County · Kentucky
Lee County, Kentucky
Lee County, Kentucky. Lee County had 7,297 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.2% since 2020, while Kentucky grew 2.2%. It holds 1 place (1 city, village or borough) and 3 census tracts. GEOID 21129.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
7,297
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 7,395 · ACS 2020-2024: 7,339
Median household income
$37,568
±$4,248 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $63,726
Median home value
$83,900
±$7,275 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $205,600
Median gross rent
$603
±$64 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $967
How many people live in Lee County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 7,395 residents in Lee County. The Census Bureau estimates 7,297 for July 1, 2025, down 1.2% since 2020, while Kentucky grew 2.2%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 7,339 over 209 square miles of land.
| Measure | Lee County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 7,339 | 4,534,824 | +458 |
| Households | 2,595±144 | 1,814,469 | −244 |
| Average household size | 2.40±0.13 | 2.43 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,229±21 | 2,023,116 | −248 |
Lee County's population since 2000
From 7,916 in 2000 to 7,297 in 2025: down 7.8%. 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 Lee County?
Lee County holds 1 place: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place). The largest is Beattyville with 2,114 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Beattyville | 2,176 | $22,880 |
|---|
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 Lee County?
The median resident of Lee County is 43.6 years old; 18.1% are under 18 and 19.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.4%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 3.0%. 0.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Lee County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6±1.5 | 39.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.1%±0.7 pts | 22.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.6%±0.7 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.1% | 5.0% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 93.4%±0.5 pts | 81.5% | −2.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.0%±1.0 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.2%±1.0 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.7%±0.4 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.5%±0.7 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.7%±1.9 pts | 6.5% | – |
| With a disability | 27.9%±3.4 pts | 17.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.7%±2.3 pts | 6.0% | +3.0 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 75.1%±5.3 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 9.2%±2.6 pts | 27.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.9%±1.5 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.9%±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 Lee County earn?
Half of Lee County's 2,595 households earn less than $37,568 a year (±$4,248), against $63,726 in Kentucky. In 2015-2019 it was $31,106 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 27.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Lee County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $37,568±$4,248 | $63,726 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $53,404±$7,675 | $87,807 | – |
| Per capita income | $21,415±$2,702 | $35,821 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 27.4%±4.5 pts | 16.1% | −7.2 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 37.6%±14.9 pts | 20.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 28.7%±6.1 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 75.5%±5.6 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 Lee County?
Owners occupy 77.7% of Lee County's occupied homes and renters 22.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $83,900 by its owner (±$7,275). The median renter pays $603 a month including utilities, and 45.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Lee County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $83,900±$7,275 | $205,600 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $603±$64 | $967 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 45.8%±14.8 pts | 36.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,005±$129 | $1,433 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 77.7%±4.6 pts | 68.3% | +8.8 pts |
| Housing units | 3,229±21 | 2,023,116 | −248 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.4%±0.7 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.7%±4.3 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 69.4%±4.8 pts | 67.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 23.3%±3.7 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.4%±0.5 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 4.6%±2.9 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 do people in Lee County get to work?
71.9% of Lee County's workers drive alone and 7.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 43.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.7%.
| Measure | Lee County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 41.4%±3.3 pts | 59.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7%±2.3 pts | 4.9% | −5.7 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 71.9%±7.0 pts | 76.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 16.6%±6.4 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 1.8%±2.1 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.3%±3.7 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 43.4 min±9.3 | 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 Lee County's census tracts?
Lee County is divided into 3 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $33,260 (Tract 9502) to $44,702 (Tract 9501).
| Tract 950121129950100 | 4,674±350 | $44,702 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 950221129950200 | 1,129±243 | $33,260 |
| Tract 950321129950300 | 1,536±361 | $34,391 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Lee County compare with Kentucky's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 111th of 120 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 90th of 120 |
| Residents per square mile | 100th of 120 |
| Median household income | 111th of 120 |
| Median home value | 112th of 120 |
| Median gross rent | 108th of 120 |
| Poverty rate | 13th of 120 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 115th of 120 |
| Median age | 18th 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 Lee 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.