Whitley County, Kentucky Demographics 2026
Whitley County, Kentucky has a population of 36,920, the 28th most populous county in Kentucky. The median household income is $44,615 and the median home value is $131,800. The poverty rate is 26.3%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Whitley County Quick Facts
How Whitley 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 | 36,755 | 36,920 | +0.4% |
| Median household income | $41,719 | $44,615 | +6.9% |
| Median home value | $120,600 | $131,800 | +9.3% |
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 Whitley County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williamsburg | 5,270 | $38,147 | 30.9% | $113,300 |
| Emlyn | 488 | $54,423 | 23.6% | $131,700 |
| Pleasant View | 241 | $46,020 | 24.9% | $106,300 |
| Rockholds | 130 | $31,025 | 6.2% | N/A |
Explore Kentucky Rankings
Population Overview
Whitley County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 36,920. It is the 28th most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Whitley County is 35.2 years. This is 10% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Whitley County is $44,615. This is 30% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 45% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.3%. This is 64% 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 5.3%. This is 10% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $131,800. Housing costs are 36% lower than the state median of $205,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 66.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% lower than the state average of 68.3%.
Race & Ethnicity
Whitley County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.1%. The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 7.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 5.0%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.
Education
20.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 24% 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 84.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Whitley 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 Whitley County, Kentucky?
Whitley County has a population of 36,920, making it the 28th most populous county in Kentucky.
What is the median income in Whitley County?
The median household income in Whitley County is $44,615 with a poverty rate of 26.3%.
How many cities are in Whitley County, Kentucky?
Whitley County contains 4 Census-designated places.