County · Kentucky
McCreary County, Kentucky
McCreary County, Kentucky. McCreary County had 17,124 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.4% since 2020, slower than Kentucky (+2.2%). It holds 3 places (3 census-designated) and 6 census tracts. GEOID 21147.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
17,124
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 16,888 · ACS 2020-2024: 16,867
Median household income
$33,750
±$7,376 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $63,726
Median home value
$85,300
±$10,151 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $205,600
Median gross rent
$577
±$92 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $967
How many people live in McCreary County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 16,888 residents in McCreary County. The Census Bureau estimates 17,124 for July 1, 2025, up 1.4% since 2020, slower than Kentucky (+2.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 16,867 over 427 square miles of land.
| Measure | McCreary County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 16,867 | 4,534,824 | −598 |
| Households | 5,861±261 | 1,814,469 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.56±0.12 | 2.43 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,920±39 | 2,023,116 | −603 |
McCreary County's population since 2000
From 17,080 in 2000 to 17,124 in 2025: up 0.3%. 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 McCreary County?
McCreary County holds 3 places: 3 census-designated places. The largest is Pine Knot with 1,051 residents (2020-2024). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Pine KnotGEOID 2161122 | 1,380 | not published |
|---|---|---|
| StearnsGEOID 2173362 | 1,365 | $55,931 |
| Whitley CityGEOID 2182938 | 968 | $33,719 |
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 McCreary County?
The median resident of McCreary County is 39.0 years old; 21.8% are under 18 and 16.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.8%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 6.1%. 0.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | McCreary County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0±0.8 | 39.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.8% | 22.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 16.2%±0.2 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.2%±0.6 pts | 5.0% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 88.8%±0.7 pts | 81.5% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 6.1%±0.9 pts | 7.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.6%±1.1 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.9%±0.5 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.9%±0.8 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.9%±1.3 pts | 6.5% | – |
| With a disability | 25.4%±2.8 pts | 17.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.1%±2.2 pts | 6.0% | +3.5 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 77.4%±3.5 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 8.5%±2.5 pts | 27.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.5%±1.4 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.4%±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 McCreary County earn?
Half of McCreary County's 5,861 households earn less than $33,750 a year (±$7,376), against $63,726 in Kentucky. In 2015-2019 it was $34,589 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 38.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | McCreary County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $33,750±$7,376 | $63,726 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $46,528±$6,410 | $87,807 | – |
| Per capita income | $17,150±$2,181 | $35,821 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 38.9%±5.3 pts | 16.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 42.1%±9.8 pts | 20.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 33.3%±6.8 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 80.1%±3.8 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 McCreary County?
Owners occupy 74.2% of McCreary County's occupied homes and renters 25.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $85,300 by its owner (±$10,151). The median renter pays $577 a month including utilities, and 45.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | McCreary County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $85,300±$10,151 | $205,600 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $577±$92 | $967 | −$106 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 45.2%±14.5 pts | 36.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $946±$100 | $1,433 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 74.2%±5.8 pts | 68.3% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,920±39 | 2,023,116 | −603 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.3%±2.3 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.3%±2.7 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 64.1%±4.8 pts | 67.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 25.2%±4.4 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.1%±1.2 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.1%±2.7 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 McCreary County building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units across McCreary 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 McCreary County get to work?
77.9% of McCreary County's workers drive alone and 9.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 32.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.2%.
| Measure | McCreary County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 35.4%±3.4 pts | 59.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2%±2.2 pts | 4.9% | −5.3 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 77.9%±4.9 pts | 76.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.6%±4.3 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.2%±2.6 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 32.3 min±2.9 | 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 McCreary County's census tracts?
McCreary County is divided into 6 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $23,281 (Tract 9603.02) to $56,225 (Tract 9603.01).
| Tract 960121147960100 | 2,437±400 | $40,369 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 960221147960200 | 951±245 | $29,044 |
| Tract 9603.0121147960301 | 3,885±562 | $56,225 |
| Tract 9603.0221147960302 | 2,594±555 | $23,281 |
| Tract 9604.0121147960401 | 3,248±348 | $31,597 |
| Tract 9604.0221147960402 | 3,752±589 | $29,420 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does McCreary County compare with Kentucky's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 68th of 120 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 66th of 120 |
| Residents per square mile | 87th of 120 |
| Median household income | 115th of 120 |
| Median home value | 111th of 120 |
| Median gross rent | 112th of 120 |
| Poverty rate | 1st of 120 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 119th of 120 |
| Median age | 99th 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 McCreary 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.