City · Kentucky
Morehead, Kentucky
Morehead, city, in Rowan County, Kentucky. Morehead had 6,776 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 5.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 7,151 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 6,870 (±20). GEOID 2153418.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
6,776
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 7,151 · ACS 2020-2024: 6,870 ±20
Median household income
$36,741
±$8,053 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $63,726
Median home value
$184,900
±$14,505 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $205,600
Median gross rent
$800
±$82 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $967
Where is Morehead and what county is it in?
Morehead is a city in Rowan County, Kentucky. It covers 9.7 square miles of land, 739 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Morehead, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 6,776 people lived in Morehead on July 1, 2025, down 5.1% since 2020, while Kentucky grew 2.2%. The 2020 Census counted 7,151 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 6,870 (±20).
| Measure | Morehead | Rowan County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 6,870 ±20 | 24,578 | −783 |
| Households | 1,854 ±205 | 9,592 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.16 ±0.22 | 2.25 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,042 ±216 | 10,623 | −399 |
Morehead's population since 2000
From 5,914 in 2000 to 6,776 in 2025: up 14.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Morehead as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Morehead?
The median resident of Morehead is 22.0 years old; 12.5% are under 18 and 7.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 90.3%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 3.2%. 2.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Morehead | Rowan County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 22.0 ±0.3 | 31.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 12.5% ±2.9 pts | 19.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 7.7% ±2.0 pts | 15.0% | – |
| Male | 47.9% ±3.1 pts | 48.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.2% ±1.4 pts | 2.4% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 90.3% ±2.3 pts | 93.5% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.2% ±1.1 pts | 1.4% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.8% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.1% ±1.0 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.7% ±1.2 pts | 1.1% | −2.9 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.4% ±1.6 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 1.7% ±0.9 pts | 5.5% | – |
| With a disability | 16.2% ±3.3 pts | 20.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.4% ±1.6 pts | 6.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 86.3% ±4.5 pts | 87.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 29.9% ±7.2 pts | 25.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 16.0% ±5.1 pts | 14.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 75.0% ±5.1 pts | 86.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.1% ±1.7 pts | 3.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Morehead earn?
Half of Morehead's 1,854 households earn less than $36,741 a year (±$8,053), against $54,321 in Rowan County and $63,726 in Kentucky. In 2015-2019 it was $36,721 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 38.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Morehead | Rowan County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $36,741 ±$8,053 | $54,321 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $73,890 ±$26,447 | $75,885 | – |
| Per capita income | $23,475 ±$8,437 | $30,395 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 38.0% ±8.2 pts | 24.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 54.8% ±20.4 pts | 31.2% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 16.5% ±6.1 pts | 16.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.2% ±1.8 pts | 94.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.9% ±3.2 pts | 93.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Morehead?
Owners occupy 33.0% of Morehead's occupied homes and renters 67.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $184,900 by its owner (±$14,505). The median renter pays $800 a month including utilities, and 52.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Morehead | Rowan County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $184,900 ±$14,505 | $161,800 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $800 ±$82 | $825 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 52.1% ±10.6 pts | 36.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,313 ±$156 | $1,298 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 33.0% ±7.6 pts | 61.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 67.0% ±7.6 pts | 38.5% | – |
| Housing units | 2,042 ±216 | 10,623 | −399 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±5.9 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.4% ±5.9 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 50.2% ±7.6 pts | 61.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.0% ±2.7 pts | 22.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±1.8 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 9.5% ±4.5 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.3% ±2.4 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 11.4% ±5.2 pts | 8.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Morehead building?
Builders took permits for 8 new housing units in Morehead in 2025 (3 in single-family houses), 1.2 per 1,000 residents against 3.2 across Kentucky.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Morehead work and get to work?
59.0% of Morehead's workers drive alone and 11.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 18.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.4%.
| Measure | Morehead | Rowan County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 53.3% ±4.6 pts | 56.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% ±3.2 pts | 4.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 59.0% ±6.9 pts | 75.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.0% ±2.5 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 25.4% ±6.6 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.6% ±6.8 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 18.7 min ±4.5 | 24.7 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Morehead?
1 census tract lies mostly in Morehead, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9502.02Rowan County | 5,499 | $40,175 |
| Tract 9503.01Rowan County | 2,395 | $52,684 |
| Tract 9502.01Rowan County | 3,320 | $58,054 |
| Tract 9501Rowan County | 6,273 | $71,137 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Morehead) · Census block assignment files
How does Morehead compare with other places in Kentucky?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Morehead is the 4,143rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 64th-most populous of 418 in Kentucky.
Morehead ranks 198th of 230 places in Kentucky with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 64th | 418 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 187th | 204 |
| Residents per square mile | 167th | 232 |
| Median household income | 198th | 230 |
| Per capita income | 187th | 232 |
| Median home value | 102nd | 225 |
| Median gross rent | 124th | 217 |
| Poverty rate | 13th | 203 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 75th | 223 |
| Median age | 232nd | 232 |
| Owner-occupied share | 225th | 229 |
| Work from home | 69th | 130 |
| Travel time to work | 182nd | 232 |
Morehead's figures with every place in Kentucky (CSV)
Every place in Kentucky, sortable · Compare Morehead with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Morehead?
9 of the 57 figures for Morehead on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Morehead are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Morehead.