City profile · Kentucky · Census ACS 2023

Elizabethtown, KY

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Elizabethtown - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

31,870
Residents
$56,250
Median income
$223,200
Median home
$1,056
Median rent (state)

Elizabethtown - the verdict

Elizabethtown ranks in the 29th percentile for household income and the 70th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

29th
percentile, household income
49th
percentile, home value
25th
percentile, median rent
70th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Elizabethtown, KY

Kentucky's Elizabethtown is a small city, with 31,870 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Elizabethtown brings in $56,250 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.6%. Typical homes in Elizabethtown are valued around $223,200, and the median resident age is 37.7 years. 28.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 57.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 660 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 715% from five years earlier. Elizabethtown reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 835.2 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Kentucky run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Kentucky scores 90.2 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,056 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Kentucky, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. The average commute for Elizabethtown workers runs 20.2 minutes, with 81.2% driving alone and 5.2% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 75.5 out of 100 (High).

Population

31,870 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kentucky

Median Household Income

$56,250 /yr

Poverty 10.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kentucky average

How does Elizabethtown compare to other US cities?

Here's how Elizabethtown stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 29% higher than other cities
Home value 49% pricier than other cities
Median rent 25% pricier than other cities
Safety 70% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Kentucky and the picture shifts: Elizabethtown ranks #94 of 181 Kentucky cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Elizabethtown against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Kentucky only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Kentucky-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Elizabethtown toward the top of Kentucky's cities

Among the 484 Kentucky cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Elizabethtown ranks #122 - the 75th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Elizabethtown only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#239 of 485
51st percentile in Kentucky
Median Gross Rent
#237 of 520
53rd percentile in Kentucky
Median Home Value
#122 of 484
75th percentile in Kentucky
Poverty Rate
#269 of 519
48th percentile in Kentucky
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#161 of 520
69th percentile in Kentucky

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Kentucky only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

29thIncome percentile
70thSafety percentile

29th percentile nationally for median household income · 70th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Elizabethtown's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Elizabethtown's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 54 Avg. percentile National median
Elizabethtown's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Elizabethtown's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$223,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 51% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Elizabethtown $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Elizabethtown, KY Elizabethtown, KY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Elizabethtown, KY-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Elizabethtown, KY median $56,250/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Elizabethtown, KY's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Elizabethtown, KY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
31,870
Median Income
$56,250
Median Home Value
$223,200
Median Age
37.7
Poverty Rate
10.6%
Labor force participation
57.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
835.2
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
137.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
698.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
17
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
30,000 residents32,000 residents34,000 residents36,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 31,408 residents 35,448 residents ▲ +12.9%
Elizabethtown's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
660
housing units authorized
Single-Family
134
detached homes
Multifamily
526
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
20.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 81
2020 310
2021 105
2022 752
2023 1,187
2024 660

Permit volume increased 715% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
20.2 minutes
Drive Alone
81.2%
Carpool
9.2%
Public Transit
0.2%
Walk
1.1%
Work from Home
5.2%
Other
3.1%

Based on 14,586 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Kentucky - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Kentucky state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Kentucky state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Elizabethtown sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,056/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
75.5 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kentucky

Nicholasville
31,625 people
Florence
32,334 people
Hopkinsville
31,011 people
Independence
29,024 people
Jeffersontown
28,988 people
Frankfort
28,452 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Elizabethtown's 31,870 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Marrero, LA
31,866 people
Laramie, WY
31,848 people
Michigan City, IN
31,894 people
Oceanside, NY
31,907 people
Erie, CO
31,927 people
Carlsbad, NM
31,813 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Elizabethtown's $56,250 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

St. Florian, AL
$56,250 median income
Koliganek, AK
$56,250 median income
Newhalen, AK
$56,250 median income
St. Michael, AK
$56,250 median income
Fort Defiance, AZ
$56,250 median income
Taylor, AR
$56,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Elizabethtown, KY Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Elizabethtown, KY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 75.2% 12.0% 8.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.7% White 75.2% Black or African American 12.0% Asian 2.6% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.6% Two or more races 8.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Elizabethtown compares to nearby Kentucky cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Elizabethtown (this city) 31,870 $56,250
Nicholasville 31,625 $67,514
Florence 32,334 $68,508
Hopkinsville 31,011 $47,428
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KY FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Elizabethtown, KY?

What is the population of Elizabethtown, KY? +

The population of Elizabethtown, KY stands at 31,870 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Elizabethtown, KY? +

In Elizabethtown, the typical household earns $56,250 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Elizabethtown? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Elizabethtown; the closest available measure is the Kentucky state average, a cost of living index of 90.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Kentucky vary by metro area.

Is Elizabethtown, KY safe? +

Elizabethtown has a total crime rate of 835.2 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Elizabethtown, KY? +

A typical home in Elizabethtown is worth $223,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.