County · Kentucky
Adair County, Kentucky
Adair County, Kentucky. Adair County had 19,423 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.8% since 2020, faster than Kentucky (+2.2%). It holds 1 place (1 city, village or borough) and 7 census tracts. GEOID 21001.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
19,423
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 18,903 · ACS 2020-2024: 19,089
Median household income
$53,553
±$5,555 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $63,726
Median home value
$150,800
±$14,422 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $205,600
Median gross rent
$771
±$49 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $967
How many people live in Adair County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 18,903 residents in Adair County. The Census Bureau estimates 19,423 for July 1, 2025, up 2.8% since 2020, faster than Kentucky (+2.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 19,089 over 405 square miles of land.
| Measure | Adair County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 19,089 | 4,534,824 | −133 |
| Households | 7,136±263 | 1,814,469 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.51±0.09 | 2.43 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 8,648±28 | 2,023,116 | no clear change |
Adair County's population since 2000
From 17,244 in 2000 to 19,423 in 2025: up 12.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Adair County?
Adair County holds 1 place: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place). The largest is Columbia with 4,680 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Columbia | 4,845 | $47,299 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Adair County?
The median resident of Adair County is 39.7 years old; 19.7% are under 18 and 19.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 90.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.5%. 3.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Adair County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7±1.1 | 39.1 | −2.1 |
| Under 18 years | 19.7%±0.4 pts | 22.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.7%±0.8 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.5% | 5.0% | +1.5 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 90.4%±0.7 pts | 81.5% | −2.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.1%±0.8 pts | 7.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.5%±1.0 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.7%±0.8 pts | 4.7% | +2.1 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.0%±1.7 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.7%±1.5 pts | 6.5% | – |
| With a disability | 22.9%±2.3 pts | 17.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.5%±1.9 pts | 6.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.3%±2.3 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.8%±3.2 pts | 27.6% | +6.1 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 10.8%±2.4 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.2%±1.0 pts | 2.4% | – |
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 Adair County earn?
Half of Adair County's 7,136 households earn less than $53,553 a year (±$5,555), against $63,726 in Kentucky. In 2015-2019 the median was $46,792 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $6,761 after inflation. 18.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Adair County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $53,553±$5,555 | $63,726 | +$6,761 |
| Mean household income | $71,223±$7,805 | $87,807 | – |
| Per capita income | $28,489±$2,796 | $35,821 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 18.4%±3.2 pts | 16.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 24.5%±7.7 pts | 20.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 16.9%±3.2 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 85.1%±2.8 pts | 88.6% | – |
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 Adair County?
Owners occupy 77.2% of Adair County's occupied homes and renters 22.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $150,800 by its owner (±$14,422). The median renter pays $771 a month including utilities, and 30.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Adair County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $150,800±$14,422 | $205,600 | +$32,161 |
| Median gross rent | $771±$49 | $967 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 30.8%±10.9 pts | 36.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,174±$90 | $1,433 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 77.2%±3.8 pts | 68.3% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 8,648±28 | 2,023,116 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.9%±0.6 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.4%±3.6 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 73.5%±3.6 pts | 67.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 17.5%±2.5 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.4%±1.2 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.0%±2.0 pts | 9.0% | – |
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 Adair County building?
Builders took permits for 6 new housing units across Adair County in 2025 (6 single-family), 0.3 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Adair County get to work?
71.6% of Adair County's workers drive alone and 13.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.8%.
| Measure | Adair County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 54.8%±2.9 pts | 59.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.8%±2.2 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 71.6%±4.2 pts | 76.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.1%±2.3 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 2.4%±1.1 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 13.7%±3.3 pts | 10.2% | +8.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.8 min±2.2 | 24.0 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 are Adair County's census tracts?
Adair County is divided into 7 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $41,984 (Tract 9703) to $61,000 (Tract 9702).
| Tract 970121001970100 | 1,609±227 | $55,074 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 970221001970200 | 1,882±314 | $61,000 |
| Tract 970321001970300 | 2,876±359 | $41,984 |
| Tract 9704.0121001970401 | 4,338±403 | $55,557 |
| Tract 9704.0221001970402 | 4,509±493 | $53,711 |
| Tract 970521001970500 | 2,296±354 | $60,938 |
| Tract 970621001970600 | 1,579±307 | $39,464 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Adair County compare with Kentucky's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 64th of 120 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 47th of 120 |
| Residents per square mile | 75th of 120 |
| Median household income | 70th of 120 |
| Median home value | 59th of 120 |
| Median gross rent | 61st of 120 |
| Poverty rate | 57th of 120 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28th of 120 |
| Median age | 90th of 120 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Adair County 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' school search.