Meade County, Kentucky Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates · 36th-largest in Kentucky

The population of Meade County, Kentucky is 30,032 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 36th-largest county in Kentucky. The median household income is $70,163, the median home value is $195,000, and the median age is 39.3.

The population of Meade County has grown 6.1% since 2010 (28,701 → 30,442), a +0.42% annualized rate.

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

30,032

Population

+0.42%

Annual growth

People / sq mi

$70,163

Median Income

$195,000

Median Home Value

Meade County covers 305 sq mi of land at 98.3 people per square mile.

About Meade County, KY

Meade County is a county in Kentucky with a population of 30,032. It ranks #36 among counties in Kentucky by population. The median age is 39.3, in line with the national median. The population is 50.5% male and 49.5% female.

The median household income in Meade County is $70,163, below the US median of $74,580. 11.6% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $195,000, with monthly rent averaging $976. The homeownership rate of 73.2% is higher than the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Meade County reflects 18.4% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 8.6% of workers primarily work from home, below the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 34.0 minutes each way.

Meade County Population History (2010-2024)

The county of Meade County had a population of 28,701 in 2010 and 30,442 in 2024, a 6.1% growth over 14 years. The peak was 30,442 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 0.44%.

30,442

Population (2024)

28,701

Population (2010)

30,442

Peak (2024)

0.44%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	28,701	-	-	estimate
2011	29,638	+937	+3.26%	estimate
2012	29,257	-381	-1.29%	estimate
2013	29,245	-12	-0.04%	estimate
2014	29,100	-145	-0.50%	estimate
2015	27,743	-1,357	-4.66%	estimate
2016	27,967	+224	+0.81%	estimate
2017	28,054	+87	+0.31%	estimate
2018	28,648	+594	+2.12%	estimate
2019	28,610	-38	-0.13%	estimate
2020	30,028	+1,418	+4.96%	estimate
2021	30,125	+97	+0.32%	estimate
2022	30,028	-97	-0.32%	estimate
2023	30,166	+138	+0.46%	estimate
2024	30,442	+276	+0.91%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	90.0%
Black or African American	3.5%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.6%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Age & Sex

39.3

Median Age

49.5%

Female

50.5%

Male

15.2%

Age 65+

Age Distribution

Under 5

5.1%

5–9

6.8%

10–14

6.6%

15–19

5.8%

20–24

5.9%

25–34

13.1%

35–44

14.6%

45–54

12.9%

55–59

7.2%

60–64

7.0%

65–74

9.7%

75–84

4.8%

85+

0.7%

Children (under 15): 18.5% · Seniors (65+): 15.2%

Income & Poverty

Median household income	$70,163+$7,746 vs state
Mean household income	$89,853
Per-capita income	$35,010
Poverty rate	11.6%-0.2% vs state
Unemployment rate	2.2%
Employment-to-population	57.0%

Top Industries by Employment

Professional & business services

18.0%

Construction

10.9%

Education & health care

10.8%

Retail trade

10.0%

Manufacturing

9.8%

Finance & real estate

9.8%

Public administration

7.7%

Arts, entertainment & food

4.4%

The largest employment sector in Meade County is professional & business services, accounting for 18.0% of workers.

How residents commute

0.2%

Drive alone

1.8%

Carpool

81.5%

Public transit

8.6%

Work from home

34.0 min

Avg commute

Housing

$195,000+$2,700 vs state

Median home value

$976

Median rent

73.2%

Homeownership rate

12,111

Total housing units

89.2%

Occupied

10.8%

Vacant

26.8%

Renter-occupied

Social & access

96.5%

With health insurance

95.8%

With broadband internet

32.6%

Foreign-born

12.1%

Veterans (18+)

20.5%

With a disability

97.4%

Speak language other than English at home

Education

90.6%

High School+

18.4%

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

Meade County, Kentucky has a population of 30,032 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 36th-largest county in Kentucky. Population density is 98 people per square mile.

The population of Meade County has grown 6.1% since 2010 (28,701 → 30,442), a +0.42% annualized rate.

The median household income in Meade County, Kentucky is $70,163, with mean (average) household income of $89,853 and per-capita income of $35,010. 11.6% of residents live below the federal poverty level.

In Meade County, the largest racial and ethnic groups are White (90.0%), Black or African American (3.5%), Hispanic or Latino (1.6%). Figures are from the US Census Bureau's 2023 ACS 5-year estimates and reflect self-reported responses.

The median age in Meade County, Kentucky is 39.3 years. Residents are 49.5% female and 50.5% male.

The median home value in Meade County is $195,000 and median monthly rent is $976. 73.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. The county has 12,111 total housing units, 10.8% of which are vacant.

The largest employment sector in Meade County, Kentucky is professional, scientific, and management services, employing 18.0% of workers. The unemployment rate is 2.2%.

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