This is 18% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 35% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.3%. This is 1% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 6.5%. This is 34% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $147,300. Housing costs are 28% lower than the state median of $205,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Lincoln County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 68.3%.
Race & Ethnicity
Lincoln County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.1%. The Black or African American population (2.0%) is well below the state average of 7.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 5.0%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.
Education
15.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% 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 82.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, Kentucky?
Lincoln County has a population of 24,504, making it the 47th most populous county in Kentucky.
What is the median income in Lincoln County?
The median household income in Lincoln County is $52,440 with a poverty rate of 16.3%.
How many cities are in Lincoln County, Kentucky?
Lincoln County contains 4 Census-designated places.