Population 47,911 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Boyd County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Boyd County
Household size in Boyd County
| Period | Boyd County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.41 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.41 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.54 | 2.52 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.40 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Boyd County is a place of small households, averaging 2.40 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southwest. Boyd County has smaller households than at least four in five Kentucky counties.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Boyd County
| Period | Boyd County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.5 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.3 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.8 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.5 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.1 | +1.5 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Boyd County is 43.5 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 41.5, as it has nationally. Boyd County is older than at least four in five Kentucky counties.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Boyd County
| Period | Boyd County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.1% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.4% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.6% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are more common in Boyd County than nationally: 14.6%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 2.8 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Boyd County has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of Kentucky counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Boyd County
Renters in Boyd County
| Period | Boyd County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.8% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.9% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.2% | 32.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.8% | 31.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Boyd County own their homes; 29.8% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. More than four in ten owners (45.2%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the north; owners are most common in the south. The renter share has edged down 1.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Boyd County
| Period | Boyd County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.0% | 12.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.1% | 11.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.4% | 12.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.2% | 10.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in Boyd County: 12.2% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is up 1.2 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Boyd County
| Period | Boyd County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1967 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1967 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1972 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Boyd County run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1972 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1967 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the center. Few Kentucky counties have older homes: only two of 120.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Boyd County
| Period | Boyd County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $554 | $657 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $638 | $728 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $728 | $814 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $844 | $1,024 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$290 | +$367 | +$606 |
Rent in Boyd County runs $844 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $290 a month since 2006–10, up 52%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.2% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Boyd County
Bachelor's degrees in Boyd County
| Period | Boyd County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.5% | 21.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.8% | 22.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.6% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.2% | 27.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Boyd County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 20.2%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 3.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the southeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Boyd County
| Period | Boyd County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.0% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.0% | 83.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.1% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.1% | 88.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.0 pts | +7.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Boyd County have finished high school as nationally: 90.1%, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 6.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Boyd County
| Period | Boyd County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 9.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Boyd County than nationally: unemployment was 6.4%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 1.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Boyd County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boyd County | 2.40 | 43.5 | 14.6% | 29.8% | 12.2% | 1972 | $844 | 20.2% | 90.1% | 6.4% |
| Lawrence County | 2.55 | 42.9 | 12.6% | 27.7% | 14.9% | 1975 | $866 | 18.9% | 90.4% | 2.8% |
| Greenup County | 2.42 | 44.1 | 9.3% | 19.7% | 9.5% | 1976 | $907 | 19.2% | 89.3% | 6.9% |
| Cabell County | 2.29 | 40.9 | 9.9% | 35.8% | 14.6% | 1970 | $964 | 33.4% | 90.7% | 5.5% |
| Carter County | 2.39 | 42.2 | 7.3% | 20.0% | 11.5% | 1985 | $713 | 15.5% | 83.8% | 5.7% |
| Lewis County | 2.54 | 41.8 | 12.1% | 20.8% | 14.5% | 1985 | $729 | 16.2% | 80.6% | 5.3% |
| Putnam County | 2.48 | 42.0 | 7.9% | 18.2% | 7.9% | 1987 | $960 | 29.6% | 93.9% | 3.1% |
| Kanawha County | 2.35 | 44.2 | 11.4% | 28.9% | 16.1% | 1967 | $973 | 30.8% | 91.7% | 5.6% |
| Fleming County | 2.63 | 41.2 | 12.5% | 25.2% | 13.1% | 1984 | $680 | 18.8% | 84.2% | 7.5% |
| Nicholas County | 2.77 | 41.0 | 9.7% | 25.5% | 16.2% | 1973 | $710 | 9.6% | 87.3% | 6.8% |
| Robertson County | 2.76 | 36.9 | 15.7% | 20.5% | 18.3% | 1984 | $611 | 13.0% | 81.5% | 3.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Box Elder County, UT · Lenoir County, NC · Isabela Municipio, PR · Isle of Wight County, VA · Itasca County, MN · Jackson County, AL · Jackson County, IN · Kandiyohi County, MN · Knox County, ME · Latah County, ID
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Boyd County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.