Kentucky Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze population trends, housing costs, and the local economy by exploring Map AI.
State Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population
| Metric | Kentucky | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,499,518 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 111.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.30% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 37.6 | 37.1 |
| Households | 1,791,595 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Kentucky grew by 6.0% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 4,509,777 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Kentucky has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Kentucky | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $62,784 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.94% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Kentucky is about 20% lower than in US.
Housing
| Metric | Kentucky | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $126,174 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $933 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 68.3% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Kentucky is about 11.3 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $933 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Kentucky spend about 42 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 173 hours, about 7.2 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Kentucky | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 20.8 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 41.5 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 173 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,361 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 6,995 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 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 Kentucky is 21 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in US.
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
Kentucky has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Kentucky | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 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
Kentucky has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Kentucky | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 75.0 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 23.2% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 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 Kentucky.
What is the population of Kentucky?
The population of Kentucky is 4,499,518, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Kentucky?
The population density of Kentucky is 111.3 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Kentucky?
The median household income in Kentucky is $62,784, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Kentucky?
The median home price in Kentucky is $126,174, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Kentucky?
The unemployment rate in Kentucky is 4.8%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.