Population 65,897 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Pulaski County
Household size in Pulaski County
| Period | Pulaski County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.38 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.42 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.50 | 2.52 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.50 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.12 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Pulaski County run a little small, averaging 2.50 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.38, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northeast.
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 Pulaski County
| Period | Pulaski County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.8 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.2 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.2 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.8 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +1.5 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Pulaski County is 42.8 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 40.8 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the south 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 Pulaski County
| Period | Pulaski County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.6% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.2% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.1% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.8% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Pulaski County as they are nationally: 11.8%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 2.2 points from 2006–10, 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 Pulaski County
Renters in Pulaski County
| Period | Pulaski County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.3% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.7% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.0% | 32.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.5% | 31.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Pulaski County own their homes; 27.5% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. About half of owners (49.0%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southwest. The renter share has edged up 1.2 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 Pulaski County
| Period | Pulaski County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.1% | 12.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 11.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.6% | 12.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.7% | 10.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 15.7% of the housing in Pulaski 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. Vacancy has risen 1.6 points since 2006–10, 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 Pulaski County
| Period | Pulaski County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1982 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Pulaski 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 1982 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, 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 Pulaski County
| Period | Pulaski County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $534 | $657 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $575 | $728 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $679 | $814 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $840 | $1,024 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$306 | +$367 | +$606 |
The median renter in Pulaski County pays $840 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $306 a month from 2006–10, a 57% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 31.3% 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 Pulaski County
Bachelor's degrees in Pulaski County
| Period | Pulaski County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.0% | 21.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.8% | 22.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.6% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.3% | 27.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Pulaski County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 18.3%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 3.2 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the southeast.
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 Pulaski County
| Period | Pulaski County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 76.2% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.3% | 83.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 82.7% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.0% | 88.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.8 pts | +7.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in Pulaski County never finished high school, more than nationally: 86.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 9.8 points, 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 Pulaski County
| Period | Pulaski County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 9.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Pulaski County is close to the national rate: 5.0% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 3.1 points from 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).
Pulaski 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulaski County | 2.50 | 42.8 | 11.8% | 27.5% | 15.7% | 1985 | $840 | 18.3% | 86.0% | 5.0% |
| Russell County | 2.41 | 41.6 | 15.3% | 29.2% | 19.0% | 1989 | $667 | 15.1% | 82.2% | 6.2% |
| Laurel County | 2.65 | 40.7 | 13.0% | 28.4% | 11.1% | 1991 | $832 | 17.2% | 84.4% | 4.0% |
| Adair County | 2.51 | 40.7 | 8.5% | 22.8% | 16.6% | 1984 | $773 | 23.4% | 84.2% | 6.1% |
| Knox County | 2.54 | 40.2 | 15.6% | 34.7% | 14.2% | 1985 | $703 | 14.1% | 76.8% | 8.0% |
| Clay County | 2.56 | 40.4 | 18.3% | 23.6% | 15.6% | 1991 | $786 | 16.5% | 74.6% | 8.4% |
| Metcalfe County | 2.56 | 42.4 | 9.6% | 22.3% | 14.3% | 1988 | $599 | 12.8% | 88.6% | 5.1% |
| Leslie County | 2.32 | 41.8 | 10.4% | 14.5% | 13.0% | 1983 | $585 | 11.9% | 80.5% | 4.6% |
| Barren County | 2.52 | 40.5 | 15.7% | 34.8% | 10.8% | 1985 | $815 | 18.5% | 86.5% | 3.9% |
| Edmonson County | 2.41 | 45.9 | 8.2% | 19.9% | 16.3% | 1991 | $770 | 10.8% | 83.4% | 8.0% |
| Letcher County | 2.48 | 43.9 | 11.4% | 25.9% | 19.6% | 1976 | $732 | 12.8% | 82.1% | 5.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Greenwood County, SC · Troup County, GA · Tooele County, UT · Tipton County, TN · Kauai County, HI · Hood County, TX · Herkimer County, NY · Haywood County, NC · Harrison County, WV · Harrison County, TX
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 Pulaski 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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