Knott County, Kentucky Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates · 78th-largest in Kentucky

The population of Knott County, Kentucky is 14,046 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 78th-largest county in Kentucky. The median household income is $37,736, the median home value is $74,600, and the median age is 44.4.

The population of Knott County has declined 17.8% since 2010 (16,350 → 13,438), a -1.39% annualized rate.

Knott County within Kentucky · Source: US Census TIGER/Line via us-atlas

14,046

Population

-1.39%

Annual growth

People / sq mi

$37,736

Median Income

$74,600

Median Home Value

Knott County covers 352 sq mi of land at 40.0 people per square mile.

About Knott County, KY

Knott County is a county in Kentucky with a population of 14,046. It ranks #78 among counties in Kentucky by population. The median age is 44.4, older than the national median. The population is 49.7% male and 50.3% female.

The median household income in Knott County is $37,736, below the US median of $74,580. 21.6% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $74,600, with monthly rent averaging $731. The homeownership rate of 70.8% is higher than the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Knott County reflects 17.8% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 8.9% of workers primarily work from home, below the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 27.1 minutes each way.

Knott County Population History (2010-2024)

The county of Knott County had a population of 16,350 in 2010 and 13,438 in 2024, a -17.8% growth over 14 years. The peak was 16,350 in 2010. Average annual growth rate: -1.39%.

13,438

Population (2024)

16,350

Population (2010)

16,350

Peak (2010)

-1.39%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	16,350	-	-	estimate
2011	16,306	-44	-0.27%	estimate
2012	16,122	-184	-1.13%	estimate
2013	16,090	-32	-0.20%	estimate
2014	15,943	-147	-0.91%	estimate
2015	15,681	-262	-1.64%	estimate
2016	15,498	-183	-1.17%	estimate
2017	15,243	-255	-1.65%	estimate
2018	15,090	-153	-1.00%	estimate
2019	14,861	-229	-1.52%	estimate
2020	14,163	-698	-4.70%	estimate
2021	14,040	-123	-0.87%	estimate
2022	13,848	-192	-1.37%	estimate
2023	13,660	-188	-1.36%	estimate
2024	13,438	-222	-1.63%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	96.7%
Black or African American	1.0%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	0.6%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Age & Sex

44.4

Median Age

50.3%

Female

49.7%

Male

20.0%

Age 65+

Age Distribution

Under 5

4.7%

5–9

6.3%

10–14

5.4%

15–19

7.0%

20–24

6.7%

25–34

10.3%

35–44

10.8%

45–54

13.3%

55–59

8.0%

60–64

7.4%

65–74

12.8%

75–84

5.8%

85+

1.4%

Children (under 15): 16.4% · Seniors (65+): 20.0%

Income & Poverty

Median household income	$37,736$-24,681 vs state
Mean household income	$54,045
Per-capita income	$21,353
Poverty rate	21.6%+9.8% vs state
Unemployment rate	4.9%
Employment-to-population	37.1%

Top Industries by Employment

Professional & business services

38.1%

Public administration

8.5%

Retail trade

6.1%

Construction

5.4%

Information

5.0%

Education & health care

4.7%

Arts, entertainment & food

4.0%

Agriculture

3.8%

The largest employment sector in Knott County is professional & business services, accounting for 38.1% of workers.

How residents commute

0.4%

Drive alone

4.6%

Carpool

74.6%

Public transit

8.9%

Work from home

27.1 min

Avg commute

Housing

$74,600$-117,700 vs state

Median home value

$731

Median rent

70.8%

Homeownership rate

6,695

Total housing units

81.4%

Occupied

18.6%

Vacant

29.2%

Renter-occupied

Social & access

98.0%

With health insurance

85.7%

With broadband internet

16.7%

Foreign-born

4.0%

Veterans (18+)

27.0%

With a disability

98.9%

Speak language other than English at home

Education

72.8%

High School+

17.8%

Bachelor's+

Largest cities in Kentucky

Louisville/Jefferson County (627,210)Lexington-Fayette (321,122)Bowling Green (73,638)Owensboro (60,112)Covington (40,902)Georgetown (38,206)Richmond (35,498)Florence (32,334)Elizabethtown (31,870)Nicholasville (31,625)All Kentucky cities →

Other counties in Kentucky

Jefferson County (777,392)Fayette County (321,122)Kenton County (169,817)Boone County (137,676)Warren County (137,549)Hardin County (111,452)Daviess County (103,195)Madison County (94,064)Campbell County (93,193)Bullitt County (83,209)All Kentucky counties →

Part of Kentucky

Kentucky demographic profile All Kentucky data →

Metro areas in Kentucky

Cincinnati (2,255,257)Louisville/Jefferson County (1,361,847)Lexington (517,378)Huntington (372,801)Clarksville (328,626)Bowling Green (183,194)Elizabethtown (126,480)Owensboro (112,322)All US metros →

County rankings

US Counties by Population Richest US Counties by Median Household Income Expensive US Counties by Home Value Educated US Counties Counties With Highest Poverty Rates Youngest US Counties by Median Age Oldest US Counties by Median Age Cheapest US Counties by Median Home Value Racially Diverse US Counties Counties With Largest Hispanic Population All rankings →

Frequently Asked Questions

Knott County, Kentucky has a population of 14,046 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 78th-largest county in Kentucky. Population density is 40 people per square mile.

The population of Knott County has declined 17.8% since 2010 (16,350 → 13,438), a -1.39% annualized rate.

The median household income in Knott County, Kentucky is $37,736, with mean (average) household income of $54,045 and per-capita income of $21,353. 21.6% of residents live below the federal poverty level.

In Knott County, the largest racial and ethnic groups are White (96.7%), Black or African American (1.0%), Hispanic or Latino (0.6%). Figures are from the US Census Bureau's 2023 ACS 5-year estimates and reflect self-reported responses.

The median age in Knott County, Kentucky is 44.4 years. Residents are 50.3% female and 49.7% male.

The median home value in Knott County is $74,600 and median monthly rent is $731. 70.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. The county has 6,695 total housing units, 18.6% of which are vacant.

The largest employment sector in Knott County, Kentucky is professional, scientific, and management services, employing 38.1% of workers. The unemployment rate is 4.9%.

Louisville/Jefferson County is among the largest cities associated with Knott County, Kentucky, with a population of 627,210.