Population 783,022 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Jefferson County
Household size in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.42 | 2.51 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.45 | 2.55 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.45 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.42 | 2.50 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.01 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Jefferson County has 2.42 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the north.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.6 | 38.5 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.2 | 39.4 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.5 | 40.0 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.5 | 40.2 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.9 | +1.7 | +1.5 | +2.3 |
At 39.5, the median age in Jefferson County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.6, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the west and oldest in the northeast.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.4% | 12.6% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.2% | 12.6% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.5% | 11.6% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.1% | 12.4% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −0.2 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in eight households in Jefferson County (13.1%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. The Louisville area as a whole looks much the same.
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 Jefferson County
Renters in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.3% | 30.5% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.8% | 32.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.2% | 32.5% | 32.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 37.9% | 31.1% | 31.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +0.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in Jefferson County than nationally: 37.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. More than a third of owners (37.1%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.6 points, as it has nationally. Only seven of Kentucky's 120 counties have a higher share of renters.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.6% | 9.8% | 12.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 9.8% | 11.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.7% | 9.8% | 12.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.2% | 7.9% | 10.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Jefferson County as nationally: 8.2%, against 9.6%. Vacancy is down 2.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Jefferson County has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of Kentucky counties.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1975 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1976 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1976 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1980 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Jefferson County run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1973 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1969 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the center has the oldest housing. Only four of Kentucky's 120 counties have older homes.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $795 | $769 | $657 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $843 | $826 | $728 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $979 | $928 | $814 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,296 | $1,200 | $1,024 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$501 | +$431 | +$367 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Jefferson County costs $1,296 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in the Louisville area overall ($1,200). Rent has climbed $501 a month since 2006–10, up 63%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 30.7% 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 Jefferson County
Bachelor's degrees in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.9% | 24.9% | 21.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.7% | 26.7% | 22.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.1% | 29.0% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 36.3% | 32.8% | 27.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.4 pts | +7.9 pts | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Jefferson County as nationally: 36.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is higher than in the wider Louisville area (32.8%). The share with a degree is up 7.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of Kentucky's 120 counties, only five have a higher share of college graduates.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.0% | 86.4% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.0% | 87.8% | 83.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.5% | 90.1% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.9% | 91.1% | 88.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +4.7 pts | +7.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Jefferson County have finished high school (90.9%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.9 points, as it has nationally. Jefferson County has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Kentucky counties.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Louisville area | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 9.1% | 9.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 5.2% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.4% | 4.8% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −3.6 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Jefferson County is the same as the national rate: 5.4% of the labor force. Unemployment has fallen 3.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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).
Jefferson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 2.42 | 39.5 | 13.1% | 37.9% | 8.2% | 1973 | $1,296 | 36.3% | 90.9% | 5.4% |
| Clark County | 2.46 | 40.4 | 11.9% | 25.3% | 7.9% | 1986 | $1,156 | 28.5% | 91.1% | 4.1% |
| Floyd County | 2.55 | 41.0 | 10.5% | 26.8% | 8.9% | 1979 | $1,070 | 33.2% | 92.9% | 4.1% |
| Oldham County | 2.88 | 40.2 | 12.2% | 12.9% | 4.6% | 1994 | $1,330 | 47.4% | 94.8% | 3.3% |
| Harrison County | 2.57 | 42.8 | 8.3% | 16.4% | 9.1% | 1988 | $847 | 22.0% | 91.7% | 3.2% |
| Shelby County | 2.62 | 41.7 | 10.1% | 26.1% | 6.9% | 1990 | $1,092 | 32.3% | 88.2% | 4.3% |
| Crawford County | 2.29 | 45.4 | 6.2% | 18.7% | 19.6% | 1982 | $700 | 11.2% | 85.6% | 3.8% |
| Franklin County | 2.26 | 41.7 | 12.3% | 35.5% | 6.8% | 1978 | $1,015 | 30.9% | 92.5% | 5.8% |
| Scott County | 2.61 | 37.3 | 12.1% | 28.3% | 7.0% | 1996 | $1,254 | 35.1% | 94.0% | 4.4% |
| Dubois County | 2.48 | 40.7 | 11.2% | 25.3% | 7.8% | 1978 | $887 | 25.9% | 89.2% | 2.3% |
| Bourbon County | 2.54 | 42.0 | 11.2% | 36.3% | 10.2% | 1977 | $846 | 26.3% | 87.5% | 4.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Baltimore County, MD · Ventura County, CA · Macomb County, MI · Hidalgo County, TX · Worcester County, MA · San Francisco County, CA · New Haven County, CT · Montgomery County, PA · Middlesex County, NJ · Hamilton County, OH
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 Jefferson 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.
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