Boyd County, KY

County

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2024 Population

47,911

US Senator

Mitch McConnell

Republican Party

US Senator

Rand Paul

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

42.3

0.236% 1-year decrease

2024 Poverty Rate

16.9%

4.36% 1-year decrease

2024 Median Household Income

$61,118

0.757% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$130,700

3.48% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

19,267

0.156% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Boyd County, KY reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

99.1% of the residents in Boyd County, KY are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Boyd County, KY are Ashland Community and Technical College (2,179 degrees awarded in 2023).

In 2024, the median property value in Boyd County, KY was $130,700, and the homeownership rate was 70.2%.

Most people in Boyd County, KY drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 22.1 minutes. The average car ownership in Boyd County, KY was 2 cars per household.

Boyd County, KY borders Carter County, KY, Greenup County, KY, Lawrence County, KY, Lawrence County, OH, and Wayne County, WV.

United States Kentucky Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH

Population & Diversity

Boyd County, KY is home to a population of 47.9k people, from which 99.1% are citizens. As of 2024, 1.31% of Boyd County, KY residents were born outside of the country (630 people).

In 2024, there were 37.4 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (44.2k people) in Boyd County, KY than any other race or ethnicity. There were 1.18k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) and 1.1k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

99.1%

2024 Citizenship

99.4%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 99.1% of Boyd County, KY residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Boyd County, KY was 99.4%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Boyd County, KY compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Boyd County, KY

White (Non-Hispanic)
44.2k ± 215
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
1.18k ± 238
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
1.1k ± 210

1.82%

Hispanic Population

873 people

1.82% of the people in Boyd County, KY are hispanic (873 people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Boyd County, KY as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Kentucky.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
34,091 ± 4,516 people
Cuba
20,475 ± 3,505 people
India
12,629 ± 2,755 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Kentucky was Mexico, the natal country of 34,091 Kentucky residents, followed by Cuba with 20,475 and India with 12,629.

Foreign-Born Population

1.31%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

630 people

1.07%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

513 people

As of 2024, 1.31% of Boyd County, KY residents (630 people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Boyd County, KY was 1.07%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Boyd County, KY compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
1,021 ± 217
Gulf War (2001-)
594 ± 188
Gulf War (1990s)
573 ± 188

Boyd County, KY has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.72 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Boyd County, KY.

Economy

The economy of Boyd County, KY employs 19.3k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Boyd County, KY were Health Care & Social Assistance (4,530 people), Retail Trade (2,853 people), and Manufacturing (1,730 people), and the highest paying industries were Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($121,064), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($120,787), and Utilities ($97,364).

Employment

Occupations

19.3k

2024 Value

± 1,059

0.156%

1 Year growth

± 8.01%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Boyd County, KY grew at a rate of 0.156%, from 19.2k employees to 19.3k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Boyd County, KY, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (2,613 people), Sales & Related Occupations (2,197 people), and Management Occupations (1,576 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Boyd County, KY.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Kentucky.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Kentucky (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

19.3k

2024 Value

± 1,059

0.156%

1 Year growth

± 8.01%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Boyd County, KY grew at a rate of 0.156%, from 19.2k employees to 19.3k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Boyd County, KY, are Health Care & Social Assistance (4,530 people), Retail Trade (2,853 people), and Manufacturing (1,730 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Boyd County, KY, though some of these residents may live in Boyd County, KY and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$49,657

Median earning men ± $3,512

$35,400

Median earning women ± $2,122

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($120,841), Manufacturing ($86,529), and Wholesale Trade ($78,000).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Manufacturing ($102,212), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($47,554), and Public Administration ($46,528).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Kentucky.

Y-Axis

2.51%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 1.98M people employed in Kentucky. This represents a 2.51% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 14.4%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Kentucky.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

92
Other Services (except Public Administration)
73
Retail Trade
69
Retail Trade

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$404k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$159k
Manufacturing
$102k
Retail Trade

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Kentucky went to Donald J. Trump with 64.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (33.9%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.808%).

Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul are the senators currently representing the state of Kentucky. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Kentucky is currently represented by 6 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Boyd County, KY. Showing the available data for Kentucky.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (64.5%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (33.9%)
Democratic Party
Robert Kennedy (0.808%)
Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Kentucky went to Donald J. Trump with 64.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (33.9%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.808%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Kentucky for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Kentucky

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Kentucky.

Mitch McConnell

Senator from Kentucky

Assumed office on January 3, 1985

Rand Paul

Senator from Kentucky

Assumed office on January 3, 2011

Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul are the senators currently representing Kentucky.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Kentucky over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

Education

In 2023, universities in Boyd County, KY awarded 2,179 degrees. The student population of Boyd County, KY in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 993 male students and 1,566 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Boyd County, KY are White (2,027 and 93.1%), Hispanic or Latino (41 and 1.88%), Two or More Races (41 and 1.88%), and Black or African American (27 and 1.24%).

The largest universities in Boyd County, KY by number of degrees awarded are Ashland Community and Technical College (2,179 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Boyd County, KY are Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training (297 and 13.6%), Electrician (257 and 11.8%), and Medical Administrative Assistant (180 and 8.26%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2023 there were 2,559 students enrolled in Boyd County, KY, 38.8% men and 61.2% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 2,358 records, of which 61.1% were women and 38.9% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training
268 degrees awarded
Truck, Bus, & Commercial Vehicle Operator & Instructor
140 degrees awarded
Welding Technology
85 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Certificate of less than 1 academic year recipients in Boyd County, KY was Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training with 268 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Certificate of less than 1 academic year from schools in Boyd County, KY according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Ashland Community and Technical College

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

2,179 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Ashland Community and Technical College with 2,179 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2023, 1,215 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Boyd County, KY, which is 1.26 times more than the 964 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 2,027 degrees mean that there were 49.4 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 41 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Public, 2-year ($4,464) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($192) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($1,152) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Boyd County, KY was $130,700 in 2024, which is 0.393 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $126,300 to $130,700, a 3.48% increase. The homeownership rate in Boyd County, KY is 70.2%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Boyd County, KY have an average commute time of 22.1 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Boyd County, KY is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 11.1% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Boyd County, KY. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator grew 0.532%.

Housing

Property

$130,700

Median Property Value 2024

±$9,695

$13,549

Median Property Taxes

±$844

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Boyd County, KY the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Boyd County, KY compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

70.2%

Homeownership

2024

60.5%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 70.2% of the housing units in Boyd County, KY were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 68.4%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Boyd County, KY compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$61,118

Median Household Income

± $3,296

19.3k

Number of Households

± 1,039

In 2024, the median household income of the 19.3k households in Boyd County, KY grew to $61,118 from the previous year's value of $60,659.

The following chart displays the households in Boyd County, KY distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Boyd County, KY is from Kentucky.

0.449

2023 Wage GINI in Kentucky

0.452

2022 Wage GINI in Kentucky

In 2023, the income inequality in Kentucky was 0.449 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.729% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Kentucky was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Kentucky in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Kentucky across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (80.7%)
Carpooled (9.6%)
Worked At Home (5.95%)

In 2024, 80.7% of workers in Boyd County, KY drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (9.6%) and those who worked at home (5.95%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

22.1 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Boyd County, KY have a shorter commute time (22.1 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.2% of the workforce in Boyd County, KY have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Boyd County, KY compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Boyd County, KY distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Boyd County, KY have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 11.1% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Boyd County, KY. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator grew 0.532%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

16.9% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Boyd County, KY (7.78k out of 45.9k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 55 - 64, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Females 45 - 54.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Boyd County, KY is White, followed by Two Or More and Black.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 23% of the children was living in poverty in Boyd County, KY. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 3.5%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 150 in Boyd County, KY. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 87.4 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

95.6% of the population of Boyd County, KY has health coverage, with 40.1% on employee plans, 26.2% on Medicaid, 15.6% on Medicare, 12.1% on non-group plans, and 1.72% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Boyd County, KY see 998 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (998 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1375 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 128 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.5% were men and 51.5% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

998 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Boyd County, KY

Primary care physicians in Boyd County, KY see an average of 998 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (998 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Boyd County, KY in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 23% under 18 years, 18% between 18 and 34 years, 38.5% between 35 and 64 years, and 20.5% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.5% were men and 51.5% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

4.35%

Uninsured

40.1%

Employer Coverage

26.2%

Medicaid

15.6%

Medicare

12.1%

Non-Group

1.72%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Boyd County, KY declined by 7.74% from 4.72% to 4.35%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Boyd County, KY changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 47.7 in Boyd County, KY.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Boyd County, KY.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 40.8% in Boyd County, KY.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Boyd County, KY.