Laurel County, KY

County

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2024 Population

62,983

US Senator

Mitch McConnell

Republican Party

US Senator

Rand Paul

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

40.1

0.501% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

20.5%

3.99% 1-year decrease

2024 Median Household Income

$57,771

1.35% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$159,500

11.2% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

26,668

1.08% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Laurel 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.

99.6% of the residents in Laurel County, KY are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Laurel County, KY are Tri-State Institute of Hair Design (19 degrees awarded in 2017).

In 2024, the median property value in Laurel County, KY was $159,500, and the homeownership rate was 71.6%.

Most people in Laurel County, KY drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 22.6 minutes. The average car ownership in Laurel County, KY was 2 cars per household.

Laurel County, KY borders Clay County, KY, Jackson County, KY, Knox County, KY, McCreary County, KY, Pulaski County, KY, Rockcastle County, KY, and Whitley County, KY.

United States Kentucky London, KY

Population & Diversity

Laurel County, KY is home to a population of 63k people, from which 99.6% are citizens. As of 2024, 1.09% of Laurel County, KY residents were born outside of the country (688 people).

In 2024, there were 49.5 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (59.7k people) in Laurel County, KY than any other race or ethnicity. There were 1.21k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) and 393 Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

99.6%

2024 Citizenship

99.5%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 99.6% of Laurel County, KY residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Laurel County, KY was 99.5%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Laurel County, KY

White (Non-Hispanic)
59.7k ± 171
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
1.21k ± 201
Two Races Including Other (Hispanic)
393 ± 120

1.68%

Hispanic Population

1.06k people

1.68% of the people in Laurel County, KY are hispanic (1.06k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Laurel 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

1.09%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

688 people

1.2%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

754 people

As of 2024, 1.09% of Laurel County, KY residents (688 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 Laurel County, KY was 1.2%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
921 ± 235
Gulf War (2001-)
616 ± 210
Gulf War (1990s)
388 ± 179

Laurel County, KY has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.5 times greater than any other conflict.

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

Economy

The economy of Laurel County, KY employs 26.7k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Laurel County, KY were Retail Trade (4,449 people), Manufacturing (4,250 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (3,674 people), and the highest paying industries were Utilities ($73,659), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($64,659), and Wholesale Trade ($63,000).

Employment

Occupations

26.7k

2024 Value

± 1,340

1.08%

1 Year growth

± 7.05%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Laurel County, KY grew at a rate of 1.08%, from 26.4k employees to 26.7k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Laurel County, KY, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (3,239 people), Sales & Related Occupations (2,901 people), and Production Occupations (2,871 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Laurel 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

26.7k

2024 Value

± 1,340

1.08%

1 Year growth

± 7.05%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Laurel County, KY grew at a rate of 1.08%, from 26.4k employees to 26.7k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Laurel County, KY, are Retail Trade (4,449 people), Manufacturing (4,250 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (3,674 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Laurel County, KY, though some of these residents may live in Laurel County, KY and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$46,859

Median earning men ± $2,660

$34,051

Median earning women ± $2,496

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Information ($69,605), Wholesale Trade ($59,926), and Public Administration ($54,469).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Wholesale Trade ($67,650), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($40,729), and Manufacturing ($40,278).

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

122
Retail Trade
81
Retail Trade
63
Health Care and Social Assistance

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

$189k
Manufacturing
$172k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$120k
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 Laurel 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 2017, universities in Laurel County, KY awarded 19 degrees. The student population of Laurel County, KY in 2017 is skewed towards men, with 23 male students and 13 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Laurel County, KY are White (19 and 100%).

The largest universities in Laurel County, KY by number of degrees awarded are Tri-State Institute of Hair Design (19 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Laurel County, KY are Barbering (19 and 100%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2017 there were 36 students enrolled in Laurel County, KY, 63.9% men and 36.1% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 20 records, of which 20% were women and 80% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Barbering

Most Common

19 degrees awarded

In 2017, the most common concentation for 1 to 2 Year Postsecondary Certificate recipients in Laurel County, KY was Barbering with 19 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a 1 to 2 Year Postsecondary Certificate from schools in Laurel County, KY according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Tri-State Institute of Hair Design

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

19 degrees awarded

In 2017, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Tri-State Institute of Hair Design with 19 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2017, 8 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Laurel County, KY, which is 0.727 times less than the 11 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2017, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 19 degrees mean that there were InfinityM times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, American Indian or Alaska Native, with 0 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.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Laurel County, KY was $159,500 in 2024, which is 0.479 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $143,400 to $159,500, a 11.2% increase. The homeownership rate in Laurel County, KY is 71.6%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Laurel County, KY have an average commute time of 22.6 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Laurel County, KY is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 12.2% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Laurel County, KY. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator grew 1.56%.

Housing

Property

$159,500

Median Property Value 2024

±$6,127

$17,185

Median Property Taxes

±$1,025

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 Laurel County, KY the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

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

Rent vs Own

71.6%

Homeownership

2024

66.4%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 71.6% of the housing units in Laurel County, KY were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 71.5%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Laurel 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.

$57,771

Median Household Income

± $7,839

24k

Number of Households

± 1,271

In 2024, the median household income of the 24k households in Laurel County, KY grew to $57,771 from the previous year's value of $56,999.

The following chart displays the households in Laurel 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 Laurel 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 (76.1%)
Carpooled (12.7%)
Worked At Home (8.7%)

In 2024, 76.1% of workers in Laurel County, KY drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (12.7%) and those who worked at home (8.7%).

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

22.6 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Laurel County, KY have a shorter commute time (22.6 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.84% of the workforce in Laurel County, KY have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Laurel 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 Laurel County, KY distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Laurel County, KY have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 12.2% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Laurel County, KY. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator grew 1.56%.

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

Poverty & Diversity

20.5% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Laurel County, KY (12.6k out of 61.3k 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 Males 55 - 64, followed by Females 25 - 34 and then Females 45 - 54.

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

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, 27.7% of the children was living in poverty in Laurel County, KY. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 2.1%.

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 90.8 in Laurel County, KY. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator grew 12.5 per 100,000 population.

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

Health

92.2% of the population of Laurel County, KY has health coverage, with 36.2% on employee plans, 31.4% on Medicaid, 12.7% on Medicare, 10.1% on non-group plans, and 1.76% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Laurel County, KY see 2,607 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (2,607 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 2515 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 974 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.2% were men and 50.8% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

2,607 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Laurel County, KY

Primary care physicians in Laurel County, KY see an average of 2,607 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (2,607 patients).

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

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 24.2% under 18 years, 19.7% between 18 and 34 years, 39.1% between 35 and 64 years, and 17% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.2% were men and 50.8% were women.

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

Uninsured People

7.8%

Uninsured

36.2%

Employer Coverage

31.4%

Medicaid

12.7%

Medicare

10.1%

Non-Group

1.76%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Laurel County, KY declined by 4.36% from 8.15% to 7.8%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Laurel 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 50.2 in Laurel County, KY.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Laurel 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 41.1% in Laurel County, KY.

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