County · Kentucky
Rowan County, Kentucky
Rowan County, Kentucky. Rowan County had 24,476 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.7% since 2020, while Kentucky grew 2.2%. It holds 3 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs and 1 census-designated) and 6 census tracts. GEOID 21205.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
24,476
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 24,662 · ACS 2020-2024: 24,578
Median household income
$54,321
±$7,317 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $63,726
Median home value
$161,800
±$12,413 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $205,600
Median gross rent
$825
±$42 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $967
How many people live in Rowan County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 24,662 residents in Rowan County. The Census Bureau estimates 24,476 for July 1, 2025, down 0.7% since 2020, while Kentucky grew 2.2%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 24,578 over 280 square miles of land.
| Measure | Rowan County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 24,578 | 4,534,824 | +71 |
| Households | 9,592±240 | 1,814,469 | +969 |
| Average household size | 2.25±0.06 | 2.43 | −0.25 |
| Housing units | 10,623±51 | 2,023,116 | +288 |
Rowan County's population since 2000
From 22,094 in 2000 to 24,476 in 2025: up 10.8%. 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 Rowan County?
Rowan County holds 3 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Morehead with 6,776 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Morehead | 7,151 | $36,741 |
|---|---|---|
| Lakeview HeightsGEOID 2143668 | 277 | $86,250 |
| FarmersGEOID 2126560 | 243 | not published |
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 Rowan County?
The median resident of Rowan County is 31.7 years old; 19.6% are under 18 and 15.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 2.4%. 1.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Rowan County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.7±0.8 | 39.1 | +1.1 |
| Under 18 years | 19.6%±0.5 pts | 22.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.0%±0.3 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.4% | 5.0% | +0.7 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 93.5%±0.1 pts | 81.5% | −1.0 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.4%±0.5 pts | 7.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.8%±0.1 pts | 1.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.8%±0.6 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.1%±0.4 pts | 4.7% | −1.2 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.9%±0.9 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.5%±1.4 pts | 6.5% | – |
| With a disability | 20.1%±2.4 pts | 17.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.1%±1.7 pts | 6.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.3%±2.5 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 25.9%±3.7 pts | 27.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 14.5%±2.9 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.0%±1.3 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 Rowan County earn?
Half of Rowan County's 9,592 households earn less than $54,321 a year (±$7,317), against $63,726 in Kentucky. In 2015-2019 it was $47,049 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 24.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Rowan County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $54,321±$7,317 | $63,726 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $75,885±$8,156 | $87,807 | – |
| Per capita income | $30,395±$3,529 | $35,821 | +$5,181 |
| People below the poverty line | 24.2%±4.1 pts | 16.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 31.2%±9.2 pts | 20.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 16.8%±3.1 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.4%±1.9 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 Rowan County?
Owners occupy 61.5% of Rowan County's occupied homes and renters 38.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $161,800 by its owner (±$12,413). The median renter pays $825 a month including utilities, and 36.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Rowan County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $161,800±$12,413 | $205,600 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $825±$42 | $967 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 36.0%±7.3 pts | 36.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,298±$72 | $1,433 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 61.5%±4.1 pts | 68.3% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 10,623±51 | 2,023,116 | +288 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.9%±1.0 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.6%±1.9 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 61.0%±3.8 pts | 67.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 22.6%±3.8 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.6%±1.2 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 2.6%±1.6 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 Rowan County building?
Builders took permits for 8 new housing units across Rowan County in 2025 (3 single-family), 0.3 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 Rowan County get to work?
75.3% of Rowan County's workers drive alone and 8.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.1%.
| Measure | Rowan County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 56.4%±2.4 pts | 59.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1%±1.7 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 75.3%±3.9 pts | 76.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.7%±2.6 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.4%±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 7.6%±1.9 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.5%±2.8 pts | 10.2% | +5.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.7 min±2.6 | 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 Rowan County's census tracts?
Rowan County is divided into 6 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $38,594 (Tract 9504) to $71,137 (Tract 9501).
| Tract 950121205950100 | 6,273±763 | $71,137 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9502.0121205950201 | 3,320±421 | $58,054 |
| Tract 9502.0221205950202 | 5,499±396 | $40,175 |
| Tract 9503.0121205950301 | 2,395±416 | $52,684 |
| Tract 9503.0221205950302 | 3,345±638 | $54,327 |
| Tract 950421205950400 | 3,746±551 | $38,594 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Rowan County compare with Kentucky's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 46th of 120 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 82nd of 120 |
| Residents per square mile | 39th of 120 |
| Median household income | 69th of 120 |
| Median home value | 53rd of 120 |
| Median gross rent | 42nd of 120 |
| Poverty rate | 25th of 120 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20th of 120 |
| Median age | 119th 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 Rowan 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.