County · Kentucky
Powell County, Kentucky
Powell County, Kentucky. Powell County had 12,812 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.4% since 2020, while Kentucky grew 2.2%. It holds 2 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs) and 4 census tracts. GEOID 21197.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
12,812
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 13,129 · ACS 2020-2024: 13,038
Median household income
$40,309
±$6,520 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $63,726
Median home value
$141,100
±$17,610 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $205,600
Median gross rent
$747
±$74 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $967
How many people live in Powell County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 13,129 residents in Powell County. The Census Bureau estimates 12,812 for July 1, 2025, down 2.4% since 2020, while Kentucky grew 2.2%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 13,038 over 179 square miles of land.
| Measure | Powell County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 13,038 | 4,534,824 | +734 |
| Households | 4,790±234 | 1,814,469 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.65±0.13 | 2.43 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,647±37 | 2,023,116 | no clear change |
Powell County's population since 2000
From 13,237 in 2000 to 12,812 in 2025: down 3.2%. 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 Powell County?
Powell County holds 2 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Stanton with 3,153 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
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 Powell County?
The median resident of Powell County is 39.3 years old; 24.8% are under 18 and 16.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.6%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 2.0%.
| Measure | Powell County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3±0.9 | 39.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.8%±0.6 pts | 22.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 16.2%±0.5 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.6% | 5.0% | −0.1 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 93.6%±1.5 pts | 81.5% | −2.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.0%±0.4 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.9%±1.2 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±1.0 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.7%±0.6 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.6%±0.9 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.9%±1.4 pts | 6.5% | – |
| With a disability | 25.2%±3.3 pts | 17.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.7%±2.8 pts | 6.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 82.0%±3.2 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 13.8%±3.1 pts | 27.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.6%±1.8 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.7%±0.6 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 Powell County earn?
Half of Powell County's 4,790 households earn less than $40,309 a year (±$6,520), against $63,726 in Kentucky. In 2015-2019 it was $46,113 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 22.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Powell County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $40,309±$6,520 | $63,726 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $59,437±$6,296 | $87,807 | – |
| Per capita income | $23,040±$2,137 | $35,821 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 22.5%±4.0 pts | 16.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 28.7%±7.4 pts | 20.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 23.0%±4.5 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 79.7%±4.1 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 Powell County?
Owners occupy 68.2% of Powell County's occupied homes and renters 31.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $141,100 by its owner (±$17,610). The median renter pays $747 a month including utilities, and 51.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Powell County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $141,100±$17,610 | $205,600 | +$30,584 |
| Median gross rent | $747±$74 | $967 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 51.5%±10.1 pts | 36.6% | +17.7 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,238±$135 | $1,433 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 68.2%±4.8 pts | 68.3% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,647±37 | 2,023,116 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.1%±2.7 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.5%±4.1 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 62.0%±4.9 pts | 67.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 23.3%±4.4 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.3%±1.2 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 2.2%±1.4 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 Powell County building?
Builders took permits for 5 new housing units across Powell County in 2025 (5 single-family), 0.4 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 Powell County get to work?
88.6% of Powell County's workers drive alone and 4.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.8%.
| Measure | Powell County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 50.2%±4.0 pts | 59.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.8%±2.4 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 88.6%±3.1 pts | 76.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.2%±2.7 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±0.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 0.9%±1.1 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.0%±1.7 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.6 min±2.5 | 24.0 min | −4.5 min |
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 Powell County's census tracts?
Powell County is divided into 4 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $35,705 (Tract 9702.01) to $52,931 (Tract 9702.02).
| Tract 9701.0121197970101 | 1,839±342 | $41,413 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9701.0221197970102 | 4,900±498 | $37,134 |
| Tract 9702.0121197970201 | 3,338±411 | $35,705 |
| Tract 9702.0221197970202 | 2,961±377 | $52,931 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Powell County compare with Kentucky's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 83rd of 120 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 100th of 120 |
| Residents per square mile | 49th of 120 |
| Median household income | 107th of 120 |
| Median home value | 67th of 120 |
| Median gross rent | 69th of 120 |
| Poverty rate | 31st of 120 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 95th of 120 |
| Median age | 97th 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 Powell 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.