Russell County, Kentucky Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Russell County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 18,117. It is the 65th most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Russell County is 42.2 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Russell County is $50,520. This is 19% lower than the state median of $62,417. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 36% lower. The poverty rate stands at 23.4%. This is 45% 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 6.0%. This is 25% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $148,200. Housing costs are 23% lower than the state median of $192,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Russell County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 73.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Russell County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.4%. The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 7.8%. The Asian population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 1.5%.

Education

15.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 41% 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 81.8%.