Salt Lick, Kentucky Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Salt Lick, Kentucky had a total population of 274, the 435th largest city in Kentucky, with a median household income of $51,146, which is 20% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 41.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (41.2%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x.
- Unemployment rate of 23.7% is notably above the national average.
Salt Lick Quick Facts
How Salt Lick 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 | 290 | 274 | -5.5% |
| Median household income | $48,750 | $51,146 | +4.9% |
| Median home value | $111,300 | $112,500 | +1.1% |
How Salt Lick Compares
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+)
Salt Lick Rankings in Kentucky
Explore Kentucky Rankings
Other Cities in Bath County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owingsville | 1,621 | $40,053 | 17.8% | $118,300 |
| Sharpsburg | 519 | $30,917 | 24.7% | $84,300 |
Cities Similar to Salt Lick
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparta | 272 | $51,375 | $116,700 | 20.1% | 20.2% |
| Moseleyville | 269 | N/A | $165,000 | 8.1% | 26.0% |
| Westport | 275 | $53,047 | $326,600 | 29.3% | 0.0% |
| Big Clifty | 285 | N/A | $117,800 | 16.9% | 20.0% |
| Poole | 256 | N/A | $175,800 | 15.4% | 1.9% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 274, Salt Lick's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Salt Lick is a small community located in Kentucky, within Bath County. The total population is 274. It ranks as the 435th most populous out of 552 Census-designated places in Kentucky.
Age Demographics
The median age in Salt Lick is 44.5 years. This is 14% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Salt Lick is $51,146. This is 20% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 37% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 41.2%. This is 157% 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 23.7%. This is 386% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $112,500. Housing costs are 45% lower than the state median of $205,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Salt Lick is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 68.3%.
Race & Ethnicity
Salt Lick has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 5.0%.
Education
12.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 57% 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 86.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Salt Lick, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Salt Lick, Kentucky?
Salt Lick, Kentucky has a population of 274 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Salt Lick, KY?
The median household income in Salt Lick is $51,146, which is 37% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Salt Lick, KY?
The poverty rate in Salt Lick is 41.2%. This means approximately 113 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Salt Lick, Kentucky?
Salt Lick's population is 97.8% White, 0.0% Black, 0.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Salt Lick, KY?
The median home value in Salt Lick is $112,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.2x.
How educated is Salt Lick, Kentucky?
12.0% of adults (25+) in Salt Lick hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 1.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.