Perry County, Kentucky Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates · 38th-largest in Kentucky

The population of Perry County, Kentucky is 27,847 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 38th-largest county in Kentucky. The median household income is $45,261, the median home value is $90,700, and the median age is 41.4.

The population of Perry County has declined 6.7% since 2010 (28,668 → 26,739), a -0.50% annualized rate.

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

27,847

Population

-0.50%

Annual growth

People / sq mi

$45,261

Median Income

$90,700

Median Home Value

Perry County covers 340 sq mi of land at 82.0 people per square mile.

About Perry County, KY

Perry County is a county in Kentucky with a population of 27,847. It ranks #38 among counties in Kentucky by population. The median age is 41.4, older than the national median. The population is 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

The median household income in Perry County is $45,261, below the US median of $74,580. 22.8% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $90,700, with monthly rent averaging $795. The homeownership rate of 72.2% is higher than the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Perry County reflects 14.2% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 7.7% of workers primarily work from home, below the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 25.8 minutes each way.

Perry County Population History (2010-2024)

The county of Perry County had a population of 28,668 in 2010 and 26,739 in 2024, a -6.7% growth over 14 years. The peak was 28,699 in 2011. Average annual growth rate: -0.46%.

26,739

Population (2024)

28,668

Population (2010)

28,699

Peak (2011)

-0.46%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	28,668	-	-	estimate
2011	28,699	+31	+0.11%	estimate
2012	28,296	-403	-1.40%	estimate
2013	27,989	-307	-1.08%	estimate
2014	27,561	-428	-1.53%	estimate
2015	27,381	-180	-0.65%	estimate
2016	27,222	-159	-0.58%	estimate
2017	26,605	-617	-2.27%	estimate
2018	26,246	-359	-1.35%	estimate
2019	25,801	-445	-1.70%	estimate
2020	28,369	+2,568	+9.95%	estimate
2021	27,929	-440	-1.55%	estimate
2022	27,378	-551	-1.97%	estimate
2023	27,082	-296	-1.08%	estimate
2024	26,739	-343	-1.27%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	94.4%
Black or African American	1.0%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2.0%
Two or More Races	0.1%

Age & Sex

41.4

Median Age

50.6%

Female

49.4%

Male

17.6%

Age 65+

Age Distribution

Under 5

6.0%

5–9

4.8%

10–14

8.4%

15–19

6.0%

20–24

4.6%

25–34

12.0%

35–44

12.8%

45–54

13.3%

55–59

7.4%

60–64

7.0%

65–74

11.2%

75–84

5.1%

85+

1.3%

Children (under 15): 19.2% · Seniors (65+): 17.6%

Income & Poverty

Median household income	$45,261$-17,156 vs state
Mean household income	$74,273
Per-capita income	$30,062
Poverty rate	22.8%+11.0% vs state
Unemployment rate	2.8%
Employment-to-population	45.0%

Top Industries by Employment

Professional & business services

35.7%

Construction

7.8%

Public administration

6.8%

Finance & real estate

6.8%

Education & health care

6.1%

Transportation & utilities

4.1%

Retail trade

3.9%

Agriculture

3.9%

The largest employment sector in Perry County is professional & business services, accounting for 35.7% of workers.

How residents commute

0.1%

Drive alone

2.0%

Carpool

73.1%

Public transit

7.7%

Work from home

25.8 min

Avg commute

Housing

$90,700$-101,600 vs state

Median home value

$795

Median rent

72.2%

Homeownership rate

13,256

Total housing units

85.2%

Occupied

14.8%

Vacant

27.8%

Renter-occupied

Social & access

97.0%

With health insurance

93.0%

With broadband internet

12.5%

Foreign-born

5.4%

Veterans (18+)

30.8%

With a disability

97.3%

Speak language other than English at home

Education

79.5%

High School+

14.2%

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

Perry County, Kentucky has a population of 27,847 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 38th-largest county in Kentucky. Population density is 82 people per square mile.

The population of Perry County has declined 6.7% since 2010 (28,668 → 26,739), a -0.50% annualized rate.

The median household income in Perry County, Kentucky is $45,261, with mean (average) household income of $74,273 and per-capita income of $30,062. 22.8% of residents live below the federal poverty level.

In Perry County, the largest racial and ethnic groups are White (94.4%), Hispanic or Latino (2.0%), Black or African American (1.0%). Figures are from the US Census Bureau's 2023 ACS 5-year estimates and reflect self-reported responses.

The median age in Perry County, Kentucky is 41.4 years. Residents are 50.6% female and 49.4% male.

The median home value in Perry County is $90,700 and median monthly rent is $795. 72.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. The county has 13,256 total housing units, 14.8% of which are vacant.

The largest employment sector in Perry County, Kentucky is professional, scientific, and management services, employing 35.7% of workers. The unemployment rate is 2.8%.

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