Population 27,499 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Perry County
Household size in Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.67 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.53 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.32 | 2.52 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.47 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.20 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Perry County run small, averaging 2.47 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. The picture is much the same across Kentucky. Household size has dropped from 2.67 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.7 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.5 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.7 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.0 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.3 | +1.5 | +2.3 |
Perry County skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.0, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 40.7 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the north and oldest in the southeast.
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 Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.6% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.9% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 16.1% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.9% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are more common in Perry County than nationally: 13.9%, against 11.6%. Perry County has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five 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 Perry County
Renters in Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.5% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.2% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.1% | 32.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.6% | 31.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Perry County own their homes; 29.6% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 63.2% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the northeast. The renter share is up 2.0 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.9% | 12.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.7% | 11.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.1% | 12.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.4% | 10.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Perry County: 16.4% 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. Vacancy is down 1.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Perry County is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1984, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1977 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the center 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 Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $475 | $657 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $578 | $728 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $647 | $814 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $786 | $1,024 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$311 | +$367 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Perry County costs $786 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $311 a month since 2006–10, up 65%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 28.7% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the northeast.
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 Perry County
Bachelor's degrees in Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 21.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.9% | 22.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.6% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.7% | 27.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Perry County: 14.7% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 2.3 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 67.5% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 70.3% | 83.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 76.9% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 80.1% | 88.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +12.6 pts | +7.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in five adults in Perry County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 80.1% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 12.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Perry County has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five 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 Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.8% | 9.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.6% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.1%, unemployment in Perry County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 4.7 points from 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).
Perry 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perry County | 2.47 | 42.0 | 13.9% | 29.6% | 16.4% | 1984 | $786 | 14.7% | 80.1% | 5.1% |
| Leslie County | 2.32 | 41.8 | 10.4% | 14.5% | 13.0% | 1983 | $585 | 11.9% | 80.5% | 4.6% |
| Knott County | 2.49 | 43.8 | 12.8% | 27.3% | 17.9% | 1983 | $780 | 20.7% | 73.4% | 9.4% |
| Letcher County | 2.48 | 43.9 | 11.4% | 25.9% | 19.6% | 1976 | $732 | 12.8% | 82.1% | 5.6% |
| Clay County | 2.56 | 40.4 | 18.3% | 23.6% | 15.6% | 1991 | $786 | 16.5% | 74.6% | 8.4% |
| Dickenson County | 2.30 | 46.0 | 9.5% | 23.9% | 19.4% | 1983 | $732 | 10.7% | 85.3% | 2.3% |
| Buchanan County | 2.58 | 48.6 | 12.6% | 16.9% | 26.0% | 1979 | $748 | 11.1% | 78.9% | 3.7% |
| Rockcastle County | 2.45 | 43.8 | 10.4% | 25.7% | 11.8% | 1988 | $703 | 14.4% | 83.9% | 4.7% |
| McDowell County | 2.46 | 42.6 | 11.2% | 22.7% | 30.3% | 1957 | $642 | 6.5% | 75.7% | 6.5% |
| Tazewell County | 2.35 | 46.0 | 9.7% | 25.6% | 17.0% | 1973 | $776 | 17.3% | 87.5% | 4.3% |
| Casey County | 2.40 | 43.8 | 10.7% | 20.3% | 13.3% | 1984 | $655 | 12.4% | 79.8% | 8.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Jefferson County, IN · Sabana Grande Municipio, PR · Russell County, VA · Rowan County, KY · Routt County, CO · Roscommon County, MI · Roosevelt County, NM · Rockbridge County, VA · Rhea County, TN · Lawrence County, MO
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 Perry 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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