County · Kentucky
Leslie County, Kentucky
Leslie County, Kentucky. Leslie County had 9,627 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 8.4% since 2020, while Kentucky grew 2.2%. It holds 1 place (1 city, village or borough) and 4 census tracts. GEOID 21131.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
9,627
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 10,513 · ACS 2020-2024: 10,079
Median household income
$35,934
±$5,237 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $63,726
Median home value
$69,000
±$14,026 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $205,600
Median gross rent
$585
±$149 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $967
How many people live in Leslie County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 10,513 residents in Leslie County. The Census Bureau estimates 9,627 for July 1, 2025, down 8.4% since 2020, while Kentucky grew 2.2%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 10,079 over 401 square miles of land.
| Measure | Leslie County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 10,079 | 4,534,824 | −204 |
| Households | 4,231±225 | 1,814,469 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.30±0.12 | 2.43 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,925±23 | 2,023,116 | −471 |
Leslie County's population since 2000
From 12,401 in 2000 to 9,627 in 2025: down 22.4%. 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 Leslie County?
Leslie County holds 1 place: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place). The largest is Hyden with 279 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| HydenGEOID 2138908 | 303 | $56,458 |
|---|
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 Leslie County?
The median resident of Leslie County is 42.3 years old; 20.7% are under 18 and 19.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 96.5%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.1%.
| Measure | Leslie County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3±1.2 | 39.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.7%±0.3 pts | 22.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.0%±0.1 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 5.0% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 96.5%±0.9 pts | 81.5% | −1.0 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.1%±1.0 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 0.3%±0.4 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.3%±1.7 pts | 6.5% | – |
| With a disability | 27.4%±3.8 pts | 17.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.3%±1.2 pts | 6.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 79.9%±3.5 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 11.5%±2.9 pts | 27.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.9%±1.9 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.4%±0.5 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 Leslie County earn?
Half of Leslie County's 4,231 households earn less than $35,934 a year (±$5,237), against $63,726 in Kentucky. In 2015-2019 it was $38,923 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 30.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Leslie County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $35,934±$5,237 | $63,726 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $54,922±$6,793 | $87,807 | – |
| Per capita income | $23,827±$2,445 | $35,821 | +$4,335 |
| People below the poverty line | 30.3%±6.3 pts | 16.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 44.8%±13.6 pts | 20.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 29.1%±6.7 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 81.9%±4.0 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 Leslie County?
Owners occupy 85.5% of Leslie County's occupied homes and renters 14.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $69,000 by its owner (±$14,026). The median renter pays $585 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Leslie County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $69,000±$14,026 | $205,600 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $585±$149 | $967 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 34.6%±29.9 pts | 36.6% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,044±$179 | $1,433 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 85.5%±5.1 pts | 68.3% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,925±23 | 2,023,116 | −471 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±1.0 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.1%±2.1 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 66.0%±6.8 pts | 67.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 31.7%±6.5 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7%±0.9 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 4.7%±2.1 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 Leslie County get to work?
80.0% of Leslie County's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 36.8 minutes.
| Measure | Leslie County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 42.2%±4.3 pts | 59.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8%±2.7 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 80.0%±7.4 pts | 76.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 15.9%±6.8 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±1.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.0%±2.7 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 36.8 min±4.1 | 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 Leslie County's census tracts?
Leslie County is divided into 4 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $33,921 (Tract 9201.02) to $55,184 (Tract 9201.01).
| Tract 9201.0121131920101 | 2,914±537 | $55,184 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9201.0221131920102 | 2,551±359 | $33,921 |
| Tract 920221131920200 | 2,046±417 | $42,286 |
| Tract 920321131920300 | 2,568±538 | $35,958 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Leslie County compare with Kentucky's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 99th of 120 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 119th of 120 |
| Residents per square mile | 114th of 120 |
| Median household income | 113th of 120 |
| Median home value | 119th of 120 |
| Median gross rent | 110th of 120 |
| Poverty rate | 9th of 120 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 109th of 120 |
| Median age | 38th 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 Leslie 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.