Rockcastle County, Kentucky Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Rockcastle County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 16,144. It is the 70th most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rockcastle County is 42.8 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rockcastle County is $48,367. This is 23% lower than the state median of $62,417. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 38% lower. The poverty rate stands at 24.4%. This is 51% 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 6.1%. This is 25% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $119,300. Housing costs are 38% lower than the state median of $192,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Rockcastle County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Rockcastle County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.2%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 7.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 4.7%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 1.5%.

Education

13.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 49% 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 81.4%.