Population 29,865 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Knox County
Household size in Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.41 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.46 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.56 | 2.52 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.54 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.13 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Knox County has 2.54 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has climbed from 2.41 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated 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 Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.2 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.1 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.7 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.2 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.1 | +1.5 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Knox County are younger than 40.2 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Residents skew youngest in the west and oldest in the east.
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 Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.6% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.1% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.9% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.6% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Knox County: 15.6% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has risen 3.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Of Kentucky's 120 counties, only six have a higher share of single-parent households.
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 Knox County
Renters in Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.3% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 36.4% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.5% | 32.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 34.7% | 31.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Knox County is about as common as it is nationally: 34.7% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in Kentucky overall (31.7%). Among homeowners, 62.8% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged up 1.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.7% | 12.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.3% | 11.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.4% | 12.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.2% | 10.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.2% of the housing in Knox County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
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 Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Knox County are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1985, versus 1980 across the U.S. The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the south.
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 Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $510 | $657 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $542 | $728 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $572 | $814 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $703 | $1,024 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$193 | +$367 | +$606 |
The median renter in Knox County pays $703 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $193 a month from 2006–10, a 38% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 29.1% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the north; the most affordable are in the west.
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 Knox County
Bachelor's degrees in Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 21.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 22.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.5% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.1% | 27.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Knox County: 14.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.2 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the north.
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 Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 63.1% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 69.3% | 83.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 73.5% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 76.8% | 88.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +13.7 pts | +7.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
23.2% of adults in Knox County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 76.8% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 13.7 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of Kentucky's 120 counties, only eight have a lower share of high school graduates.
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 Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.9% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 16.9% | 9.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.0% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.9 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Knox County runs well above the national rate: 8.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 5.9 points, 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).
Knox 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County | 2.54 | 40.2 | 15.6% | 34.7% | 14.2% | 1985 | $703 | 14.1% | 76.8% | 8.0% |
| Whitley County | 2.65 | 35.4 | 15.1% | 33.2% | 14.1% | 1987 | $797 | 20.5% | 84.8% | 6.1% |
| Laurel County | 2.65 | 40.7 | 13.0% | 28.4% | 11.1% | 1991 | $832 | 17.2% | 84.4% | 4.0% |
| Harlan County | 2.38 | 41.3 | 13.2% | 28.4% | 17.4% | 1976 | $705 | 13.8% | 81.7% | 9.8% |
| Pulaski County | 2.50 | 42.8 | 11.8% | 27.5% | 15.7% | 1985 | $840 | 18.3% | 86.0% | 5.0% |
| Wayne County | 2.43 | 43.3 | 10.7% | 30.9% | 16.8% | 1982 | $736 | 14.6% | 81.1% | 5.3% |
| Russell County | 2.41 | 41.6 | 15.3% | 29.2% | 19.0% | 1989 | $667 | 15.1% | 82.2% | 6.2% |
| Norton City | 2.31 | 40.2 | 19.5% | 50.0% | 11.8% | 1973 | $573 | 14.0% | 94.3% | 4.1% |
| Wise County | 2.37 | 42.2 | 12.7% | 25.8% | 15.5% | 1979 | $802 | 15.4% | 80.2% | 8.5% |
| Metcalfe County | 2.56 | 42.4 | 9.6% | 22.3% | 14.3% | 1988 | $599 | 12.8% | 88.6% | 5.1% |
| Russell County | 2.38 | 46.8 | 10.1% | 23.7% | 16.5% | 1980 | $738 | 13.2% | 82.3% | 3.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Adair County, MO · Adams County, MS · Adams County, NE · Adams County, OH · Yates County, NY · Aguada Municipio, PR · Alcorn County, MS · Aibonito Municipio, PR · Albany County, WY · Morton County, ND
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 Knox 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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