County · Kentucky

Hopkins County, Kentucky

Hopkins County, Kentucky. Hopkins County had 45,127 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.6% since 2020, while Kentucky grew 2.2%. It holds 10 places (9 cities, villages and boroughs and 1 census-designated) and 13 census tracts. GEOID 21107.

Hopkins County is the county of the Madisonville, KY micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

45,127

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 45,423 · ACS 2020-2024: 45,119

Median household income

$56,815

±$3,927 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $63,726

Median home value

$142,800

±$10,539 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $205,600

Median gross rent

$837

±$52 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $967

How many people live in Hopkins County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 45,423 residents in Hopkins County. The Census Bureau estimates 45,127 for July 1, 2025, down 0.6% since 2020, while Kentucky grew 2.2%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 45,119 over 542 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −212 (45,157)
2021→2022 −275 (44,882)
2022→2023 +32 (44,914)
2023→2024 +107 (45,021)
2024→2025 +106 (45,127)

Hopkins County in Kentucky. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Hopkins County	Kentucky	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	45,119	4,534,824	−212
Households	18,397±413	1,814,469	no clear change
Average household size	2.40±0.05	2.43	no clear change
Housing units	21,001±37	2,023,116	−404

Hopkins County's population since 2000

From 46,519 in 2000 to 45,127 in 2025: down 3.0%. 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.

2000 Census 46,519
2005 (estimate) 46,640
2010 Census 46,920
2015 (estimate) 46,068
2020 Census 45,423
2025 (estimate) 45,127

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 Hopkins County?

Hopkins County holds 10 places: 9 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Madisonville with 19,428 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Hopkins County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Madisonville	city	19,542	19,515±37	$53,860	$164,100	23.3%	100%
Dawson Springs	city	2,452	1,951±407	$32,838	$70,000	30.5%	100%
Earlington	city	1,257	1,084±224	$38,194	$64,000	39.3%	100%
Nortonville	city	977	904±237	$55,844	$69,000	14.5%	100%
White Plains	city	829	1,021±235	$35,625	$85,700	26.4%	100%
Hanson	city	758	958±310	$95,903	$141,500	7.6%	100%
Mortons GapGEOID 2153616	city	728	650±271	not published	$96,800	24.6%	100%
St. Charles	city	273	293±82	$44,688	$55,700	33.8%	100%
NeboGEOID 2155092	city	211	217±72	$49,844	$95,000	14.3%	100%
ManitouGEOID 2149746	CDP	173	93±102	$110,313	$131,000	0.0%	100%

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 Hopkins County?

The median resident of Hopkins County is 41.3 years old; 23.0% are under 18 and 19.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 86.9%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 5.8%. 2.0% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Hopkins County	Kentucky	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	41.3±0.5	39.1	no clear change
Under 18 years	23.0%±0.2 pts	22.6%	–
65 years and over	19.1%±0.3 pts	17.3%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2.8%	5.0%	+0.7 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	86.9%±0.2 pts	81.5%	−1.6 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	5.8%±0.8 pts	7.6%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.6%±0.2 pts	1.6%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 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	3.8%±0.8 pts	3.9%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.3%	–
Born outside the United States	2.0%±0.6 pts	4.7%	+0.8 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	2.6%±0.9 pts	6.8%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	5.2%±0.7 pts	6.5%	–
With a disability	25.9%±1.8 pts	17.9%	–
No health insurance coverage	4.9%±1.1 pts	6.0%	−1.8 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	88.3%±1.5 pts	88.9%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	16.9%±1.7 pts	27.6%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	7.5%±1.2 pts	11.3%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.9%±0.7 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 Hopkins County earn?

Half of Hopkins County's 18,397 households earn less than $56,815 a year (±$3,927), against $63,726 in Kentucky. In 2015-2019 it was $58,052 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 20.0% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Hopkins County	Kentucky	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$56,815±$3,927	$63,726	no clear change
Mean household income	$70,892±$3,409	$87,807	–
Per capita income	$29,287±$1,310	$35,821	no clear change
People below the poverty line	20.0%±2.6 pts	16.1%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	30.7%±6.0 pts	20.3%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	13.8%±2.3 pts	13.2%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	89.8%±1.5 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 Hopkins County?

Owners occupy 70.7% of Hopkins County's occupied homes and renters 29.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $142,800 by its owner (±$10,539). The median renter pays $837 a month including utilities, and 37.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Hopkins County	Kentucky	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$142,800±$10,539	$205,600	no clear change
Median gross rent	$837±$52	$967	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	37.5%±6.7 pts	36.6%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,107±$53	$1,433	–
Owner-occupied homes	70.7%±2.4 pts	68.3%	no clear change
Housing units	21,001±37	2,023,116	−404
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.4%±1.2 pts	0.9%	–
Rental vacancy rate	5.2%±2.8 pts	4.6%	–
Single-family detached homes	75.7%±2.4 pts	67.5%	–
Mobile homes	11.6%±1.6 pts	10.7%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.3%±0.6 pts	1.8%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	9.0%±1.2 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 Hopkins County building?

Builders took permits for 201 new housing units across Hopkins County in 2025 (94 single-family), 4.5 per 1,000 residents.

2019 119 units
2020 76 units
2021 62 units
2022 195 units
2023 131 units
2024 118 units
2025 201 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Hopkins County get to work?

88.4% of Hopkins County's workers drive alone and 3.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.2%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Hopkins County	Kentucky	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	53.7%±1.9 pts	59.7%	–
Unemployment rate	6.2%±1.2 pts	4.9%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	88.4%±1.8 pts	76.6%	–
Carpooled	6.5%±1.4 pts	9.3%	–
Public transportation	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.6%	–
Walked	1.0%±0.5 pts	2.0%	–
Worked from home	3.7%±1.2 pts	10.2%	+1.6 pts
Mean travel time to work	21.3 min±1.2	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 Hopkins County's census tracts?

Hopkins County is divided into 13 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $34,872 (Tract 9711) to $78,929 (Tract 9701).

Census tracts of Hopkins County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 970121107970100	Hanson (17%)	3,008	3,073±351	$78,929	$154,600	$840	6.1%
Tract 970221107970200	Nebo (6%)	3,455	3,438±494	$70,642	$167,400	$1,016	10.3%
Tract 9703.0121107970301	Madisonville (93%)	1,885	1,966±287	$65,875	$168,700	$749	8.1%
Tract 9703.0221107970302	Madisonville (58%)	5,226	5,609±819	$70,495	$184,600	$847	22.2%
Tract 970421107970400	Madisonville	2,062	2,408±437	$52,750	$116,000	$899	26.1%
Tract 970521107970500	Madisonville (66%)	5,071	4,678±574	$61,179	$152,500	$975	11.9%
Tract 970621107970600	Madisonville (83%)	3,205	3,200±498	$36,458	$87,300	$851	38.3%
Tract 970721107970700	Madisonville (28%)	4,798	5,030±570	$61,458	$199,300	$561	28.5%
Tract 970821107970800	Madisonville (29%)	2,949	2,630±358	$43,514	$133,700	$863	26.4%
Tract 970921107970900	Earlington (40%)	3,205	3,028±529	$43,411	$92,100	$674	23.9%
Tract 971021107971000	–	2,674	2,598±425	$74,219	$107,700	$1,067	14.4%
Tract 971121107971100	Dawson Springs (69%)	3,068	2,533±439	$34,872	$69,400	$538	29.2%
Tract 971321107971300	Nortonville (22%)	4,817	4,928±475	$56,296	$105,000	$823	14.4%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Hopkins County compare with Kentucky's other counties?

Hopkins County's rank among Kentucky's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	23rd of 120
Growth 2020-2025	80th of 120
Residents per square mile	44th of 120
Median household income	61st of 120
Median home value	65th of 120
Median gross rent	37th of 120
Poverty rate	47th of 120
Bachelor's degree or higher	61st of 120
Median age	63rd of 120

Every county in Kentucky

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 Hopkins 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.