Owsley County, Kentucky Demographics 2026
Owsley County, Kentucky has a population of 3,971, the 119th most populous county in Kentucky. The median household income is $22,188 and the median home value is $80,100. The poverty rate is 36.1%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Owsley County Quick Facts
How Owsley 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 | 4,021 | 3,971 | -1.2% |
| Median household income | $31,064 | $22,188 | -28.6% |
| Median home value | $79,900 | $80,100 | +0.3% |
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 Owsley County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booneville | 187 | $48,125 | 17.1% | $205,800 |
Explore Kentucky Rankings
Population Overview
Owsley County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 3,971. It is the 119th most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.
Age Demographics
The median age in Owsley County is 47.7 years. This is 22% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Owsley County is $22,188. This is 65% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 73% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 36.1%. This is 125% 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 12.6%. This is 158% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $80,100. Housing costs are 61% lower than the state median of $205,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 70.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 68.3%.
Race & Ethnicity
Owsley County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.5% of all residents. Asian residents account for 0.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 5.0%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.
Education
7.1% 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 74% 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 70.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Owsley 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 Owsley County, Kentucky?
Owsley County has a population of 3,971, making it the 119th most populous county in Kentucky.
What is the median income in Owsley County?
The median household income in Owsley County is $22,188 with a poverty rate of 36.1%.
How many cities are in Owsley County, Kentucky?
Owsley County contains 1 Census-designated place.