Population 6,443 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Wolfe County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Wolfe County
Household size in Wolfe County
| Period | Wolfe County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.89 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.58 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.43 | 2.52 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.42 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.46 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Wolfe County has 2.42 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.89, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the north and smallest in the southwest.
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 Wolfe County
| Period | Wolfe County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.2 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.0 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.8 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.3 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.1 | +1.5 | +2.3 |
Wolfe County skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.3, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.2, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the northwest and oldest in the northeast.
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 Wolfe County
| Period | Wolfe County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.6% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.0% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.5% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.8% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Wolfe County as they are nationally: 10.8%, against 11.6%. Single parents are less common here than in Kentucky overall (11.9%). The single-parent share has fallen 3.8 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Wolfe County
Renters in Wolfe County
| Period | Wolfe County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.1% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.6% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.6% | 32.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.4% | 31.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Wolfe County own their homes; 26.4% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 67.8% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the west; owners are most common in the north. The renter share has risen 2.3 points since 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 Wolfe County
| Period | Wolfe County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.4% | 12.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.4% | 11.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 21.5% | 12.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.6% | 10.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −18.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in Wolfe County: 11.6% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is down 18.8 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than 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 Wolfe County
| Period | Wolfe County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1990 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +12 | +5 | +6 |
Wolfe County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1990, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1978 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, 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 Wolfe County
| Period | Wolfe County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $347 | $657 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $512 | $728 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $500 | $814 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $585 | $1,024 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$238 | +$367 | +$606 |
The median renter in Wolfe County pays $585 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $238 a month from 2006–10, a 69% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 37.4% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the northeast and lowest in the northwest.
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 Wolfe County
Bachelor's degrees in Wolfe County
| Period | Wolfe County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 21.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 22.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.6% | 27.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Wolfe County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 9.6%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 1.5 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Only four of Kentucky's 120 counties have a lower share of college graduates.
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 Wolfe County
| Period | Wolfe County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 58.0% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 63.6% | 83.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 71.8% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 70.1% | 88.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +12.1 pts | +7.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
About three in ten adults in Wolfe County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 70.1% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 12.1 points, in line with the national trend. Only one other Kentucky county has 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 Wolfe County
| Period | Wolfe County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 9.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.2% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.2% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | +7.7 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Wolfe County runs well above the national rate: 14.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Only one other Kentucky county has higher unemployment. Unemployment has risen 7.7 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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).
Wolfe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolfe County | 2.42 | 42.3 | 10.8% | 26.4% | 11.6% | 1990 | $585 | 9.6% | 70.1% | 14.2% |
| Powell County | 2.65 | 39.0 | 14.7% | 31.8% | 15.4% | 1985 | $837 | 13.3% | 81.7% | 5.4% |
| Magoffin County | 2.40 | 42.7 | 13.8% | 24.6% | 13.8% | 1986 | $765 | 13.5% | 72.3% | 9.4% |
| Estill County | 2.34 | 44.6 | 14.0% | 29.6% | 13.6% | 1980 | $704 | 12.2% | 78.5% | 7.2% |
| Johnson County | 2.43 | 42.2 | 11.1% | 31.7% | 15.5% | 1983 | $744 | 17.0% | 81.6% | 4.5% |
| Madison County | 2.48 | 36.8 | 10.7% | 38.0% | 9.2% | 1993 | $905 | 33.4% | 91.4% | 4.3% |
| Martin County | 2.60 | 42.2 | 10.0% | 15.1% | 21.1% | 1985 | $547 | 9.8% | 74.8% | 6.5% |
| Garrard County | 2.64 | 42.1 | 9.6% | 20.1% | 8.2% | 1985 | $834 | 18.5% | 85.3% | 5.6% |
| Jessamine County | 2.74 | 38.2 | 11.2% | 33.3% | 7.8% | 1993 | $1,239 | 33.7% | 90.7% | 3.0% |
| Boyle County | 2.31 | 40.7 | 11.5% | 32.0% | 8.9% | 1977 | $771 | 25.6% | 91.4% | 6.3% |
| Mercer County | 2.53 | 42.6 | 7.4% | 24.1% | 13.1% | 1981 | $830 | 24.8% | 92.0% | 4.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Wheeler County, NE · Armstrong County, TX · Arthur County, NE · Atchison County, MO · Audubon County, IA · Aurora County, SD · Webster County, NE · Webster County, WV · Wells County, ND · West Carroll Parish, LA
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 Wolfe 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.