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Mason County, Kentucky Demographics 2026

Mason County, Kentucky has a population of 16,956, the 67th most populous county in Kentucky. The median household income is $52,178 and the median home value is $161,500. The poverty rate is 18.8%.

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

Mason County Quick Facts

Population 16,956
Median Household Income $52,178
Median Home Value $161,500
Poverty Rate 18.8%
Unemployment Rate 4.9%
Median Age 42.5 years
Homeownership Rate 66.1%
Affordability Ratio 3.1x
Bachelor's Degree+ 20.0%
High School Graduation 86.3%
Cities/Places 5
Population 16,956 67th of 120
Median Income $52,178 18% lower than state
Poverty Rate 18.8%
Unemployment 4.9%

How Mason County 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
Population16,99516,956-0.2%
Median household income$51,473$52,178+1.4%
Median home value$157,500$161,500+2.5%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 28.9%
$25K-$50K 18.3%
$50K-$100K 29.5%
$100K+ 23.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
11.2%
$10K-$15K
5.3%
$15K-$20K
7.2%
$20K-$25K
5.2%
$25K-$30K
3.9%
$30K-$35K
4.2%
$35K-$40K
3.4%
$40K-$45K
4.3%
$45K-$50K
2.7%
$50K-$60K
8.6%
$60K-$75K
10.0%
$75K-$100K
10.9%
$100K-$125K
6.9%
$125K-$150K
6.0%
$150K-$200K
6.1%
$200K+
4.3%

Employment

4.9% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%
55.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 66.1%
Renter 33.9%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.1x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $727/mo 16.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

24out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 33 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Mason County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Maysville8,737$39,01324.3%$151,500
Dover247$70,96217.4%$93,800
Germantown232$77,0002.2%$101,400
Sardis98$55,0009.2%N/A
Mays Lick88N/A58.0%N/A

Population Overview

Mason County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 16,956. It is the 67th most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Mason County is 42.5 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Mason County is $52,178. 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 18.8%. This is 17% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.9%. This is 1% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $161,500. Housing costs are 21% lower than the state median of $205,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 66.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Mason County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.9% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 5.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 5.0%.

Education

20.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 28% 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 86.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Mason 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 Mason County, Kentucky?

Mason County has a population of 16,956, making it the 67th most populous county in Kentucky.

What is the median income in Mason County?

The median household income in Mason County is $52,178 with a poverty rate of 18.8%.

How many cities are in Mason County, Kentucky?

Mason County contains 5 Census-designated places.