Population 20,808 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Letcher County
Household size in Letcher County
| Period | Letcher County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.52 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.52 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.25 | 2.52 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.48 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Letcher County has 2.48 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. The picture is much the same across Kentucky. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.52, in line with the national trend.
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 Letcher County
| Period | Letcher County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.5 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.6 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.6 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.9 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.4 | +1.5 | +2.3 |
Letcher County skews older than the country: its median age is 43.9, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 40.5 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the west.
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 Letcher County
| Period | Letcher County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 15.0% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.4% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in Letcher County (11.4%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 1.5 points, even as the national share fell.
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 Letcher County
Renters in Letcher County
| Period | Letcher County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.6% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.9% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.8% | 32.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.9% | 31.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a quarter of households in Letcher County rent their homes (25.9%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 71.0% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.2 points, 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 Letcher County
| Period | Letcher County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.8% | 12.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.2% | 11.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.0% | 12.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.6% | 10.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Letcher County: 19.6% of homes are empty, 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 1.8 points, 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 Letcher County
| Period | Letcher County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1973 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Letcher County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1976, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in Kentucky overall, where the median home dates to 1982. The median year built has moved up from 1973 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the northeast has the oldest housing.
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 Letcher County
| Period | Letcher County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $484 | $657 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $545 | $728 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $552 | $814 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $732 | $1,024 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$249 | +$367 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Letcher County costs $732 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $249 a month from 2006–10, a 51% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.0% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the center and lowest in the southwest.
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 Letcher County
Bachelor's degrees in Letcher County
| Period | Letcher County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 21.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.2% | 22.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.2% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.8% | 27.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Letcher County: 12.8% 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 edged up 0.6 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Letcher County has a lower share of college graduates than the great majority of Kentucky counties.
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 Letcher County
| Period | Letcher County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 71.7% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 75.7% | 83.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 75.8% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 82.1% | 88.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.4 pts | +7.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in six adults in Letcher County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 82.1% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 10.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Letcher County
| Period | Letcher County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 9.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.3% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Letcher County is close to the national rate: 5.6% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 3.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. 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).
Letcher 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letcher County | 2.48 | 43.9 | 11.4% | 25.9% | 19.6% | 1976 | $732 | 12.8% | 82.1% | 5.6% |
| Perry County | 2.47 | 42.0 | 13.9% | 29.6% | 16.4% | 1984 | $786 | 14.7% | 80.1% | 5.1% |
| Dickenson County | 2.30 | 46.0 | 9.5% | 23.9% | 19.4% | 1983 | $732 | 10.7% | 85.3% | 2.3% |
| Leslie County | 2.32 | 41.8 | 10.4% | 14.5% | 13.0% | 1983 | $585 | 11.9% | 80.5% | 4.6% |
| Buchanan County | 2.58 | 48.6 | 12.6% | 16.9% | 26.0% | 1979 | $748 | 11.1% | 78.9% | 3.7% |
| Clay County | 2.56 | 40.4 | 18.3% | 23.6% | 15.6% | 1991 | $786 | 16.5% | 74.6% | 8.4% |
| Tazewell County | 2.35 | 46.0 | 9.7% | 25.6% | 17.0% | 1973 | $776 | 17.3% | 87.5% | 4.3% |
| Laurel County | 2.65 | 40.7 | 13.0% | 28.4% | 11.1% | 1991 | $832 | 17.2% | 84.4% | 4.0% |
| Bland County | 2.27 | 47.0 | 6.0% | 13.5% | 23.0% | 1982 | $714 | 18.6% | 92.6% | 2.4% |
| Pulaski County | 2.50 | 42.8 | 11.8% | 27.5% | 15.7% | 1985 | $840 | 18.3% | 86.0% | 5.0% |
| Pulaski County | 2.29 | 46.3 | 9.4% | 26.6% | 14.4% | 1975 | $882 | 21.3% | 91.6% | 3.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Robertson County, TX · Hampshire County, WV · Hampton County, SC · Haralson County, GA · Richland County, IL · Richland County, ND · Richland County, WI · Rincon Municipio, PR · Roane County, WV · Hamilton County, IA
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 Letcher 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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