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Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026

Largest CityThe most populous city in Kentucky

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, Kentucky had a total population of 631,818, the 1st largest community in Kentucky, with a median household income of $66,849, which is 5% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 15.8%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Louisville/Jefferson County metro government Quick Facts

Population 631,818
Median Household Income $66,849
Median Home Value $233,900
Poverty Rate 15.8%
Unemployment Rate 5.5%
Median Age 37.7 years
Homeownership Rate 60.7%
Affordability Ratio 3.5x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 33.8%
High School Graduation Rate 90.3%
Diversity Index 59/100
Population 631,818 1st of 552
Median Income $66,849 above average
Poverty Rate 15.8% 27% higher than national
Median Home Value $233,900 top 30%

How Louisville/Jefferson County metro government Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population627,210631,818+0.7%
Median household income$64,731$66,849+3.3%
Median home value$221,500$233,900+5.6%

How Louisville/Jefferson County metro government Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 17.9%
$25K-$50K 19.9%
$50K-$100K 30.6%
$100K+ 31.6%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
6.0%
$10K-$15K
4.5%
$15K-$20K
3.9%
$20K-$25K
3.5%
$25K-$30K
3.9%
$30K-$35K
4.1%
$35K-$40K
4.2%
$40K-$45K
4.2%
$45K-$50K
3.5%
$50K-$60K
7.2%
$60K-$75K
10.3%
$75K-$100K
13.1%
$100K-$125K
9.4%
$125K-$150K
6.4%
$150K-$200K
7.1%
$200K+
8.7%

Employment

5.5% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%
65.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 60.7%
Renter 39.3%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.5x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,120/mo 20.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

59out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 33 | National average: 61

Education

Louisville/Jefferson County metro government Rankings in Kentucky

#1 Population of 552
#183 Median Income of 496
#139 Education of 550
#127 Home Value of 495

Other Cities in Jefferson County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Jeffersontown 29,199 $81,506 6.5% $250,700
St. Matthews 17,577 $82,412 7.2% $338,000
Shively 15,638 $50,221 14.7% $154,700
Lyndon 11,030 $65,679 9.2% $276,800
Middletown 9,763 $82,537 9.1% $336,000
Douglass Hills 5,474 $78,482 6.4% $346,300
Hurstbourne 4,702 $116,094 5.5% $542,600
Prospect 4,542 $163,462 2.4% $538,400
Indian Hills 2,897 $192,000 2.5% $699,200
Graymoor-Devondale 2,802 $96,667 5.6% $338,000

Cities Similar to Louisville/Jefferson County metro government

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Lexington-Fayette323,725$69,479$293,50048.3%14.9%
Bowling Green75,388$48,873$241,90031.2%25.6%
Owensboro60,302$56,357$178,90026.1%18.9%
Covington41,110$61,166$187,30032.3%20.8%
Georgetown39,117$80,088$265,40034.1%12.1%

Population Overview

Louisville/Jefferson County metro government is a major urban center located in Kentucky, within Jefferson County. The total population is 631,818. It ranks as the 1st most populous out of 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Louisville/Jefferson County metro government is 37.7 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Louisville/Jefferson County metro government is $66,849. This is 5% higher than the state median of $63,726. It is also 17% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.8%. This is 1% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 12% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $233,900. Housing costs are 14% higher than the state median of $205,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 60.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% lower than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Louisville/Jefferson County metro government is White (non-Hispanic), making up 59.4% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 22.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (22.1% vs 7.5%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (9.5% vs 5.0%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (2.9% vs 1.6%).

Education

33.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 23% higher 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 90.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, Kentucky is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. 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. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, Kentucky?

Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, Kentucky has a population of 631,818 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY?

The median household income in Louisville/Jefferson County metro government is $66,849, which is 17% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY?

The poverty rate in Louisville/Jefferson County metro government is 15.8%. This means approximately 98,181 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, Kentucky?

Louisville/Jefferson County metro government's population is 59.4% White, 22.1% Black, 9.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 2.9% Asian.

What is the median home value in Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY?

The median home value in Louisville/Jefferson County metro government is $233,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x.

How educated is Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, Kentucky?

33.8% of adults (25+) in Louisville/Jefferson County metro government hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 14.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.