County · Kentucky
Caldwell County, Kentucky
Caldwell County, Kentucky. Caldwell County had 12,609 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.3% since 2020, while Kentucky grew 2.2%. It holds 3 places (3 cities, villages and boroughs) and 4 census tracts. GEOID 21033.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
12,609
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 12,649 · ACS 2020-2024: 12,618
Median household income
$59,583
±$10,570 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $63,726
Median home value
$118,500
±$9,284 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $205,600
Median gross rent
$767
±$51 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $967
How many people live in Caldwell County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 12,649 residents in Caldwell County. The Census Bureau estimates 12,609 for July 1, 2025, down 0.3% since 2020, while Kentucky grew 2.2%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 12,618 over 345 square miles of land.
| Measure | Caldwell County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 12,618 | 4,534,824 | −84 |
| Households | 5,025±187 | 1,814,469 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.47±0.09 | 2.43 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,064±44 | 2,023,116 | −227 |
Caldwell County's population since 2000
From 13,060 in 2000 to 12,609 in 2025: down 3.5%. 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 Caldwell County?
Caldwell County holds 3 places: 3 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Princeton with 6,168 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Princeton | 6,270 | $47,411 |
|---|---|---|
| Fredonia | 372 | $66,964 |
| Dawson Springs | 2,452 | $32,838 |
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 Caldwell County?
The median resident of Caldwell County is 42.4 years old; 22.9% are under 18 and 21.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 89.7%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 6.0%.
| Measure | Caldwell County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4±0.9 | 39.1 | −1.6 |
| Under 18 years | 22.9%±0.2 pts | 22.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.4%±0.8 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.5%±1.1 pts | 5.0% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 89.7%±0.5 pts | 81.5% | −1.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 6.0%±1.0 pts | 7.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.5%±1.0 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.4 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.2%±1.1 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.3%±1.4 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.0%±2.4 pts | 6.5% | – |
| With a disability | 27.0%±3.6 pts | 17.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.2%±3.3 pts | 6.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.2%±2.8 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 17.1%±3.3 pts | 27.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.9%±1.7 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.3%±0.9 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 Caldwell County earn?
Half of Caldwell County's 5,025 households earn less than $59,583 a year (±$10,570), against $63,726 in Kentucky. In 2015-2019 it was $55,104 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 15.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Caldwell County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,583±$10,570 | $63,726 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $73,080±$5,840 | $87,807 | – |
| Per capita income | $30,830±$2,164 | $35,821 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 15.1%±4.1 pts | 16.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 19.5%±7.9 pts | 20.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 14.0%±4.0 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.0%±3.3 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 Caldwell County?
Owners occupy 70.2% of Caldwell County's occupied homes and renters 29.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $118,500 by its owner (±$9,284). The median renter pays $767 a month including utilities, and 24.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Caldwell County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $118,500±$9,284 | $205,600 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $767±$51 | $967 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 24.0%±10.9 pts | 36.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,288±$162 | $1,433 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 70.2%±4.1 pts | 68.3% | −6.2 pts |
| Housing units | 6,064±44 | 2,023,116 | −227 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.7%±2.3 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±2.5 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 80.0%±4.3 pts | 67.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 10.8%±3.0 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.1%±1.9 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 9.3%±2.6 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 Caldwell County building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units across Caldwell County in 2025 (0 single-family), 0.0 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 Caldwell County get to work?
80.5% of Caldwell County's workers drive alone and 4.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.4%.
| Measure | Caldwell County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 56.0%±4.5 pts | 59.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4%±2.6 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 80.5%±5.2 pts | 76.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 13.4%±4.9 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±0.7 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 1.9%±1.4 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.0%±1.7 pts | 10.2% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.4 min±2.5 | 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 Caldwell County's census tracts?
Caldwell County is divided into 4 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $49,022 (Tract 9203.01) to $79,167 (Tract 9201).
| Tract 920121033920100 | 2,434±318 | $79,167 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 920221033920200 | 5,177±623 | $52,743 |
| Tract 9203.0121033920301 | 2,953±520 | $49,022 |
| Tract 9203.0221033920302 | 2,054±294 | $66,904 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Caldwell County compare with Kentucky's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 87th of 120 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 77th of 120 |
| Residents per square mile | 94th of 120 |
| Median household income | 55th of 120 |
| Median home value | 93rd of 120 |
| Median gross rent | 62nd of 120 |
| Poverty rate | 85th of 120 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 59th of 120 |
| Median age | 35th 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 Caldwell 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.