County · Kentucky
Rockcastle County, Kentucky
Rockcastle County, Kentucky. Rockcastle County had 16,148 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.7% since 2020, slower than Kentucky (+2.2%). It holds 3 places (3 cities, villages and boroughs) and 5 census tracts. GEOID 21203.
Rockcastle County is one of the 3 counties of the Richmond-Berea, KY micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
16,148
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 16,037 · ACS 2020-2024: 16,163
Median household income
$48,862
±$4,995 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $63,726
Median home value
$123,600
±$15,161 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $205,600
Median gross rent
$676
±$57 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $967
How many people live in Rockcastle County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 16,037 residents in Rockcastle County. The Census Bureau estimates 16,148 for July 1, 2025, up 0.7% since 2020, slower than Kentucky (+2.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 16,163 over 317 square miles of land.
| Measure | Rockcastle County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 16,163 | 4,534,824 | −657 |
| Households | 6,534±256 | 1,814,469 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.42±0.09 | 2.43 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 7,391±27 | 2,023,116 | −470 |
Rockcastle County's population since 2000
From 16,582 in 2000 to 16,148 in 2025: down 2.6%. 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 Rockcastle County?
Rockcastle County holds 3 places: 3 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Mount Vernon with 2,455 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Mount Vernon | 2,453 | $38,697 |
|---|---|---|
| Brodhead | 1,117 | $35,333 |
| LivingstonGEOID 2147098 | 166 | $38,393 |
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 Rockcastle County?
The median resident of Rockcastle County is 42.8 years old; 21.5% are under 18 and 19.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 95.3%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 2.1%. 0.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Rockcastle County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8±0.5 | 39.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.5%±0.4 pts | 22.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.3%±0.3 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.3% | 5.0% | +0.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 95.3%±0.6 pts | 81.5% | −1.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.3 pts | 7.6% | +0.4 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.1%±0.7 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.4%±0.2 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.3%±0.7 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.6%±1.2 pts | 6.5% | – |
| With a disability | 23.1%±1.9 pts | 17.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.8%±1.5 pts | 6.0% | +2.2 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 83.4%±2.3 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 13.7%±2.3 pts | 27.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.7%±1.7 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.0%±0.8 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 Rockcastle County earn?
Half of Rockcastle County's 6,534 households earn less than $48,862 a year (±$4,995), against $63,726 in Kentucky. In 2015-2019 it was $43,960 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 25.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Rockcastle County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $48,862±$4,995 | $63,726 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $65,485±$6,178 | $87,807 | – |
| Per capita income | $27,074±$2,410 | $35,821 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 25.6%±3.5 pts | 16.1% | +5.6 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 36.0%±7.2 pts | 20.3% | +10.8 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 21.9%±3.0 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 80.0%±3.2 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 Rockcastle County?
Owners occupy 74.3% of Rockcastle County's occupied homes and renters 25.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $123,600 by its owner (±$15,161). The median renter pays $676 a month including utilities, and 39.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Rockcastle County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $123,600±$15,161 | $205,600 | +$22,806 |
| Median gross rent | $676±$57 | $967 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.7%±8.2 pts | 36.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,015±$71 | $1,433 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 74.3%±2.9 pts | 68.3% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 7,391±27 | 2,023,116 | −470 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.5%±1.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.8%±2.6 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 65.9%±3.1 pts | 67.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 25.3%±3.3 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.4%±1.2 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.7%±2.0 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 Rockcastle County get to work?
78.3% of Rockcastle County's workers drive alone and 10.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.6%.
| Measure | Rockcastle County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 48.6%±2.1 pts | 59.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6%±1.6 pts | 4.9% | −4.0 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 78.3%±4.1 pts | 76.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.6%±2.5 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2%±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 1.4%±1.0 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.4%±3.6 pts | 10.2% | +8.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.4 min±1.8 | 24.0 min | +3.2 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 Rockcastle County's census tracts?
Rockcastle County is divided into 5 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $38,931 (Tract 9502.02) to $56,400 (Tract 9502.01).
| Tract 950121203950100 | 3,113±482 | $50,493 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9502.0121203950201 | 3,366±355 | $56,400 |
| Tract 9502.0221203950202 | 3,243±415 | $38,931 |
| Tract 950321203950300 | 3,835±427 | $51,607 |
| Tract 950421203950400 | 2,606±441 | $40,000 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Rockcastle County compare with Kentucky's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 69th of 120 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 71st of 120 |
| Residents per square mile | 69th of 120 |
| Median household income | 85th of 120 |
| Median home value | 84th of 120 |
| Median gross rent | 95th of 120 |
| Poverty rate | 18th of 120 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 97th of 120 |
| Median age | 29th 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 Rockcastle 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.