Population 4,534,824 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Kentucky
Household size in Kentucky
| Period | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.52 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Kentucky run a little small, averaging 2.51 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Compared with other states, Kentucky has smaller households than most.
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 Kentucky
| Period | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.5 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Kentucky are younger than 39.9 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.5, in line with the national trend.
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 Kentucky
| Period | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in Kentucky (11.9%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Compared with other states, Kentucky has a higher share of single-parent households than most.
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 Kentucky
Renters in Kentucky
| Period | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Kentucky own their homes; 31.7% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 43.6% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 1.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Kentucky
| Period | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Kentucky is close to the national rate: 10.6% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Vacancy is down 1.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Kentucky
| Period | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Kentucky are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1982, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1977 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 Kentucky
| Period | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $657 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $728 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $814 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,024 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$367 | +$606 |
The median renter in Kentucky pays $1,024 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $367 a month since 2006–10, up 56%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 29.0% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in northern Kentucky and lowest in southeastern Kentucky.
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 Kentucky
Bachelor's degrees in Kentucky
| Period | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Kentucky than nationally: 27.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 6.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in northern Kentucky and least in southeastern Kentucky.
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 Kentucky
| Period | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Kentucky is close to the national rate: 88.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 7.2 points, mirroring the country. Kentucky has a lower share of high school graduates than the great majority of states.
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 Kentucky
| Period | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.1%, unemployment in Kentucky is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 3.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Kentucky compared with nearby states
| State | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 2.51 | 39.9 | 11.9% | 31.7% | 10.6% | 1982 | $1,024 | 27.6% | 88.8% | 5.1% |
| Tennessee | 2.53 | 39.9 | 11.8% | 33.1% | 10.1% | 1986 | $1,286 | 31.4% | 89.9% | 4.8% |
| Indiana | 2.54 | 39.3 | 11.7% | 29.4% | 9.3% | 1977 | $1,146 | 30.0% | 89.9% | 4.3% |
| Ohio | 2.46 | 40.8 | 11.7% | 32.8% | 8.7% | 1972 | $1,142 | 31.9% | 91.7% | 4.9% |
| West Virginia | 2.43 | 43.2 | 10.4% | 25.1% | 14.9% | 1976 | $905 | 25.0% | 89.4% | 5.5% |
| Illinois | 2.58 | 40.2 | 11.3% | 32.9% | 8.1% | 1970 | $1,428 | 37.7% | 90.3% | 6.0% |
| Alabama | 2.56 | 40.2 | 12.2% | 29.8% | 13.5% | 1986 | $1,091 | 29.0% | 88.7% | 4.9% |
| Georgia | 2.73 | 38.6 | 13.4% | 34.3% | 10.3% | 1991 | $1,520 | 35.1% | 89.2% | 5.2% |
| North Carolina | 2.52 | 40.3 | 11.4% | 33.4% | 11.4% | 1990 | $1,317 | 36.2% | 90.2% | 4.8% |
| South Carolina | 2.50 | 41.2 | 11.7% | 28.1% | 11.8% | 1991 | $1,294 | 32.6% | 90.2% | 4.9% |
| Virginia | 2.62 | 40.3 | 10.7% | 32.7% | 8.7% | 1984 | $1,743 | 42.5% | 91.6% | 4.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
States with similar populations: California · Arkansas · Michigan · Massachusetts · Maine · Louisiana · Indiana · Idaho · Hawaii · Georgia
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 Kentucky. 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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