McDowell, Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 718, McDowell's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

McDowell is a small community located in Kentucky, within Floyd County. The total population is 718. It ranks as the 289th most populous out of 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in McDowell is 29.0 years. This is 26% lower than the state median of 39.1 years. With 42.5% of the population under 18, McDowell has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 10.7% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in McDowell is $14,474. This is 77% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 82% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 72.4%. This is 351% 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 60.0%. This is 1132% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $73,100. Housing costs are 64% lower than the state median of $205,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.1x. 60.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% lower than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

McDowell has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.9% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 0.1%. The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 7.5%.

Education

17.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 37% 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 demographic data for McDowell, 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.