Perry County, KY

County

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2023 Population

27,847

1.03% 1-year decline

US Senator

Mitch McConnell

Republican Party

US Senator

Rand Paul

Republican Party

2023 Median Age

41.4

0.242% 1-year increase

2023 Poverty Rate

25.5%

7.15% 1-year increase

2023 Median Household Income

$45,261

0.152% 1-year decline

2023 Median Property Value

$90,700

2.26% 1-year decline

2023 Employed Population

9,955

1.47% 1-year decline

About

In 2023, Perry County, KY had a population of 27.8k people with a median age of 41.4 and a median household income of $45,261. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Perry County, KY declined from 28,136 to 27,847, a −1.03% decrease and its median household income declined from $45,330 to $45,261, a −0.152% decrease.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Perry County, KY are White (Non-Hispanic) (94.2%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (3.15%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (0.991%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (0.797%), and American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic) (0.33%).

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.

99.7% of the residents in Perry County, KY are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Perry County, KY are Hazard Community and Technical College (1,587 degrees awarded in 2022) and Galen College of Nursing-ARH (126 degrees).

In 2023, the median property value in Perry County, KY was $90,700, and the homeownership rate was 72.2%.

Most people in Perry County, KY drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 25.8 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 27.8k people, from which 99.7% are citizens. As of 2023, 0.923% of Perry County, KY residents were born outside of the country (257 people).

In 2023, there were 29.9 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (26.2k people) in Perry County, KY than any other race or ethnicity. There were 876 Two+ (Non-Hispanic) and 276 Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

99.7%

2023 Citizenship

99.5%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 99.7% of Perry County, KY residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Perry County, KY was 99.5%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

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)
26.2k ± 273
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
876 ± 319
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
276 ± 110

0.323%

Hispanic Population

90 people

0.323% of the people in Perry County, KY are hispanic (90 people).

The following chart shows the 7 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
28,651 ± 4,142 people
Cuba
14,970 ± 2,999 people
India
12,312 ± 2,720 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Kentucky was Mexico, the natal country of 28,651 Kentucky residents, followed by Cuba with 14,970 and India with 12,312.

Foreign-Born Population

0.923%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

257 people

0.867%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

244 people

As of 2023, 0.923% of Perry County, KY residents (257 people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Perry County, KY was 0.867%, 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
620 ± 158
Gulf War (2001-)
108 ± 63
Gulf War (1990s)
84 ± 57

Perry County, KY has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 5.74 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Perry County, KY employs 9.96k people. The largest industries in Perry County, KY are Health Care & Social Assistance (2,733 people), Retail Trade (1,434 people), and Educational Services (825 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($96,071), Wholesale Trade ($72,872), and Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($65,179).

Males in Kentucky have an average income that is 1.32 times higher than the average income of females, which is $52,220. The income inequality in Kentucky (measured using the Gini index) is 0.452, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

9.96k

2023 Value

± 849

−1.47%

1 Year decline

± 12.3%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Perry County, KY declined at a rate of −1.47%, from 10.1k employees to 9.96k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Perry County, KY, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,295 people), Sales & Related Occupations (957 people), and Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations (930 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 false.

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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Industries

Employment by Industries

9.96k

2023 Value

± 849

−1.47%

1 Year decline

± 12.3%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Perry County, KY declined at a rate of −1.47%, from 10.1k employees to 9.96k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Perry County, KY, are Health Care & Social Assistance (2,733 people), Retail Trade (1,434 people), and Educational Services (825 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

$38,038

Median earning men ± $5,731

$34,853

Median earning women ± $7,150

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Construction ($70,136), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($67,232), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($53,646).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($43,031), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($42,724), and Retail Trade ($37,970).

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.

Depending on the option selected, the visualization shows the number of employees or 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 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%).

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

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.

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.

US Representative Elections

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 2022, universities in Perry County, KY awarded 1,713 degrees. The student population of Perry County, KY in 2022 is skewed towards women, with 1,148 male students and 1,878 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Perry County, KY are White (1,641 and 95.8%), followed by Two or More Races (31 and 1.81%), Hispanic or Latino (16 and 0.934%), and Black or African American (13 and 0.759%).

The largest universities in Perry County, KY by number of degrees awarded are Hazard Community and Technical College (1,587 and 92.6%) and Galen College of Nursing-ARH (126 and 7.36%).

The most popular majors in Perry County, KY are Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training (229 and 13.4%), Liberal Arts & Sciences (170 and 9.92%), and Registered Nursing (167 and 9.75%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2022 there were 3,026 students enrolled in Perry County, KY, 37.9% men and 62.1% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 2,817 records, of which 61.3% were women and 38.7% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Other Multidisciplinary Studies
21 degrees awarded
Liberal Arts & Sciences
170 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
167 degrees awarded

In 2022, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Perry County, KY was Other Multidisciplinary Studies with 21 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

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Hazard Community and Technical College
1,587 degrees awarded
Galen College of Nursing-ARH
126 degrees awarded

In 2022, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Hazard Community and Technical College with 1,587 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2022, 803 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Perry County, KY, which is 0.882 times less than the 910 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2022 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 1,641 degrees mean that there were 52.9 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Two or More Races, with 31 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 ($4,368) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2022.

Public, 2-year ($192) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2022.

Public, 2-year ($1,078) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

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

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

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

Measure

In 2022, 0.821% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.756% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

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

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were High School or Equivalent (1.17M), Some college (766k), and Secondary Education (551k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Perry County, KY was $90,700 in 2023, which is 0.299 times smaller than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $92,800 to $90,700, a 2.26% decrease. The homeownership rate in Perry County, KY is 72.2%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 65%.

People in Perry County, KY have an average commute time of 25.8 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.

Median household income in Perry County, KY is $45,261. In 2023, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Perry County, KY was Census Tract 9703 with a value of $59,375, followed by Census Tract 9707 and Census Tract 9710, with respective values of $52,951 and $49,583.

In 2023, 12.2% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Perry County, KY. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator declined 4.14%.

Housing

Property

$90,700

Median Property Value 2023

±$6,175

$8,152

Median Property Taxes

±$685

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

72.2%

Homeownership

2023

64.1%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 72.2% of the housing units in Perry County, KY were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 75.7%.

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

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 9703
Census Tract 9707
Census Tract 9710

In 2023, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Perry County, KY was Census Tract 9703 with a value of $59,375, followed by Census Tract 9707 and Census Tract 9710, with respective values of $52,951 and $49,583.

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

Household Income

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

$45,261

Median Household Income

± $7,925

11.3k

Number of Households

± 900

In 2023, the median household income of the 11.3k households in Perry County, KY declined from $45,261 from the previous year's value of $45,330.

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.

0.452

2022 Wage GINI in Kentucky

0.453

2021 Wage GINI in Kentucky

In 2022, the income inequality in Kentucky was 0.452 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.286% decline from 2021 to 2022, 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.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (73.1%)
Carpooled (16.5%)
Worked At Home (7.69%)

In 2023, 73.1% of workers in Perry County, KY drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (16.5%) and those who worked at home (7.69%).

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

25.8 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Perry County, KY have a shorter commute time (25.8 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 6.4% 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 2023, 12.2% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Perry County, KY. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator declined 4.14%.

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

Poverty & Diversity

25.5% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Perry County, KY (6.89k out of 27k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. 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 2023, 37.5% of the children was living in poverty in Perry County, KY. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator grew 2.9%.

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.

Health

97% of the population of Perry County, KY has health coverage, with 27.5% on employee plans, 41.4% on Medicaid, 14.8% on Medicare, 11.2% on non-group plans, and 2.19% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Perry County, KY see 878 patients per year on average, which represents a 5.66% increase from the previous year (831 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1396 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 129 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.4% were men and 50.6% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

878 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Perry County, KY

Primary care physicians in Perry County, KY see an average of 878 patients per year. This represents a 5.66% increase from the previous year (831 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 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 24.3% under 18 years, 17.9% between 18 and 34 years, 40.6% between 35 and 64 years, and 17.1% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.4% were men and 50.6% were women.

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

Uninsured People

2.99%

Uninsured

27.5%

Employer Coverage

41.4%

Medicaid

14.8%

Medicare

11.2%

Non-Group

2.19%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Perry County, KY declined by 16.3% from 3.57% to 2.99%.

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 2023, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 75.6 in Perry County, KY.

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

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2023, 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 40.7% in Perry County, KY.

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