Perry County, KY

County

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2024 Population

27,499

US Senator

Mitch McConnell

Republican Party

US Senator

Rand Paul

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

41.5

0.242% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

26.8%

5.11% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$42,181

6.8% 1-year decline

2024 Median Property Value

$91,800

1.21% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

9,762

1.94% 1-year decline

About

None of the households in Perry 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.

99.5% of the residents in Perry County, KY are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Perry County, KY are Hazard Community and Technical College (1,758 degrees awarded in 2023) and Galen College of Nursing-ARH (109 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Perry County, KY was $91,800, and the homeownership rate was 70.4%.

Most people in Perry County, KY drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 24.8 minutes. The average car ownership in Perry County, KY was 2 cars per household.

Perry County, KY borders Breathitt County, KY, Clay County, KY, Harlan County, KY, Knott County, KY, Leslie County, KY, Letcher County, KY, and Owsley County, KY.

United States Kentucky

Population & Diversity

Perry County, KY is home to a population of 27.5k people, from which 99.5% are citizens. As of 2024, 0.927% of Perry County, KY residents were born outside of the country (255 people).

In 2024, there were 48.9 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (25.8k people) in Perry County, KY than any other race or ethnicity. There were 527 Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) and 470 Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

99.5%

2024 Citizenship

99.7%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 99.5% of Perry County, KY residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Perry County, KY was 99.7%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Perry County, KY

White (Non-Hispanic)
25.8k ± 327
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
527 ± 178
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
470 ± 197

0.244%

Hispanic Population

67 people

0.244% of the people in Perry County, KY are hispanic (67 people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Perry 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

0.927%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

255 people

0.923%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

257 people

As of 2024, 0.927% of Perry County, KY residents (255 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 Perry County, KY was 0.923%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
440 ± 138
Gulf War (2001-)
123 ± 67
Gulf War (1990s)
59 ± 35

Perry County, KY has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 3.58 times greater than any other conflict.

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

Economy

The economy of Perry County, KY employs 9.76k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Perry County, KY were Health Care & Social Assistance (2,387 people), Retail Trade (1,138 people), and Educational Services (1,003 people), and the highest paying industries were Utilities ($85,096), Wholesale Trade ($74,773), and Construction ($59,722).

Employment

Occupations

9.76k

2024 Value

± 844

−1.94%

1 Year decline

± 12.4%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Perry County, KY declined at a rate of −1.94%, from 9.96k employees to 9.76k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Perry County, KY, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,174 people), Construction & Extraction Occupations (896 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (838 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Perry 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

9.76k

2024 Value

± 844

−1.94%

1 Year decline

± 12.4%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Perry County, KY declined at a rate of −1.94%, from 9.96k employees to 9.76k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Perry County, KY, are Health Care & Social Assistance (2,387 people), Retail Trade (1,138 people), and Educational Services (1,003 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Perry County, KY, though some of these residents may live in Perry County, KY and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$42,048

Median earning men ± $4,125

$34,057

Median earning women ± $6,993

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Construction ($60,729), Public Administration ($52,500), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($51,964).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($70,125), Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($44,355), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($43,289).

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

62
Health Care and Social Assistance
43
Retail Trade
37
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

$172k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$63.4k
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
$53.2k
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 Perry 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 Perry County, KY awarded 1,867 degrees. The student population of Perry County, KY in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 1,431 male students and 2,032 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Perry County, KY are White (1,800 and 96.4%), Hispanic or Latino (19 and 1.02%), Two or More Races (18 and 0.964%), and Black or African American (13 and 0.696%).

The largest universities in Perry County, KY by number of degrees awarded are Hazard Community and Technical College (1,758 and 94.2%) and Galen College of Nursing-ARH (109 and 5.84%).

The most popular majors in Perry County, KY are Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training (202 and 10.8%), Registered Nursing (169 and 9.05%), and General Computer & Information Sciences (153 and 8.19%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2023 there were 3,463 students enrolled in Perry County, KY, 41.3% men and 58.7% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 3,244 records, of which 58.4% were women and 41.6% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Diesel Mechanics Technology
129 degrees awarded
General Business Administration & Management
96 degrees awarded
Medical Administrative Assistant
51 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Certificate of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years recipients in Perry County, KY was Diesel Mechanics Technology with 129 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Certificate of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years from schools in Perry County, KY according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Hazard Community and Technical College
1,758 degrees awarded
Galen College of Nursing-ARH
109 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Hazard Community and Technical College with 1,758 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2023, 962 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Perry County, KY, which is 1.06 times more than the 905 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 1,800 degrees mean that there were 94.7 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 19 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

Private for-profit, 2-year ($15,660) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Private for-profit, 2-year ($200) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Private for-profit, 2-year ($1,350) 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 Perry County, KY was $91,800 in 2024, which is 0.276 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $90,700 to $91,800, a 1.21% increase. The homeownership rate in Perry County, KY is 70.4%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Perry County, KY have an average commute time of 24.8 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Perry County, KY is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 8.53% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Perry County, KY. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 7.77%.

Housing

Property

$91,800

Median Property Value 2024

±$5,380

$7,800

Median Property Taxes

±$682

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

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

Rent vs Own

70.4%

Homeownership

2024

65.5%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 70.4% of the housing units in Perry County, KY were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 72.2%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Perry 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.

$42,181

Median Household Income

± $7,458

11.1k

Number of Households

± 886

In 2024, the median household income of the 11.1k households in Perry County, KY declined from $42,181 from the previous year's value of $45,261.

The following chart displays the households in Perry 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 < $10k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Perry 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 (72.9%)
Carpooled (16.2%)
Worked At Home (8.24%)

In 2024, 72.9% of workers in Perry County, KY drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (16.2%) and those who worked at home (8.24%).

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

24.8 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Perry County, KY have a shorter commute time (24.8 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 6.57% of the workforce in Perry County, KY have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

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

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 8.53% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Perry County, KY. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 7.77%.

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

Poverty & Diversity

26.8% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Perry County, KY (7.18k out of 26.7k 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 25 - 34, followed by Females 55 - 64 and then Males 25 - 34.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Perry 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, 37% of the children was living in poverty in Perry County, KY. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator grew 2.4%.

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 61.6 in Perry County, KY. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 40.8 per 100,000 population.

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

Health

97.6% of the population of Perry County, KY has health coverage, with 27.6% on employee plans, 42.7% on Medicaid, 14.9% on Medicare, 10.2% on non-group plans, and 2.25% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Perry County, KY see 873 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (873 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1368 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 121 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49% were men and 51% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

873 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Perry County, KY

Primary care physicians in Perry County, KY see an average of 873 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (873 patients).

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

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 24.3% under 18 years, 18.2% between 18 and 34 years, 39.9% between 35 and 64 years, and 17.6% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49% were men and 51% were women.

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

Uninsured People

2.37%

Uninsured

27.6%

Employer Coverage

42.7%

Medicaid

14.9%

Medicare

10.2%

Non-Group

2.25%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Perry County, KY declined by 20.6% from 2.99% to 2.37%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Perry 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 94 in Perry County, KY.

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

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