Nicholas County, Kentucky Demographics 2026
Nicholas County, Kentucky has a population of 7,708, the 109th most populous county in Kentucky. The median household income is $59,531 and the median home value is $123,000. The poverty rate is 17.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Nicholas County Quick Facts
How Nicholas 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 | 7,655 | 7,708 | +0.7% |
| Median household income | $53,616 | $59,531 | +11.0% |
| Median home value | $119,600 | $123,000 | +2.8% |
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 Nicholas County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlisle | 2,214 | $49,201 | 14.8% | $101,500 |
Explore Kentucky Rankings
Population Overview
Nicholas County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 7,708. It is the 109th most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.
Age Demographics
The median age in Nicholas County is 40.6 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Nicholas County is $59,531. This is 7% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 26% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.6%. This is 9% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 6.1%. This is 25% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $123,000. Housing costs are 40% lower than the state median of $205,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Nicholas County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 68.3%.
Race & Ethnicity
Nicholas County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.5% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.2%. The Black or African American population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 7.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 5.0%.
Education
9.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 64% 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 87.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Nicholas 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 Nicholas County, Kentucky?
Nicholas County has a population of 7,708, making it the 109th most populous county in Kentucky.
What is the median income in Nicholas County?
The median household income in Nicholas County is $59,531 with a poverty rate of 17.6%.
How many cities are in Nicholas County, Kentucky?
Nicholas County contains 1 Census-designated place.