Graves County, KY Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Graves County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 36,700 | 4,499,518 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 65.9 | 111.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.30% | 0.30% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 40.1 | 37.6 | 37.1 |
| Households | 14,152 | 1,791,595 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Graves County declined by 2.4% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 36,612 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Graves County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Graves County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $50,500 | $62,784 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 3.32% | 4.94% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Graves County is about 20% lower than in Kentucky.
Housing
| Metric | Graves County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $75,000 | $126,174 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $713 | $933 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.4% | 68.3% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Graves County is about 8.8 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $713 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Graves County spend about 37 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 154 hours, about 6.4 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Graves County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 18.5 | 20.8 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 36.9 | 41.5 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 154 | 173 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,767 | $5,361 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 9.1% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,958 | 6,995 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 539 | 832 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Kentucky:
Calloway County (13.4 min), McCracken County (14.0 min), Clinton County (15.3 min).
Slowest:
Owen County (37.1 min), Menifee County (36.6 min), Bracken County (33.6 min).
The average commute time in Graves County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Kentucky.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Graves County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Graves County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.4% | 24.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.55 | 2.45 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Kentucky:
Fayette County (0.4), Oldham County (0.4), Campbell County (0.3).
Lowest:
Leslie County (0.1), Lee County (0.1), Elliott County (0.1).
Health
Graves County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Graves County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 76.6 | 75.0 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 21.8% | 23.2% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 23.9% | 26.0% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Kentucky:
Oldham County (0.8), Boone County (0.8), Scott County (0.8).
Lowest:
Clay County (0.7), Bell County (0.7), McCreary County (0.7).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Graves County, Kentucky.
What is the population of Graves County, Kentucky?
The population of Graves County, Kentucky is 36,700, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Graves County, Kentucky?
The population density of Graves County, Kentucky is 65.9 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Graves County, Kentucky?
The median household income in Graves County, Kentucky is $50,500, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Graves County, Kentucky?
The median home price in Graves County, Kentucky is $75,000, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Graves County, Kentucky?
The unemployment rate in Graves County, Kentucky is 4.0%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.