Nicholas County, Kentucky Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Nicholas County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 7,655. It is the 110th most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Nicholas County is 38.9 years. This is about average than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Nicholas County is $53,616. This is 14% lower than the state median of $62,417. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 32% lower. The poverty rate stands at 18.5%. This is 15% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 7.2%. This is 48% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $119,600. Housing costs are 38% lower than the state median of $192,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Nicholas County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 71.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Nicholas County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.0%. The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 7.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 4.7%.

Education

9.5% 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 65% lower than the state rate of 27.0%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 83.7%.