City profile · Kentucky · Census ACS 2023

Whitley, KY

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

782
Residents
$31,250
Median income
$61,900
Median home
$866
Median rent (state)

Whitley - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Whitley places in the 3rd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

3rd
percentile, household income
1st
percentile, home value
1st
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Whitley, KY

Whitley is a small town in Kentucky, home to 782 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Whitley brings in $31,250 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 57.1%. Home values in Whitley run a median of $61,900, and the median resident age is 37.5 years. Educational attainment runs 5.7% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 31.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $866 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Kentucky's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 25.3 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

782 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kentucky

Median Household Income

$31,250 /yr

Poverty 57.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kentucky average

How does Whitley compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 3% higher than other cities
Home value 1% pricier than other cities
Median rent 1% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Kentucky-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Whitley near the bottom of Kentucky's cities

Among the 520 Kentucky cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Whitley ranks #366 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Whitley only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#443 of 485
8th percentile in Kentucky
Median Gross Rent
#366 of 520
0th percentile in Kentucky
Median Home Value
#468 of 484
3rd percentile in Kentucky
Poverty Rate
#5 of 519
99th percentile in Kentucky
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#455 of 520
13th 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.

3rdIncome percentile

3rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Whitley's home value compares nationally

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

$61,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 99% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $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. Whitley $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 - Whitley, KY Whitley, KY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Whitley, 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 Whitley, KY median $31,250/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%
Whitley, 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 Whitley, KY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 5.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 57.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 31.0%

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

Population
782
Median Income
$31,250
Median Home Value
$61,900
Median Age
37.5
Poverty Rate
57.1%
Labor force participation
31.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
5.7%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
64.0%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
2.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
20.7%
Other
13.3%

Based on 150 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 Whitley sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$866/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
25.3 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kentucky

Salem
782 people
Calhoun
783 people
Science Hill
790 people
Woodlawn Park
790 people
Frenchburg
773 people
Auxier
795 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Whitley's 782 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Wataga, IL
782 people
Redfield, IA
782 people
Fertile, MN
782 people
Wonderland Homes, SD
782 people
Grundy, VA
782 people
Parksley, VA
782 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Whitley's $31,250 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

McKenzie, AL
$31,250 median income
Shorter, AL
$31,250 median income
Old Harbor, AK
$31,250 median income
Fountain Hill, AR
$31,250 median income
Glenwood, GA
$31,250 median income
Colp, IL
$31,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Whitley, 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 Whitley, KY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 82.6% 13.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.1% White 82.6% Black or African American 2.7% Asian 0.0% American Indian 1.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 13.7% 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 Whitley 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
Whitley (this city) 782 $31,250
Salem 782 $61,250
Calhoun 783 $51,071
Science Hill 790 $53,542
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KY OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Whitley, KY?

What is the population of Whitley, KY? +

The population of Whitley, KY stands at 782 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Whitley runs $31,250, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Whitley? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Whitley; 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.

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

A typical home in Whitley is worth $61,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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.