Russell Springs, Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Russell Springs is a small community located in Kentucky, within Russell County. The total population is 2,773. It ranks as the 133rd most populous out of 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky.

Age Demographics

The median age in Russell Springs is 45.9 years. This is 17% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 10.5% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Russell Springs is $38,697. This is 39% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 52% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 28.3%. This is 76% 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 12.4%. This is 155% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $170,300. Housing costs are 17% lower than the state median of $205,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.4x. 48.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 29% lower than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Russell Springs has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.2%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 7.5%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

28.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 2% higher 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 81.6%. Notably, 15.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Russell Springs, Kentucky is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Kentucky state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.