Knox 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 | Knox County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 30,426 | 4,499,518 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 78.4 | 111.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.79% | 0.30% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 38.7 | 37.6 | 37.1 |
| Households | 11,326 | 1,791,595 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Knox County declined by 7.2% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 30,034 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Knox County has a the economy index of F, which means it scores poorly in the economy.
| Metric | Knox County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $32,758 | $62,784 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 3.16% | 4.94% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 7.9% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Knox County is about 48% lower than in Kentucky.
Housing
| Metric | Knox County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $53,684 | $126,174 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $631 | $933 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 65.6% | 68.3% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Knox County is about 7.1 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $631 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Knox County spend about 38 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 158 hours, about 6.6 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Knox County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 19.0 | 20.8 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 37.9 | 41.5 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 158 | 173 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,898 | $5,361 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 9.1% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 8,180 | 6,995 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 787 | 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 Knox County is 19 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
Knox County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Knox County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.5% | 24.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.59 | 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
Knox County has a health index of D, which means it is barely healthy.
| Metric | Knox County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 73.5 | 75.0 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 30.8% | 23.2% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 32.7% | 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 Knox County, Kentucky.
What is the population of Knox County, Kentucky?
The population of Knox County, Kentucky is 30,426, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Knox County, Kentucky?
The population density of Knox County, Kentucky is 78.4 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Knox County, Kentucky?
The median household income in Knox County, Kentucky is $32,758, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Knox County, Kentucky?
The median home price in Knox County, Kentucky is $53,684, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Knox County, Kentucky?
The unemployment rate in Knox County, Kentucky is 7.9%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.