State
Kentucky
Kentucky. Kentucky had 4,606,864 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.2% since 2020, slower than the United States (+3.1%). 554 places (418 incorporated and 136 census-designated) in 120 counties; 39,485 square miles of land.
Residents, 2025 estimate
4,606,864
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 4,505,836
Median household income
$63,726
±$429 (90% margin)
Median home value
$205,600
±$1,096 (90% margin)
Median gross rent
$967
±$5 (90% margin)
How many people live in Kentucky?
The 2020 Census counted 4,505,836 residents in Kentucky. The Census Bureau estimates 4,606,864 for July 1, 2025, up 2.2% since 2020, slower than the United States (+3.1%). 59.6% of residents live in an incorporated place or a census-designated place; the rest live outside any place.
Kentucky is the 26th-most populous of the 50 states by the July 2025 estimates (every state ranked).
| Measure | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 4,534,824 | +85,772 |
| Households | 1,814,469±5,224 | +79,851 |
| Average household size | 2.43±0.01 | −0.06 |
| Housing units | 2,023,116±474 | +39,167 |
Kentucky's population since 2000
From 4,041,769 in 2000 to 4,606,864 in 2025: up 14.0%. 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; 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What are the largest cities in Kentucky?
Louisville/Jefferson County is Kentucky's largest place with 641,962 residents in 2025, followed by Lexington-Fayette (329,751 residents in 2025) and Bowling Green (78,505 residents in 2025).
| Place | Residents | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | 641,962 | $66,849 |
| Lexington-Fayette | 329,751 | $69,479 |
| Bowling Green | 78,505 | $48,873 |
| Owensboro | 60,892 | $56,357 |
| Covington | 41,847 | $61,166 |
| Georgetown | 40,883 | $80,088 |
| Richmond | 40,663 | $50,870 |
| Elizabethtown | 35,448 | $60,760 |
| Florence | 34,018 | $71,003 |
| Nicholasville | 33,857 | $68,503 |
| Hopkinsville | 30,411 | $49,139 |
| Independence | 30,198 | $102,361 |
| Jeffersontown | 29,193 | $81,506 |
| Frankfort | 28,657 | $53,073 |
| Henderson | 27,822 | $48,186 |
| Paducah | 26,730 | $49,915 |
| Radcliff | 22,576 | $58,559 |
| Ashland | 20,996 | $52,715 |
| Erlanger | 20,158 | $75,840 |
| Winchester | 19,514 | $54,378 |
| Madisonville | 19,428 | $53,860 |
| Mount Washington | 18,989 | $96,239 |
| Murray | 18,964 | $44,091 |
| Shelbyville | 18,453 | $75,610 |
| Burlington | 18,008 | $109,308 |
Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025); American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Census population estimates
What counties are in Kentucky?
Kentucky has 120 counties. Jefferson County is the largest with 795,222 residents in 2025; Robertson County is the smallest with 2,325.
Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025), U.S. Census Bureau · Census population estimates
Who lives in Kentucky?
The median resident of Kentucky is 39.1 years old; 22.6% are under 18 and 17.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 81.5%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 7.6%. 4.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1±0.1 | +0.2 |
| Under 18 years | 22.6%±0.1 pts | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.3%±0.1 pts | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.0%±0.1 pts | +1.3 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 81.5%±0.1 pts | −3.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 7.6%±0.1 pts | −0.4 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.6%±0.1 pts | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.9%±0.1 pts | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.1 pts | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.7%±0.1 pts | +0.8 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.8%±0.1 pts | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.5%±0.1 pts | – |
| With a disability | 17.9%±0.2 pts | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.0%±0.1 pts | +0.3 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 88.9%±0.2 pts | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 27.6%±0.3 pts | +3.4 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.3%±0.2 pts | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.4%±0.1 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Kentucky earn?
Half of Kentucky's 1,814,469 households earn less than $63,726 a year (±$429). In 2015-2019 the median was $62,260 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $1,466 after inflation. 16.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $63,726±$429 | +$1,466 |
| Mean household income | $87,807±$581 | – |
| Per capita income | $35,821±$245 | +$1,143 |
| People below the poverty line | 16.1%±0.3 pts | −1.2 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 20.3%±0.6 pts | −3.2 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.2%±0.2 pts | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.6%±0.2 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Kentucky?
Owners occupy 68.3% of Kentucky's occupied homes and renters 31.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $205,600 by its owner (±$1,096). The median renter pays $967 a month including utilities, and 36.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $205,600±$1,096 | +$32,072 |
| Median gross rent | $967±$5 | +$28 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 36.6%±0.5 pts | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,433±$7 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 68.3%±0.3 pts | +1.1 pts |
| Housing units | 2,023,116±474 | +39,167 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.9%±0.1 pts | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.6%±0.3 pts | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 67.5%±0.3 pts | – |
| Mobile homes | 10.7%±0.2 pts | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.8%±0.1 pts | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 9.0%±0.1 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Kentucky building?
Builders took permits for 14,940 new housing units in Kentucky in 2025 (8,817 single-family), 3.2 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files summed by state, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Kentucky get to work?
76.6% of Kentucky's workers drive alone and 10.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.9%.
| Measure | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 59.7%±0.2 pts | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9%±0.1 pts | −0.7 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 76.6%±0.3 pts | – |
| Carpooled | 9.3%±0.2 pts | – |
| Public transportation | 0.6%±0.1 pts | – |
| Walked | 2.0%±0.1 pts | – |
| Worked from home | 10.2%±0.2 pts | +6.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.0 min±0.2 | +0.4 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections