Knox County, KY

County

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2024 Population

29,865

US Senator

Mitch McConnell

Republican Party

US Senator

Rand Paul

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

39.7

0.251% 1-year decrease

2024 Poverty Rate

36.9%

0.465% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$32,527

1.89% 1-year decline

2024 Median Property Value

$118,700

8.7% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

8,996

1.16% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Knox 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 Knox County, KY are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Knox County, KY are Union College (320 degrees awarded in 2023).

In 2024, the median property value in Knox County, KY was $118,700, and the homeownership rate was 65.3%.

Most people in Knox County, KY drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 24.4 minutes. The average car ownership in Knox County, KY was 2 cars per household.

Knox County, KY borders Bell County, KY, Clay County, KY, Laurel County, KY, and Whitley County, KY.

United States Kentucky London, KY

Population & Diversity

Knox County, KY is home to a population of 29.9k people, from which 99.6% are citizens. As of 2024, 0.676% of Knox County, KY residents were born outside of the country (202 people).

In 2024, there were 45.6 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (28.4k people) in Knox County, KY than any other race or ethnicity. There were 622 Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) and 312 Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

99.6%

2024 Citizenship

99.6%

2023 Citizenship

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

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Knox County, KY

White (Non-Hispanic)
28.4k ± 130
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
622 ± 220
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
312 ± 212

1.3%

Hispanic Population

389 people

1.3% of the people in Knox County, KY are hispanic (389 people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Knox 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

0.676%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

202 people

0.739%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

222 people

As of 2024, 0.676% of Knox County, KY residents (202 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 Knox County, KY was 0.739%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Gulf War (2001-)
344 ± 157
Vietnam
225 ± 87
Gulf War (1990s)
76 ± 59

Knox County, KY has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (2001-), 1.53 times greater than any other conflict.

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

Economy

The economy of Knox County, KY employs 9k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Knox County, KY were Health Care & Social Assistance (1,632 people), Retail Trade (994 people), and Educational Services (925 people), and the highest paying industries were Utilities ($67,277), Construction ($53,144), and Information ($50,313).

Employment

Occupations

2024 Value

± 773

1.16%

1 Year growth

± 12.6%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Knox County, KY grew at a rate of 1.16%, from 8.89k employees to 9k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Knox County, KY, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,109 people), Management Occupations (748 people), and Food Preparation & Serving Related Occupations (718 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Knox 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

2024 Value

± 773

1.16%

1 Year growth

± 12.6%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Knox County, KY grew at a rate of 1.16%, from 8.89k employees to 9k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Knox County, KY, are Health Care & Social Assistance (1,632 people), Retail Trade (994 people), and Educational Services (925 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Knox County, KY, though some of these residents may live in Knox County, KY and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$42,663

Median earning men ± $3,452

$26,597

Median earning women ± $1,790

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Information ($121,771), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($61,304), and Public Administration ($59,773).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Construction ($40,574), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($37,500), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($33,525).

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

49
Retail Trade
36
Other Services (except Public Administration)
36
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

$114k
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
$62.1k
Manufacturing
$55.2k
Health Care and Social Assistance

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 Knox 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 Knox County, KY awarded 320 degrees. The student population of Knox County, KY in 2023 is skewed towards men, with 659 male students and 470 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Knox County, KY are White (234 and 82.7%), Black or African American (27 and 9.54%), Hispanic or Latino (9 and 3.18%), and Two or More Races (5 and 1.77%).

The largest universities in Knox County, KY by number of degrees awarded are Union College (320 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Knox County, KY are General Business Administration & Management (46 and 14.4%), Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, & Clinical Nursing (32 and 10%), and Substance Abuse Counseling (24 and 7.5%).

The median tuition cost in Knox County, KY for private four year colleges is $28,737.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2023 in Knox County, KY, the percentage of applicants admitted was 55%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 43.1%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 1,129 (58.4% men and 41.6% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2023 there were 1,129 students enrolled in Knox County, KY, 58.4% men and 41.6% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 564 records, of which 59.2% were women and 40.8% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, & Clinical Nursing
32 degrees awarded
General Business Administration & Management
25 degrees awarded
Liberal Arts & Sciences
21 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Knox County, KY was Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, & Clinical Nursing with 32 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Knox County, KY according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Union College

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

320 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Union College with 320 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 138 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Knox County, KY, which is 0.758 times less than the 182 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 234 degrees mean that there were 8.67 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 27 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

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($28,737) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($2,334) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,500) 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 Knox County, KY was $118,700 in 2024, which is 0.357 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $109,200 to $118,700, a 8.7% increase. The homeownership rate in Knox County, KY is 65.3%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Knox County, KY have an average commute time of 24.4 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Knox County, KY is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 14.7% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Knox County, KY. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 2.59%.

Housing

Property

$118,700

Median Property Value 2024

±$14,145

$7,650

Median Property Taxes

±$727

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

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

Rent vs Own

65.3%

Homeownership

2024

63.6%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 65.3% of the housing units in Knox County, KY were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 65.6%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Knox 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.

$32,527

Median Household Income

± $6,385

11.7k

Number of Households

± 878

In 2024, the median household income of the 11.7k households in Knox County, KY declined from $32,527 from the previous year's value of $33,153.

The following chart displays the households in Knox 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 Knox 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 (79.8%)
Carpooled (9.1%)
Worked At Home (8.84%)

In 2024, 79.8% of workers in Knox County, KY drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (9.1%) and those who worked at home (8.84%).

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

24.4 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Knox County, KY have a shorter commute time (24.4 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 3.95% of the workforce in Knox County, KY have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

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

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 14.7% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Knox County, KY. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 2.59%.

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

Poverty & Diversity

36.9% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Knox County, KY (10.8k out of 29.2k 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 25 - 34 and then Females 6 - 11.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Knox 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, 43.3% of the children was living in poverty in Knox County, KY. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.5%.

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 66.2 in Knox County, KY. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 32.9 per 100,000 population.

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

Health

91.4% of the population of Knox County, KY has health coverage, with 20.1% on employee plans, 49.6% on Medicaid, 13.4% on Medicare, 6.82% on non-group plans, and 1.4% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Knox County, KY see 3,739 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (3,739 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 3310 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 1064 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

3,739 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Knox County, KY

Primary care physicians in Knox County, KY see an average of 3,739 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (3,739 patients).

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

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 25.5% under 18 years, 20% between 18 and 34 years, 37.7% between 35 and 64 years, and 16.8% 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

8.65%

Uninsured

20.1%

Employer Coverage

49.6%

Medicaid

13.4%

Medicare

6.82%

Non-Group

1.4%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Knox County, KY grew by 32.9% from 6.5% to 8.65%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Knox 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 76.5 in Knox County, KY.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Knox 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 40.6% in Knox County, KY.

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