Perry County, KY

County

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2020 Population

26,266

1.34% 1-year decline

US Senator

Mitch McConnell

Republican Party

US Senator

Rand Paul

Republican Party

2020 Median Age

41.3

0.243% 1-year increase

2020 Poverty Rate

20.2%

22.7% 1-year decrease

2020 Median Household Income

$39,594

17.7% 1-year growth

2020 Median Property Value

$78,900

4.64% 1-year growth

2020 Employed Population

9,687

9.4% 1-year growth

About

In 2020, Perry County, KY had a population of 26.3k people with a median age of 41.3 and a median household income of $39,594. Between 2019 and 2020 the population of Perry County, KY declined from 26,624 to 26,266, a −1.34% decrease and its median household income grew from $33,640 to $39,594, a 17.7% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Perry County, KY are White (Non-Hispanic) (94.6%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (2.01%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (1.14%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (1.01%), and White (Hispanic) (0.647%).

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.

98.7% of the residents in Perry County, KY are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Perry County, KY are Hazard Community and Technical College (2,096 degrees awarded in 2020) and Galen College of Nursing-ARH (145 degrees).

In 2020, the median property value in Perry County, KY was $78,900, and the homeownership rate was 77.5%. Most people in Perry County, KY drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 23.3 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

Diversity

Perry County, KY is home to a population of 26.3k people, from which 98.7% are citizens. As of 2020, 1.45% of Perry County, KY residents were born outside of the country (382 people).

In 2020, there were 47.1 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (24.9k people) in Perry County, KY than any other race or ethnicity. There were 528 Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 300 Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Perry County, KY

White (Non-Hispanic)
24.9k ± 176
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
528 ± 70
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
300 ± 188

1.1%

Hispanic Population

288 people

1.1% of the people in Perry County, KY are hispanic (288 people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Perry County, KY as a share of the total population.

Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

1.45%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

382 people

1.29%

2019 Foreign-Born Population

344 people

As of 2020, 1.45% of Perry County, KY residents (382 people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.5%. In 2019, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Perry County, KY was 1.29%, 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.

Age by Nativity

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.6

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 6.4

In 2020, the median age of all people in Perry County, KY was 41.3. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 41, were generally older than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 41. But people in Perry County, KY are getting getting older. In 2019, the average age of all Perry County, KY residents was 41.

Global Diversity

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

Most Common Origin

Mexico
29,760 ± 4,221 people
India
12,679 ± 2,761 people
Cuba
12,635 ± 2,756 people

In 2020, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Kentucky was Mexico, the natal country of 29,760 Kentucky residents, followed by India with 12,679 and Cuba with 12,635.

Citizenship

98.7%

2020 Citizenship

99%

2019 Citizenship

As of 2020, 98.7% of Perry County, KY residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2019, the percentage of US citizens in Perry County, KY was 99%, 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.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
433 ± 137
Gulf War (1990s)
157 ± 134
Gulf War (2001-)
115 ± 108

Perry County, KY has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.76 times greater than any other conflict.

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for Kentucky. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

Y-Axis

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in Kentucky, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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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.

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Employment by Industry Sector

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

Y-Axis

8.45%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between May 2020 and May 2021

As of May 2021, there are 145M people employed in Kentucky. This represents a 8.45% increase in employment when compared to May 2020.

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

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Community Mobility

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

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of Kentucky across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

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Economy

Median household income in Perry County, KY is $39,594. In 2020, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Perry County, KY was Census Tract 9703 with a value of $58,911, followed by Census Tract 9708 and Census Tract 9710, with respective values of $40,341 and $32,013.

Males in Kentucky have an average income that is 1.34 times higher than the average income of females, which is $45,693. The income inequality in Kentucky (measured using the Gini index) is 0.454, which is lower than than the national average.

The economy of Perry County, KY employs 9.69k people. The largest industries in Perry County, KY are Health Care & Social Assistance (2,597 people), Retail Trade (1,214 people), and Educational Services (934 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($81,161), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($76,094), and Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($56,591).

Wages

Median Household Income

$39,594

2020 value

± $6,416

17.7%

1 Year Growth

± 16.9%

Households in Perry County, KY have a median annual income of $39,594, which is less than the median annual income of $64,994 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $33,640 in 2019, which represents a 17.7% annual growth.

The following chart shows how the median household income in Perry County, KY compares to that of its neighboring and parent geographies.

Wage by Sex in Common Jobs

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

$61,066

Average Male Salary in Kentucky

± $1,652

$45,693

Average Female Salary in Kentucky

± $1,209

In 2020, full-time male employees in Kentucky made 1.34 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the sex-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in Kentucky by number of full-time employees.

Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

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

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity in Kentucky

Asian
$60,506 ± $10,478
White
$47,864 ± $1,011
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
$39,200 ± $24,626

In 2020 the highest paid race/ethnicity of Kentucky workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.26 times more than White workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity in Kentucky.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in Kentucky by number of full-time employees.

Wage Distribution

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

0.454

2020 Wage GINI in Kentucky

0.456

2019 Wage GINI in Kentucky

In 2020, the income inequality in Kentucky was 0.454 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.305% decline from 2019 to 2020, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Kentucky was lower than than the national average of 0.478. 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.

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 9703
Census Tract 9708
Census Tract 9710

In 2020, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Perry County, KY was Census Tract 9703 with a value of $58,911, followed by Census Tract 9708 and Census Tract 9710, with respective values of $40,341 and $32,013.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Perry County, KY colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Poverty by Age and Sex

Females 18 - 24

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

20.2% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Perry County, KY (5.13k out of 25.4k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.8%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Females 45 - 54 and then Females 55 - 64.

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.

Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

White
4,834 ± 480
Black
117 ± 140
Two Or More
92 ± 123

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

Occupations

Employment by Occupations

9.69k

2020 Value

± 804

9.4%

1 Year growth

± 10.4%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Perry County, KY grew at a rate of 9.4%, from 8.86k employees to 9.69k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Perry County, KY, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,200 people), Sales & Related Occupations (1,123 people), and Construction & Extraction Occupations (871 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Perry County, KY.

Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Perry County, KY, by number of employees, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,200 people), Sales & Related Occupations (1,123 people), and Construction & Extraction Occupations (871 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Perry County, KY has an unusually high number of residents working as Law Enforcement Workers Including Supervisors (2.69 times higher than expected), Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations (2.16 times), and Healthcare Support Occupations (1.99 times).

Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Perry County, KY, by median earnings, are Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations ($66,071), Business & Financial Operations Occupations ($58,750), and Law Enforcement Workers Including Supervisors ($55,726).

Industries

Employment by Industries

9.69k

2020 Value

± 804

9.4%

1 Year growth

± 10.4%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Perry County, KY grew at a rate of 9.4%, from 8.86k employees to 9.69k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Perry County, KY, are Health Care & Social Assistance (2,597 people), Retail Trade (1,214 people), and Educational Services (934 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.

Most Common

The most common industries in Perry County, KY, by number of employees, are Health Care & Social Assistance (2,597 people), Retail Trade (1,214 people), and Educational Services (934 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Perry County, KY has an unusually high number of Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction (6.3 times higher than expected), Health Care & Social Assistance (1.92 times), and Information (1.81 times) industries.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Perry County, KY, by median earnings, are Utilities ($81,161), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($76,094), and Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($56,591).

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Kentucky to other states, or from other states to Kentucky.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound Kentucky product (by dollars) was Motorized vehicles with $57B, followed by Electronics ($34.7B) and Machinery ($31.1B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Kentucky products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Kentucky.

$326B

2020 Value in Kentucky

$644B

Projected 2050 Value in Kentucky

97.4% growth

In 2020, total outbound Kentucky trade was $326B. This is expected to increase 97.4% to $644B by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Kentucky trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Kentucky to other states, or from other states to Kentucky.

Most Common Trade Partners

Tennessee
$24.4B
Ohio
$18.8B
California
$17.9B

In 2020, the top outbound Kentucky domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Tennessee with $24.4B, followed by Ohio with $18.8B and California and $17.9B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Kentucky shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Perry County, KY went to Donald J. Trump with 76.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (22.2%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (0.924%). The most partisan county was Leslie County, KY with 89.8% of the vote going to Donald J. Trump running for the Republican Party.

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 Popular Vote Over Time

2020 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (76.5%)
Republican Party
Joseph R Biden Jr. (22.2%)
Democratic Party
Jo Jorgensen (0.924%)
Libertarian Party

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Perry County, KY for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Presidential Popular Vote by County

Presidential voting results are only available at the county level. Showing data for the counties inside of Kentucky.

Donald J. Trump

Popular Vote for Perry County, KY

76.5% for the Republican Party

Most Partisan Counties in Kentucky

Leslie County, KY
89.8% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Jackson County, KY
89.2% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Martin County, KY
89% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)

In the 2020 presidential election, the most partisan county in Kentucky was Leslie County, KY with 89.8% of the vote going to Donald J. Trump running for the Republican Party.

The following map shows the counties in Kentucky colored by their party leaning.

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.

US Representatives from Kentucky

Kentucky is currently represented by 6 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Kentucky have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2020, universities in Perry County, KY awarded 2,241 degrees. The student population of Perry County, KY is skewed towards women, with 1,248 male students and 1,891 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Perry County, KY are White (2,166 and 96.7%), followed by Black or African American (31 and 1.38%), Two or More Races (21 and 0.937%), and Hispanic or Latino (16 and 0.714%).

The largest universities in Perry County, KY by number of degrees awarded are Hazard Community and Technical College (2,096 and 93.5%) and Galen College of Nursing-ARH (145 and 6.47%).

The most popular majors in Perry County, KY are General Computer & Information Sciences (257 and 11.5%), Liberal Arts & Sciences (204 and 9.1%), and Registered Nursing (197 and 8.79%).

Concentrations

Most Common

Registered Nursing
197 degree-majorss awarded
Other Multidisciplinary Studies
20 degree-majorss awarded
Liberal Arts & Sciences
204 degree-majorss awarded

In 2020, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Perry County, KY was Registered Nursing with 197 degrees awarded.

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

Universities

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Hazard Community and Technical College
2,096 degrees awarded
Galen College of Nursing-ARH
145 degrees awarded

In 2020, the Perry County, KY institution with the largest number of graduating students was Hazard Community and Technical College with 2,096 degrees awarded.

Student Sex for Common Institutions

1,242

Degrees Awarded to Men

999

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2020, 1,242 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Perry County, KY, which is 1.24 times more than the 999 female students who received degrees in the same year.

This chart displays the sex disparity between the institutions in Perry County, KY by degrees awarded.

Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
2,166 degrees awarded
Black or African American
31 degrees awarded
Two or More Races
21 degrees awarded

In 2020 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions in Perry County, KY was White students. These 2,166 degrees mean that there were 69.9 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 31 degrees awarded.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Perry County, KY was $78,900 in 2020, which is 0.343 times smaller than the national average of $229,800. Between 2019 and 2020 the median property value increased from $75,400 to $78,900, a 4.64% increase. The homeownership rate in Perry County, KY is 77.5%, which is higher than the national average of 64.4%. People in Perry County, KY have an average commute time of 23.3 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.

Housing

Property Value

$78,900

2020 Median

± $4,961

$75,400

2019 Median

± $5,342

In 2020, the median property value in Perry County, KY grew to to $78,900 from the previous year's value of $75,400.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Perry County, KY compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Perry County, KY the largest share of households have a property value in the $100k - $125k range.

Household Income

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

$39,594

Median Household Income

± $6,416

11.3k

Number of Households

± 823

In 2020, the median household income of the 11.3k households in Perry County, KY grew to $39,594 from the previous year's value of $33,640.

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.

Property Taxes

< $800

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Perry County, KY 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.

Rent vs Own

77.5%

2020 Homeownership

75.9%

2019 Homeownership

In 2020, 77.5% of the housing units in Perry County, KY were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 75.9%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is higher than the national average of 64.4%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Perry County, KY compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Commute Time

23.3 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Perry County, KY have a shorter commute time (23.3 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.9 minutes). Additionally, 3.6% 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.

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2020

Drove Alone (76.8%)
Carpooled (17.1%)
Worked At Home (5%)

In 2020, 76.8% of workers in Perry County, KY drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (17.1%) and those who worked at home (5%).

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.

Transportation

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, followed by false.

Health

95.3% of the population of Perry County, KY has health coverage, with 32.6% on employee plans, 35.9% on Medicaid, 15.2% on Medicare, 9.49% on non-group plans, and 2.13% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in Kentucky was $8,004 in 2014. This is a 6.11% increase from the previous year ($7,543).

Primary care physicians in Perry County, KY see 815 patients per year on average, which represents a 4.35% increase from the previous year (781 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1227 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 124 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Knott County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (21%). Additionally, Owsley County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (46.7%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

815 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Perry County, KY

Primary care physicians in Perry County, KY see an average of 815 patients per year. This represents a 4.35% increase from the previous year (781 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.

Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

West Virginia
8.26% of the population affected
Arkansas
8.13% of the population affected
New Hampshire
7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

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.

Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

Mississippi
19.2% of adults
Texas
17.9% of adults
Louisiana
17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

Health Care Spending

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

$8,004

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care in Kentucky

$4,551

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$7,016

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$10,368

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in Kentucky (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 6.11%, from $7,543 to $8,004.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

Health Care Coverage

4.68%

Uninsured

32.6%

Employer Coverage

35.9%

Medicaid

15.2%

Medicare

9.49%

Non-Group

2.13%

Military or VA

Between 2019 and 2020, the percent of uninsured citizens in Perry County, KY declined by 10.4% from 5.22% to 4.68%.

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.